Ans we to have a Cathedral? It very rarely happens that an Ecclesiastical question forms the topic of conversation in Shanghai society, but during the past week the above enquiry has been very frequently made, and the pros and cons discussed with considerable interest. The reason is obvious, For once, a Church question involves a point of which the community are tenacious, viz., the rank of the Settlement. In spite of our supposed longing to return home—a feeling which is often more imaginary than real—the residents are asa body attached to the place, and take an honest pride in the position which it has attained. In spite of gloomy auguries, Shanghai is now, and is long likely to continue, the foreign capital of North China, and as such it deserves an ecclesiastical as. well aga legal status. This Port is the Head Quarters of the Supreme Court; it is the most influential Consulate; and it certainly ought to be the seat of a Bishop. We can conceive no possible difficulty in carrying out the scheme. Technical objections, we are assured, there are none and, indeed, the legal propriety of the step is guaranteed by the fact that the proposal to convert the Church of the Holy Trinity into a Cathedral, was seconded and recommended by Sir Edmund Hornby. Precedents, if such are required, can easily be found; but it is our impression that the present state of affairs is that which would be difficult to justify or explain; and, though it may not be in the strict sense of the term unprecedented, it is certainly anomalous. We may go further, and say that the proposition brought forward at the last meeting of subscribers to Trinity Church embodied an idea that has been long present to the minds of the residents. In our own columns, and in those of our contemporaries, the word "Cathedral" has often slipped in unconsciously for "Church," in paragraphs relating to the large and superb building which occupies such a prominent place in the Settlement; and, therefore, no violence would be done to the feelings of the community by the official and formal bestowal of that name to which the popular voice has already become accustomed. The present state of affairs is, we repeat, anomalous and perplexing; and though a Bishop may discharge his functions without a Catheral, there is a certain propriety in his having one which has been recognized universally in those countries where Episcopal Churches exist.
The erection of our Church into a Cathedral may be regarded from two points of view. From the Bishop's standing point, it may be regarded as a recognition of the zeal and earnestness which induced the residents to provide a church superior, in an artistic point of view, to any structure devoted to Protestant worship in the East. The plans were adopted in'days of prosperity, but it must not be forgotten that the design was carried through at considerable sacrifice, and'that formidable difficulties had to be faced before the funds could be raised to complete the building. Such perseverance in a good cause cannot fail to be pleasing to the Chief Pastor of the English Church in North-China. On the other band, the residents in Shanghai cannot but feel glad that they have it in their power to offer a tribute of respect to Bishop Russell. Long and diligent service as a missionary earned him the post he holds, and he has borne himself in his important office in a way which has secured him' the personal regard of all those who have been brought into contact with him. It may seem strange thattheproposal made at the last Church meeting was not made when the Bishop first came amongst us. This, however, is easily explained; regular Church meetings are only held once a yenr, and are regarded as matters of routine. Apathy, and an unwillingness to make changes, steal over dwellers in the East, and make them often omit obvious duties; besides, as has been suggested, some doubt existed as to the extent and character of Bishop Burdon's jurisdiction, AM these objections are now removed, and we hope the necessary measures will be'taken without delay, to, give effect to the resolution adopted at the Church Meeting.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.