66

be audible enough, if they did not speak by such fits and starts, one moment shouting at the top of their voice, and the next dropping to so low a whisper as to be quite unintelligible. Dr. Hort, Archbishop of Tuam, in a charge quoted in the Clergyman's Instructor," happily applies to this style the title of "subsultory," and makes the following sensible remarks on it: "I am levelling this rule" (i. e. "to observe one even and uniform manner of pronunciation ") against that subsultory way of delivery, that rises like a storm in one part of the period, and presently sinks into a dead calm that will scarce reach the ear. I allow that elevations and softenings of the voice, judiciously managed, are both ornamental and useful; but those sudden starts and explosions are most ungraceful, and unbecoming the gravity of the pulpit, and are of no use, that I can think of, unless it be to startle a hearer that happens to be asleep and the other extreme of sinking below the ear is still more ridiculous; for words which cannot be heard may as well not be spoken."

:

Thus in this, as in all other things, there is room for the exercise of a sound judgment; and discretion must guide the reader in the use of his physical powers, as well as in the choice of place for his ministrations, so far as that depends upon himself.

CHAPTER III.

THIS remark applies equally to the next topic which demands consideration, viz. what degree of speed is desirable in reading the Service. There, too, the only rule that can be laid down is that of the old Greek sage, "Nothing in excess." A violation of this rule on either side is attended by serious evils, alike to be avoided. Too great slowness is wearisome and exhausting to the congregation, and consequently destructive of that devotion which it may erroneously be thought calculated, by its fancied impressiveness, to foster and increase. Too great quickness, on the other hand, produces a similar result, by distracting the attention of the hearer; while it also tends to create an appearance of hurry and indifference on the part of the reader, very injurious to the effect of his ministrations.

Nothing indeed is more to be deprecated than any approach to irreverence of manner in the performance of Divine Service. The recollection of the inspired preacher's warning, "God is in

heaven, and thou upon earth," may well regulate the lips, as well as the heart, of the minister, and prevent his being "rash with his mouth" (Eccles. v. 2). Most of all is such care demanded of him, when he is reading the words of God Himself, whether in the Old Testament or the New ; and the hurry which savours of flippancy will then be intolerably offensive to every devout worshipper.

Nor

On this point also, as on the other before mentioned, the judgment of the Minister will be guided, to a certain extent, by the difference of congregations with regard to intellectual culture. As a rule, the less people are able or accustomed to read themselves, the greater is the effort to them to follow the reading of another; and their only chance of comprehending him is his being deliberate, as well as distinct, in his utterance. do the lower orders much object to the length of a Service being increased by what others might think the slow reading of it. On the contrary, being only accustomed, at any rate in most country parishes, to go to church on Sunday, they are prepared to give up a good deal of their time then, and indeed apt to think rather slightingly of what is soon over.

But with the educated classes in towns the case is just the reverse. They catch the meaning of a sentence as soon as it is uttered, even if they are

not already perfectly acquainted with it (as they are with all but the sermon); and they are therefore naturally impatient of a tedious, drawling reader, who tasks their endurance, without any corresponding benefit to either their mind or their spirit. Especially will this be the feeling of those of them who are in the habit of attending frequent Weekday Services, wisely limited in their duration to such portions of time as may be spent in Divine Worship by even the busy man, who considers that he honours his Maker more by the daily recognition of His claims on our devotion, than by confining that recognition to one or two services on Sunday, extended to such a length that no human attention can be sustained as it ought to be throughout them.

A fluent, lively style of reading, then, is what such persons want; and a man of discrimination will know how to give it them, without lapsing in the slightest degree into a hurried, perfunctory manner, which cannot be too carefully guarded against, as being so strongly suggestive of irreverence and formalism. Thus, without sacrificing any part of the force and beauty of our Liturgy, he will vindicate it, as far as in him lies, from the charge of wearisomeness often brought against it without any fault of its own; partly owing to the combination in the morning of what ought to be

B

two distinct services, but also, in many cases, from more time than is requisite being spent in the reading of them; and still more from the loss of life and interest in them on the part of the congregation, through the long prevalent, but utterly reprehensible, habit of deputing to a parish-clerk the responses which all present ought themselves to make, and which, when so made, leave little room indeed for the complaint now mentioned.