THE YORE MUSICAL FESTIVALS.
Sra—In the report of the Leeds Musical Festival, contained in your last number, it is said that the York Musical Festival "was crushed long since by the interference of clerical bigotry." I believe this assertion to have been made without authority. It belongs to the Dean and Chapter to sanc- tion or prohibit the use of the cathedral for the purpose of holding an ora- torio: practically, the power is vested in the Dean. Now, whatever may have been the failings of the late Dean Cockburn, assuredly he was no clerical bigot. And various reasons may be assigned for the refusal, which are quite satisfactory to many who are neither clergymen nor bigots. Since the last festival, one-half the Minster has been burnt down a second time; and the guardians of the fabric may well pause before they allow the nave to be filled from end to end with a quantity of woodwork, in orchestra, gal- leries, and benches, which, if maliciously set on fire as by Jonathan Martin, or carelessly as by the Leeds clockmaker, would make the whole building one irreparable rum. It is true that in the last few years a strong feeling has grown up adverse to the use of religious edifices for any other than strictly devotional purposes, but this feeling is far from being confined to clerical bigots ; it is shared not only by the lay members of the Establish- ment but by many who wish due reverence to be paid to holy places, al- though they are not the places in which they themselves worship. If, in- deed, the preparation of York Minster for an oratorio could be carried on, like the building of Solomon's temple, "so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house," religious feeling would be less offended ; but for many weeks it was turned into a huge carpenter's shop, only a brief respite to the noise and bustle being allowed during the performance of divine service. These considerations fully justify the re- fusal of the authorities in the judgment of many others as well as of your
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