To a missionary whose lot is cust in some far off inland town or city, a visit to Shanghai must rank next in importance to a run home. Even the natives here must appear to him more or less Europeanised in har-many with their surroundings.
We venture to think however that no greater intellectual or emotional treat could have been provided fur our reverent visitors than the recital n for their especial benefit on Friday night. There may be something in native music which appeals to the native heart, and it may be that missionaries may condone the murder of good old English hymn tunes by their Chinese congregations on the ground that the singing is done "with the spirit," but they will be all the more ready to do honour to the mighty genius of Mozart and the majestic grandeur of Handel when opportunity offers. Mr. Crompton's programme was worthy of the occasion, containing as it did examples from the greatest of great organ writers, and combining in due proportion the grave and the gay.
The softer picces probably appealed most to the general taste, the Andante Fasie, being particularly graceful and Mozart, and the Adagio Cuntubile by
pleasing. The dlleyro from Handel's 6th Organ Concerto was played with much spirit, and provided an excellent example of true Handelian brightness and vivacity. Bach's Fugue on St. Ann's" tune la well-known to lovers of pure organ music. The Funeral March by Beethoven though less emotional—to Englishmen at any rate—than the Dead March in Saul, is a very noble composition and was a very effective part of the programme. The Chorus Lift up your heads" completed one of the best performances Mr. Crompton has iven. Before dispersing, the hum The thurch's one foundation" was impressively sung by the large congregation assembled, who probably numbered among them sume dozen or more of the present divisions of "Church " referred to in the third verse.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.