A GREAT CATHEDRAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 58, 3 December 1918, Page 7

A GREAT CATHEDRAL

WAR MEMORIAL r' AN INSPIRING PROPOSAL . [Contributed.] Throughout the ages iiiiin has sought to perpetuate liis impressions—first of things of sense, then uf his dreams and aspirations, and h'nnlly of his more or less perfect visions of heavenly things; also he liris endeavoured lo leave behind him memorials, as lasting as lie can make, them, of ins deeds, of his faith, of his loved oiks. To name n few of Hie many, one may mention the "Arc de Trioinphe," "Tne Ruins, of Thebes,'' and the Taj Alahj.l; but on none has he exercised more loving cure, greater exaltation of spirit, or more cuiijunumite genius than on the buildings erected to the glory i>f God and to the memory of those who have gone before. Who can think of Westminster Abbey.St. Paul's, York .Minster, .ililiiii, Amiens, Kouen, and many other cathedrals without experiencing a thrill of pride'and thankfulness that the Almighty has put it into the' heart of man .lo do such ■things? The inspiration that led to the predion of these memorial's is .=(ill with us, and it is our lot in these days lo leint our aid to erect another noble fane ro the ghiry of uiir Clod and to the memory of (hose noble sons of our race who have uttered up (heir lives lor the cause of righteousness in that war Unit has su lately been nialiin;; such supreme calls on our race. Tlioiigu we know Hint their deeds will live for all time, yc-t the r.itiiies of those who have fallen must pass into the realms of oblivion ».y the years pass by, unless records are kept and 'memorials eroded'to perpetuate both, and what can fulfil this runction .so well as the building of a cathedral that will stand through the centuries as witness to tne (iod of Jiighteousness, Whose inspiring inllueiiee has led men so to tight that they may uliow the world that might is not right and that the glory has not departed from <>ul- race nor from the peoples who nave lought with us in Iho common cause! In a young land such as this in which we live there is miich'tn stimulate endeavour, much lo'develop that spirit of independence which is so marki-u :i fealure of our national life. .All-arc workers, all arc endeavouring lu grasp that which will make their-lives mure replete with comfort and fuller of joy, and this spirit linlfsj led in the right direction has a tendency to make tin: outlook of the people .markedly materialistic Those who guide our dcsliiiics must *ee that what: is highest and best in us shall hnvo its due place in the evolution of the race, lost in pursuit of Iho lower the Bicaler is overlooked iud lost. It is meet and right that we should honour our soldiers and stiitcoiiicn lor Iheir nobls deeds ami wise actions; but we must not forgot Hun Who has (jivLMi in the ■•hearts courageous and the spirit of wisdom and a sound mind. All who have followed t.hu course .of the great war with an ';;,>en vision cannot fail to see tin: all-porva(iing I i-ovkloik-o (hat has led us ~u, by Mop, (ill victory has boon attained.' Military Chapel, This desire has led to the proposal that a great cathedral shall b» creeled : n Wellington.on «i-«iio [imiliilrly suiiablo for such a biiildiuy, »i(h nl-c.ii open .spaces iili around, and wilh ' '« noble background of hills. One important feature of this building will bo its hiilitary chapel, which shall 'bo at the same tim'o a memorial to our dead heroes, and will also provide tho means-of 'bowing the part played by Ihoso nations who have fought with us, whose joys and sorrows we have shared. ■ .

Here, fronting Hie busv trallic of the city, it will call to the liuirying' crowds to turn aside, to cast oft' for a brftf hour their burdens-of toil and anxictj, and pass amid the memorials of.-its lioVibured dead joino brief moments, .mrroumlcd by nil that- can and will.miuNer to the'call of their higher being. Here will their sensed bo lifted out-of-tho ■■calms of (he gross ami material into heights supdrnnl by the most potent forces (hat act on man's higher :naturo. Here will ; the first of the arts call (p (hem in notes (hat swell through the great spaces/of the church and'die in lingering; swdet- ■ ness round its'vaulted roofj hero will be held solemn services, glorified by all tliat can beautify and uplift; and 'here will be hoard the'poetry., the invocation,.t'he majesty of a nation's literature, .and tile unutterably wonderful (ale, of the'K'!Uecmer's birth, life,' and »ac.rifice.

Within and without the spiritual is. constantly suggested, and even when no se.rv.ice of-prayer, or praise and thanksgiving is being rendered; yet the beauty o! massive column, of painted window', springing arch and vaulted roof, .all seem to lift tho soul into the heavenly heights, just as every'column, arch, anil spire point upwards.

It has been the good fortune of many a soldier visitor to Hio'lJomeland during (he. war thai, ho bus been able to visit sonic of our English cathedrals. The impression made on most of these, men has been one of marvel at, the grandeur of their proportions, of wonder at the beauty of (heir slructures. ; nd awo at the solemn, brooding air Unit pervades their precincts. Tho. thought of the countless steps that: have .trodden their pavements, listened (o their rcrvices, and knelt at their altars, has influenced (hem in an indescribable wtiy, and.it has made some of them long for such buildings, such associations, in tiioir native land. In. such buildings inspiration reaches its climax in three directions at least. In literature, there is hoard through, the •Book of Books a wealth of poetic imagination, the deepest i pathos and overmastering lore told iii flowing prose. I.is|l architecture shows beauty . of . outline, majesty of strength, and super-imposed grace and lightness; and its music, wedded to the words .ind manifold sentiments of the Book, enwrap and enshroud with .intangible folds p.fmr, arch, urn!'nook of its interior, nug'.iif.ving thejr beauty, and seeming to wnka even the stones to sing.

This last, though the first, of. the arts, spoken of in the Hook, is undoubtedly the most potent outside influence that can act on man, ami many of the finest examples that have inspired its .greatest masters have been dedicated to the service of the Church. II is in this particular direction llhit a cathedral exercises a very powerful influence over: First, the community amongst whom it stands, ajid, later, over (lie whole bind. Its choir;should be, and usually is, trained to tlio highest perfection,' and its choristers, through their long and constant association with the best music that can be heard in a church, become saturated in music of Ihe purest and most exalted type; ami from their ranks spring tlie future organists oud choristers of the land. It is a well-known /net that, a great many of the best-known English, musicians have been cathedral choristers. A cathedral .should be the rallying point for most of the religious musical activities of the district in which is stands; its (service's or? atteiided [by peoples of. many creeds, drawn by thai subtle power which tends to unite them through the I'ummon love of thai which is beautiful and artistic in .sound ami sight. On occasions of general .supplication or thanksgiving it provides a common meet-ing-ground, with ample accommodation for large numbers who would otherwise miss (he inspiring influence of numbers; and so <i cathedral lends In' become something national, .somi'thing above and beyond creed, mi integral part of Ihe life of the community. Mere, too, may be gathered under one roof memorials of our soliders heroes, our nursing heroines, anil ill' our future great iiien and women; memorials thai by then , aggregation Exercise i\ greater Influence on future citizens than could possibly he the case if (hey were scattered far and wide. , We have established a tradition of dfeils lo inspire future generations of New Zoalnndors; first by the deeds of our early settlers and statesmen, and secondly by the heroism of our soldiers and women; and now it is high lime that we should establish one of works in' the form of laslin,; memorial;, so that in the futiire our children, can say—"See how they loved their Cio'.l, see. how (hey honoured their dead, anil what n fervent admiral ion they haii for deeds of courage, love, ami tervier!"