16 THE president's ADDBESS. 



undertaken a task, the labour of which none of us can realise ; 

 but we know that he has, with his eyes open, determined to 

 devote himself to what will be a life-long labour — such as few 

 men could undertake — in the service of his Master. He has 

 been asked to remain an honorary member of the Institution, 

 an invitation which he has cordially accepted. 



We have to-day to welcome here his successor, who, I feel 

 assured, will gladly work with us, not only because I know he 

 will follow Archbishop Benson in taking a lively interest in all 

 that is conducive to the welfare of the inhabitants of Cornwall, 

 but because as head of the Church in Cornwall, he will feel it 

 not inappropriate to associate himself with an Institution which 

 has devoted so much attention to ecclesiastical matters. His 

 first work will be to re-open Temple Church, newly risen 

 from its long sleep of ruin and desolation, and restored to its 

 sacred purposes. 



And this leads my thoughts to the most important 

 ecclesiastical work now going on in our county. I think I may 

 be forgiven for making some special reference to the Cathedral 

 at this meeting, because the work has now risen to a point at 

 which all its main features are sufficiently developed to enable 

 any observant eye to trace them with interest to their completion, 

 notwithstanding the bewildering screen of scaffolding, in itself 

 an object of curiosity and admiration to practical builders. 

 Some have expressed regret that so much time and money have 

 been spent in preserving and restoring the south aisle of St. 

 Mary's Church. I do not think that feeling will be shared by 

 this Society. True, owing to the decay of the elvan, much more 

 than could have been at first foreseen had to be entirely replaced, 

 but the work is beautiful and exceptional, shewing in parts 

 some foreign influence, and though, as in almost all our Cornish 

 Churches of that date, there is unfortunately little or no record 

 of those who built it, it would have been a source of regret if 

 it had been swept away for ever. The east window and much 

 of the elaborate work has been most carefully and skilfully 

 restored. But besides this, its preservation has been the direct 

 means of leading the architect to the production in the new 

 Church of a special feature which will distinguish Truro 

 Cathedral from all others, viz : the four parallel arcades on the 

 choir side forming five distinct aisles of varying width and 

 height. 



