OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue XVII, 24 October 1896, Page 520

OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

THE LATE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. WE publish in this issue two portraits of the late Archbishop of Canterbury, whose death in England last week has caused very' general regret throughout the Anglican Church. The large portrait was taken in 1883. when Dr. Benson was translated to Canterbury from the Bishopric of Truro ; the smaller picture is of much more recent date. The late Archbishop was a man of high character and distinguished talents. His university career was a brilliant one, and in his subsequent work in connection with the church his ability as an organiser was very conspicuous. As a preacher he was peculiarly eloquent and earnest, and his sermons always attracted attention. Perhaps one of the most remarkable tributes to his energy is the enormous amount of money—^ls,26o,ooo —which has been raised by voluntary offerings for church

building and restoration during the thirteen years he has occupied the chair of St. Augustine. In addition to that sum, during his primacy a sum of over £7, 000,000 was voluntarily contributed towards the support of church schools. Dr. Benson was born iu 1829, so that at his death he was only 67. He was educated at King Edward’s School, Birmingham, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he took a first class in classics, and was senior chancellor's classical medallist and senior optime. He was made a Fellow of Trinity in 1853, and in the same year was ordained deacon. In 1857 he was ordained priest, and made a prebendary in Lincoln Cathedral in 1869, and chancellor and canon residentiary in 1872. He was hon. chaplain to the Queen from 1873-75, and chaplain 1875-77. Consecrated First Bishop of Truro in 1877, he founded the first cathedral erected in England since the Reformation. It was the intention of the Archbishop to have held a Great Anglican Conference at Lambeth during the summer of 1897. As next year is the 1,300 th anniver. sary of St Augustine’s landing in England, it was expected that the Conference would be the largest and most influential ever held. The Archbishop had issued his formal invitation to the Bishops of the Anglican Communion throughout the world to assemble for deliberation on church matters, doctrine, and discipline. The programme of subjects for discussion was also published. It has been suggested that the Conference will still be held, and that it will be made the occasion for the consecration of Dr. Benson’s successor. ROYAL WEDDING CAKE FOR HER ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS MAUD OF WALES. This is the seventh cake supplied by Messrs Bolland and Sous for the Royal Family. The decorations were specially designed by the firm for the present occasion • and the bridegroom’s association with the sea, always so interesting to the English and Danish people, was borne

in mind by the designers. The cake is massive in its proportions, and is arranged in three tiers, the largest cake below, the second tier being formed of four smaller cakes, the third composed of one separate cake, more particularly described as follows : —The large lower cake was placed upon the massive silver stand ; the base of the lower tier was encircled by a wreath of emblematical flowers, comprising the rose of England, with that of Denmark, the shamrock of Ireland, and the thistle of Scotland, all interwoven with orange blossom. The next tier was formed of four smaller cakes, each encircled with a broad satin ribbon, edged with pearls entwined with a wreath of orange leaves and buds, the whole tied with a ‘ true lover’s knot. ’ Between each cake was a trophy composed of a lighthouse—upon its rocky base are placed figures of Britannia, the British Lion, and the Anchor, emblematical of Courage, Protection by Land and Sea, and Steadfast Hope. The upper tier is supported by figures of cupids standing with uplifted arms and outstretched wings, and the whole was surmounted by a triumphal column upon a bed of rock, upon which Britannia stands, trident in hand, and surrounded with dolphins and cupids playing with shells and seaweed. < QUEEN’S CADETS, CHRISTCHURCH. The Queen’s Cadets were formed in 1887 in honour of the Queen’s Jubilee, the prime movers of the organisation being Captain R. Linn, and A. Ayers, Esq., the Mayor of the city for that year. Four companies were raised, and soon after formed into a battalion. When the regimental system was abolished the Cadet battalion was included, and the Defence Department reduced the strength to one company of 40 boys. The corps is now up to its full strength, and under the command of Captain C. E. Jones and Lieut. H. Lane. Captain Linn still keeps a fatherly eye on * his boys, ’ and is ever ready to help the officers in their labour of love. During the years of its existence the Queen’s Cadets have contributed over 600 boys to the adult corps of Canterbury and elsewhere.