n to man; and that the
Church needs not now the signs and wonders by which that revelation was
attested and declared. A large, or rather an active body, some few years
ago sprang up in Scotland, crossed the Border, and extended to England,
and enrolled amongst their members many in what may be termed an
influential position in life. Enter their churches, and you learn,
according to them, the gift of tongues still exists, signs and wonders
are still manifested to the faithful, miracles are still wrought by those
upon whom God has conferred the gift. Still, as much as in Apostolic
times, does the Divine afflatus dwell in man, and the man so endowed
becomes a prophet, and declares the will of God. "The doctrine of
Christ's reign upon earth was at first," says Gibbon, "treated as
profound allegory, was considered by degrees as a doubtful and useless
opinion, and was at length regarded as the absurd invention of heresy and
fanaticism." A similar process has been in operation with regard to the
power of working miracles and speaking in unknown tongues. Against this
process the Irvingite or Catholic Church is a living protest.

It is now many years since a magnificent Gothic cathedral was commenced
in the corner of Gordon Square, between what at one time was Coward
College and the handsome building erected by the Unitarians, and known as
University Hall. Architecturally the new church may take high rank. The
cathedral, still unfinished, is perhaps the most extensive modern work of
the kind that has been undertaken. The Early English style has been
adopted generally for the exterior, but inside the style of the roof and
stone carvings is Decorated. The flat ceiling of the aisles, with rich
traceried bosses and spandrels, is very effective. The ornament
throughout, of which there is a considerable quantity, displays careful
design. Indeed, in the opinion of competent critics the execution could
not be surpassed. There are daily services in the church; on Sunday
there are four. In the evening there is a sermon addressed to strangers.
It may be added here that, under the title of Catholic Apostolic
churches, there are in all seven buildings registered in London. To
each, I believe, appertain an evangelist, an apostle, a prophet, and an
angel; and as each officer is peculiarly distinguished by his dress, in
the cathedral in Gordon Square an effect is sometimes produced almost as
scenic as any in a Roman Catholic cathe