Kitabı oku: «Recollections of a Busy Life: Being the Reminiscences of a Liverpool Merchant 1840-1910», sayfa 12
The Building of a Cathedral
The see of Liverpool was founded in 1880. There was little difficulty in raising the endowment fund, thanks to the personal exertions of Mr. Torr, M.P., and Mr. Arthur Forwood, but the selection of a bishop was a matter for grave thought. Liverpool contained many low churchmen and many Orangemen, and it was also recognised that the high churchmen had done most excellent work. The views of the evangelical party, however, prevailed, and Lord Sandon and Mr. Whitley were instructed to use every influence with Lord Beaconsfield to secure the appointment of an evangelical churchman. In this they were successful. Lord Beaconsfield appointed Dr. Ryle, whom he had but recently created a Dean, as the first Bishop of Liverpool.
The proposal to erect a cathedral was first made in 1887. A committee was formed; a site on the west side of St. George's Hall – where St. John's Church stood – was selected, and a design by Sir William Emerson was approved by Mr. Ewan Christian, the architectural assessor. I was appointed one of the treasurers to the fund, and at once began an active canvass for donations. There was, however, a great lack of enthusiasm; many objected to the site chosen, and the Bishop did not help the cause, for though he was in a way anxious that a cathedral should be built, he freely expressed his opinion, both in public and in private, that additional churches and mission halls would be more useful. We received promises of only £41,000, and then we had to allow the scheme to drop, for it was quite impossible to make further headway. I think the Bishop was disappointed. He was an earnest, good man, and during his episcopate great progress was made in church building in the diocese, but in his heart I do not think he was ever enthusiastic in favour of the cathedral scheme.
No further steps were taken towards the erection of a cathedral during the episcopate of Dr. Ryle. When his successor, Dr. Chavasse, had been consecrated bishop the scheme took shape again, and shortly after he had been installed at his suggestion a small committee was formed to formulate a proposal. The Bishop was good enough to ask me to become the treasurer. I had so ignominiously failed in my first attempt to collect money that I declined, but his lordship was very pressing, and after thinking the matter well over I said I would make an attempt to start a fund, provided no site was selected and no general committee formed until we had received sufficient promises to make the scheme a success; and I added that if my conditions were accepted I would give up all other work for six weeks and devote myself to working up a cathedral fund. I made those conditions because I found on my previous effort the selection of a site and a design was a serious hindrance, as they afforded reasons and excuses for not giving. The Bishop agreed to this proposal. I wrote six or eight begging letters every night and followed them by a call on the day following, and I wrote a series of articles in the daily press, and managed to arouse a considerable amount of interest and enthusiasm in our scheme. We started our list with a handsome donation of £10,000 each from Lord Derby, Sir Alfred Jones, and others. Canvassing was hard work, but Liverpool people were very good and very generous. In my daily rounds I met with much kindness, but with some disappointments. Only one man, whose father made his millions in Liverpool as a steamship owner, was rude and unpleasant, but even he in the end relieved his conscience by sending in a small donation. At the close of six weeks' work I was able to announce to the Bishop's Committee that we had promises amounting to £168,000. We did not, however, stop at this. The ball was rolling and must be kept rolling, and before we called a halt we had promises in meal or malt amounting to £325,000. In this amount are included special donations for windows, organ, etc.
The Earle and Langton families most liberally gave £25,000 towards the cost of the Lady Chapel, and ladies of old Liverpool families were most generous in their contributions.
This success would have been impossible of achievement if it had not been for the wonderful influence of the Bishop. Everyone recognised his saintly character, his arduous work, and the statesmanlike manner in which he ruled over his diocese. Perhaps the Bishop's strongest point in dealing with men is his power of "enthusing" others. He always looks upwards, and in the darkest days is full of brightness and words of encouragement.
The next step was the selection of a site, and this aroused considerable discussion. There were many advocates for what was known as the London Road site, at the junction of that thoroughfare and Pembroke Place, a very commanding position; but as the cost of the site alone would have been £150,000 it was placed on one side. The sites of St. Peter's and St. Luke's were considered and pronounced too small. Eventually St. James' Mount was decided upon as being central and commanding, and having picturesque surroundings. The fourteen acres comprising the Mount were purchased from the Corporation for £20,000.
It was decided to advertise for designs and give premiums for the two best, and Mr. Norman Shaw, R.A., and Mr. Bodley, R.A., were appointed assessors.
Many designs were sent in and exhibited at the Walker Art Gallery. From these the assessors selected the design of Mr. Gilbert Scott, a young man of only 19, a grandson of the great Gothic architect, Sir Gilbert Scott, R.A. It was a design which did not commend itself entirely to the committee, and Mr. Scott being a Roman Catholic it was feared some objection might be taken, and the committee very wisely decided to link Mr. Bodley, R.A., with Mr. Scott as joint architects – a very happy combination, for while we secured the genius of Mr. Scott, we also secured the ripe experience and exquisite taste of Mr. Bodley.
We elected the Earl of Derby as our president, and I was made the chairman of the executive committee, a position of much honour and of absorbing interest, but involving considerable responsibility. We were fortunate in having on the committee Mr. Arthur Earle, who has rendered yeoman service both in collecting funds and finding donors of the windows. We have also received great assistance from Mr. Robert Gladstone, the deputy-chairman, and Mr. F. M. Radcliffe.
We had some difficulty with our foundations, as part of the Mount was made-ground, and the rock when we reached it was very friable. The consequence was that on the east side we had to go down forty, and even fifty feet before we obtained a satisfactory foundation. The foundations for the Choir, Lady Chapel, Vestries, and Chapter House cost £40,000.
Foundation-Stone Laid by the King
It was decided to invite the King and Queen to lay the foundation-stone, as it was the only cathedral likely to be built in this century. The King graciously consented, and fixed the afternoon of July 19th, 1904, for the ceremony, the arrangement being that he was to come down from London in the morning, lunch with the Lord Mayor at the Town Hall, and afterwards lay the foundation-stone; and on the conclusion of the ceremony embark upon the royal yacht in the river to proceed to Cardiff, en route to open the waterworks constructed in South Wales for the supply of Birmingham. The arrangements for the foundation-stone laying required much thought, as my experience has taught me that "functions" are successful only if every detail is well thought out beforehand.
Around the foundation-stone a huge amphitheatre of wood was constructed capable of seating 7,000 persons, and in the centre we erected an ornamental dais upon which the King and Queen were received and where they stood during the religious service; and in front of the dais, about thirty feet away, the foundation-stone stood ready for lifting and laying. We also formed a choir of 1,000 voices to take the musical part of the service, led by the band of the Coldstream Guards.
The day was beautifully fine and the city splendidly decorated, quite a royal day. Lord Derby and the High Sheriff met their Majesties on their arrival at Lime Street Station, when presentations were made to their Majesties. The King was in the uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet; Lord Derby appeared as Lord-Lieutenant, and uniforms and court dress were worn by the guests. Their Majesties proceeded from the station to the Town Hall, where a very select company was assembled. After luncheon the King knighted the Lord Mayor, who became Sir Robert Hampson. At Lord Derby's request I proceeded to the site to receive their Majesties on their arrival, and afterwards had the honour of presenting the architects and the members of the committee.
The service was conducted by the Archbishop of York and the Bishops of Liverpool and Chester. It was grand and majestic, worthy of the occasion. Most of the bishops of the northern province were present in their robes, and also about 300 of the clergy. At the conclusion of the service the King expressed to me his great satisfaction, and the Queen did the same, adding that the music was beautifully rendered. Everything passed off well, but during the service heavy banks of clouds began to gather, and the royal party had scarcely left the site when the rain fell.
Consecration of the Lady Chapel
The consecration of the Lady Chapel took place on Wednesday, 29th June, 1910, St. Peter's Day, and was a most imposing and impressive ceremony. The Lord Bishop conducted the service, the Archbishop of York preached the sermon, and they were supported by the Archbishop of Dublin and twenty-four other bishops, all wearing their convocation robes. There was a large assembly, the difficulty being to accommodate all who wished for seats.
The Bishops' procession was formed in the vestries, and was composed of the Chapter and Clergy, the Cathedral Choir, the Bishops and their Chaplains, the Bishop of the Diocese, and the Archbishop of York. The procession marched round the chapel through the street to the door of the Lady Chapel, the choir singing an appropriate anthem. Arriving at the door, after the recital of some prayers, the Bishop knocked, demanding admission. Upon entering the church, the Earl of Derby, the president, in his chancellor's robes, and attended by Mr. Arthur Earle, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Radcliffe, Sir Robert Hampson, and myself, as the chairman, advanced and handed the Bishop a request that he would consecrate the chapel, and also a deed conveying the chapel and its site to the Bishop and the Chapter. The procession then proceeded to their places in the choir, and the service commenced, the musical part being beautifully rendered by the choir, Mr. Burstall presiding at the organ. The service was interesting and quaint, especially the blessing by the different bishops of the various votive offerings. The Archbishop preached a most eloquent sermon, taking as his text: Habakkuk 2nd chapter, 20th verse, "The Lord is in his holy temple: let the whole earth keep silence." The consecration was followed by a luncheon at the Town Hall. An octave of special services was held in the chapel in the following week, at which several bishops preached.
This is not the place to describe the architectural features of the Lady Chapel, but it seems to have won the admiration of all by its charming proportions, its chaste but rich beauty, and its quiet, devotional feeling.
The gifts to the chapel by the Earle and Langton families were both numerous and costly; and of the total cost of the chapel, about £70,000, these families generously contributed nearly one-half. Their offerings were supplemented by those of other friends, so that the chapel when opened was complete in every detail, and with every accessory.
To the Dowager Countess of Derby and her committee of lady workers, with Miss Stolterfoht as secretary, we are indebted for the beautiful embroideries which do so much for the adornment and enrichment of the choir.
We launched this first and great instalment of the cathedral "in humble thankfulness to Almighty God that He has prospered our handiwork, and pray that in this holy and beautiful house prayer and praise may be ever offered unto Him; that He will assist with His blessing our effort to complete the cathedral for His Glory; that He will endue with wisdom the heads that guide, preserve from evil the hands that work, provide the silver and gold, and carry to a glorious completion the building thus begun."
York House of Convocation
In 1902 the Lord Bishop was good enough to nominate me as a member of Convocation. We met at York once each year, when the clergy held their meetings within the precincts of the cathedral, and the laymen in a temperance hall. Our debates were purely academical and bore no fruit, and no notice was taken of us by the Archbishop or the cathedral authorities. If the clergy and laity were to meet together, Convocation would have a reality and a value, for if nothing should come of their public discussions they would at least get to know each other, and an interchange of ideas could not be otherwise than advantageous to both. Under the rule of Archbishop Lang I have no doubt Convocation will become a very valuable institution.
Church Congress
The opportunity was afforded me to take part in several meetings of the Church Congress. At some I read papers and at others I was a special speaker. The most interesting congress was the one held in Exeter in 1894, when I was the guest of Bishop Bickersteth, at the Palace. The other guests at the Palace were Dr. Temple, then Bishop of London; Dr. Wordsworth, Bishop of Salisbury; Dr. Gott, Bishop of Truro; and Lord Cross.
We were all much interested with the rugged intellectual power of the Bishop of London. His epigrammatic utterances interjected into our after-dinner talk were full of wisdom, and often bubbled over with quiet, quaint humour. Many stories were told of the Bishop when he was the Bishop of Exeter; of the kindness which was concealed under his brusque, outspoken manner, and his remarkable influence for good. He delivered at Exeter a striking and very forcible address upon temperance. His eyesight was already very defective and Mrs. Temple had to lead him about. To the surprise of everybody he not only became Archbishop of Canterbury, but will also be remembered as one of our great archbishops.
New York Cathedral
When in New York I had the opportunity of visiting their cathedral, the construction of which had been recently commenced. The clerk of the works took me into a room to show me the model of the cathedral, and he also showed me a list of cathedrals with their principal dimensions. At the foot of the list came the New York cathedral, the largest of all. I said to him, "You have forgotten one cathedral, the Liverpool cathedral." He replied, "So I have; where will it come?" I told him to put it at the bottom. He looked at me for a few moments in evident surprise, and said, "Is it to be larger than New York?" and on my answering "Yes" he replied, "Oh, we will make that all right; we will add another bay to our nave." I thought this was truly American, a determination not to be beaten.
CHAPTER XV.
PHILANTHROPY, CHARITABLE AND SOCIAL WORK
In no department of Liverpool life has more distinct progress been made than in its social regeneration. Liverpool was always liberal and generous in her charities, but there was an absence of enlightenment in her municipal administration, and an utter failure to realise the social degradation in which so many of her people lived; her streets in the 'sixties were not fit places for respectable people after dark, while the neighbourhood of the Sailors' Home at all times of the day was a place to be avoided. Liverpool was known as the "black spot" on the Mersey, and well earned that title.
It is difficult to make people sober or moral by act of parliament, and the Liverpool people did not wait for Parliament, but aroused and set in motion a strong public opinion, which demanded radical social changes. The town had been flooded with licensed public-houses at a time when Mr. J. R. Jeffery, Mr. Robertson Gladstone, and other justices advocated the free license system, and the increased competition in the sale of drink had led to many evils. The justices thought that by extending licences they would do away with what was called the "gin palace," as it would no longer be worth the publican's while to invest large sums of money to make his house attractive and alluring. The multiplicity of licences, however, increased intemperance to such an extent that in 1874 things were so bad that the Times commented on the dreadful moral condition of Liverpool, and its unparalleled death-rate, as indicating that "the leading inhabitants were negligent of their duties as citizens." The public conscience was aroused, and a band of very earnest temperance men, headed by Mr. Alexander Balfour, the Rev. Dr. Lundie, and Mr. Sam. Smith began a crusade against the licensing justices and the Watch Committee, whom they considered to be sympathetic with the drink "trade," and a Vigilance Committee was formed. The struggle was a long and fierce one, but great reforms have taken place. The streets of Liverpool have been purified, and the temptations to drink have been largely reduced. The name of Alexander Balfour will ever stand out prominently as the chief of this movement, in the days when strong men were wanted to lead, and in these latter days Sir Thomas Hughes is entitled to much credit for the firm and consistent manner he has ruled over the licensing bench.
Liverpool now breathes freely, and is no longer "the black spot" on the Mersey.
Throughout this long and angry controversy the Conservative party occupied a difficult position. Many of its most active supporters were connected with what is termed the "trade," they were endeavouring to conduct a very difficult business respectably, and in conformity with the licensing laws, they have also been called upon to make large sacrifices. The Conservative party were always sympathetic with the "trade," and felt that the measures meted out to them were unduly harsh, but have always recognised that something heroic must be done to win back the city's good name. It is regrettable that a great and much-needed social reform should have become so much mixed up with party politics, but under the circumstances it was perhaps unavoidable.
The reforms which have taken place owe much of their success to our press. Porcupine in the 'seventies, under the editorship of Hugh Shimmin, was their active and strong advocate; and more recently the Daily Post under the direction of Sir Edward Russell, has also done good service, and sad to say, both editors had to appear in the law court to vindicate their actions.
While this movement to exercise increased supervision over public-houses and to diminish their number was in progress, the City Council was actively engaged in the problem of not merely demolishing insanitary property, but of replacing the rookeries thus destroyed by suitable and well designed houses. This new policy began in 1885, when the group of dwellings known as Victoria Square was erected. This good work has proceeded rapidly, and the Corporation has already expended considerably over £1,000,000 in this direction.
Perhaps no one obtains such a full insight into the charitable and philanthropic work of the city as the Lord Mayor. He is called upon to preside over annual meetings of some ninety of our charities, and is brought into close contact with the many smaller societies, doing what they can for bettering and brightening the lives of the people. Whatever may have been the shortcomings of Liverpool in other respects, her people have always liberally supported her charities, and these have been far-reaching and generous in the benefits they have conferred upon the community.
In the wide realm of philanthropy Liverpool has had many active workers, for the most part unknown to fame, who plod away day after day in our slums, with no prospect of reward, save the satisfaction of doing something to ameliorate and brighten the lives of others. Recently a short paragraph in a newspaper told us of the death of a clergyman who had a distinguished university career, and who for twenty-four years lived and worked unknown in the by-ways of Liverpool, attached to no church, but doing what he could to uplift those around about him – and there are many such. Among our workers in the good cause of philanthropy we have had Mr. Edward Whitley, M.P., Mr. Clarke Aspinall, Mr. Christopher Bushell, Mr. William Rathbone, M.P., Mr. William Crosfield, Mr. Charles Langton, Canon Major Lester, and Monsignor Nugent.
Mr. William Rathbone was not only an ideal local member of Parliament, but for more than half a century he was foremost in every good work in Liverpool. As a member of the Select Vestry he made the poor laws a special subject of study. In the founding of our University, and the District Nursing Association (the first in the country) Mr. Rathbone rendered a great service.
Mr. Christopher Bushell was another leader of men; tall and dignified in appearance and a good speaker, he was active in the cause of philanthropy in support of the church and of education.
Nor must we forget the many ladies who have devoted their energies to charitable and philanthropic work. Miss Calder has accomplished great things for the school of cookery, and we have Miss Melly and Miss Rathbone working for the Kyrle Society. The late Countess of Lathom was ever ready with her handsome and distinguished presence and eloquent voice to help forward every good work. Only a few months before she met with her sad and tragic death she said to me, "When I am gone you must write as my epitaph, 'She opened bazaars.'" Liverpool has had few friends more devoted or more capable than the late Lady Lathom.
