44 THE REV. J. G. WOOD. 



him, and him alone. In other words, he had to select 

 the music, arrange the order of service, communicate 

 with all the choirs in the diocese, and then travel from 

 one to the other for the space of eight or nine con- 

 secutive weeks, in order that each might receive the 

 benefit of his own personal instruction. Then all the 

 necessary arrangements had to be made at the cathedral, 

 the order of service appointed, and the final rehearsals 

 held in the Chapter House ; so that, before the festival 

 could be held, nearly three months had of necessity to 

 be given up to the settlement of preliminaries, while an 

 amount of labour was involved which very few already 

 busy men would not gladly have avoided. 



This, however, was by no means all, for, long before 

 the first practice could be held, the festival book had 

 to be compiled, and seen through the press. And 

 this alone was an undertaking involving no little 

 time and trouble. The music for two full services had 

 first of all to be selected, with the requirements of the 

 cathedral authorities, the choirs taking part, and the 

 service itself kept well in view. Perhaps some special 

 chants or hymns had to be procured, and arrangements 

 made with composers. Then the organist of the 

 cathedral had to be consulted, and perhaps also the 

 precentors of some of the principal choirs of the 

 diocese. Then, when all this preliminary business 

 was over, the book had to undergo the process of 

 examination and revision by the Dean and Chapter. 



Generally, that body took exception to some part 

 or parts of the book. Then came a wordy warfare 



