The New Year's Eve community-singing, which the Dean of St.
Paul's is initiating on Ludgate Hill, is developing great .possibilities. I see that in Edinburgh a similar programme is to be followed outside—and inside—the Tron Church, and I hear of various other. Cathedrals which are adopting the Ludgate Hill model. The fact that the St. Paul's service, which is to begin at 11.45, when the community-singing ends, will be broadcast throughout the country creates an inspiring element of Universality. With the criticism of the selection of the hymn " Abide with me " I have • no sort of sympathy. It may be that originally it was a hymn " in prospect of death," not an evening hymn. It may. be, and is, true that to sing it as the last item in community-singing before a Cup Final is inappro-' priate (though, to say the least; innocuous), but the hymn is universally known, the time is simple, and it would be hard to think of any occasion which it more completely fits than the closing moments of the year. I should like to hear it sung in the dusk on: Berry Head, where Lyte composed it.
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