21 JANUARY 1871, Page 19

The Principles of the Cathedral System. By E. M. Goulburn,

D.D. (Rivingtons.)—Dr. Goulburn is a reformer of a thoroughly Conserva- tive type, He is not one of the Deans who wish to abolish Canons, and be naturally does not sympathize with Canons who see no utility in Deans. He would have the Cathedral establishments enlarged rather than diminished, seeking reform by getting the right men appointed to the dignities, and by getting the dignitaries to do their duty. What lie wants is " a constitutional reform, a reconstruction of [the Cathedrals] on the basis of their fundamental ideas." These fundamental ideas which, as he points oat, may and in some cases have, through the -changes of time, come to differ from the original ideas of these institutions, he takes to be the maintenance of an ideal of worship, the encourage- ment of learning, the nurture of a devout spirit, and the cultivation of sacred music. The duty of steadily working out these objects he enforces in a series of eight sermons, preached in his own cathedral, wise, practical, and moderate discourses, among which we would single out as specially excellent the fourth, "How to Spiritualize the Daily Office."