The weekly sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1851-1869, 1864-11-26

deoN1peS0n. A ogUh0DeRs q thy14 %Uuf ptece1,
together with seventy s,set vo,osA al Of The high.
est degree Of proficiency, rends-sd IL in style Of
the highss inusicI excs,spos.
Aver the performance Of The masA the Right
Rev Archbishop apsidine. delivered the dcdies-
tory s~rrson, which concluded shsss mos interest
ing, solemn and impressive ceremonies His tsIt
was taken from Ephe'ians, 9Th cnapscr, and III "
18Th verscs, inclusive.
The admirable sermon Of shop 3pAuLdng We
are compelled TO orn, for want II spscc-Ed. BuN.l
Thus wss consecrssed 70 religious worship the
srandest church edifcs In Me United sss,ss-s CO.
hedrL thss is nos ou.y important as al indication
o'the advancement Of The cause Of religion, but
a monument Of art THAI will survive oug After
this generation have passed away
DESCRIPTION OF 1Hr BrrlpiSs.
The great work Of building the Cathedral WAS
inaugurated under the administration OF the late
Bishop Keudriek, OF Baltimore, anil was designed
to be the largest and most imposing religious
structure in the United States Culite grea, ms.
jority Of the churches In this country the money
Involved in LIS erection wholly contributed by
the Catholic lalty Of Phladelphia-who were mainly
of the poorer elias ses-and no4 . cent of the vast
cost aggregatina about million dollars, b.s been
donated by others A the work Progressed the
money was obtained by periodical collections.
barely enough 70 paw the current expense-, and
tne NUMBER OF Iaborers employed WAS made de-
pendent on these small receipts Thus by thu ar-
Gun uistion Of dribets--emost rennies-.he work
s'esdiIy but slowly Progressed. Year AFTER year
II hAs gradually been raised from the ground by
We devotion OF the Catholic lAity, and to-day It
stands the nob'est architectural monument In the
Guy OF brotherly Love and with the exception Of
TIE great Cathedral In the City Of Mexico the most
magnificent RELIGIOUS edihce III the New World
Standing On elevated ground, fronting on Logan
square The new Cathedral raises it's lofty dome
high above any other structure In Philadelphia As
stranger approaches the city, NO matter from
what poiut or IN what direction he secs the tower
ing spre, 1irInountcd with It's gilded cross stand
ing IA bold relief aysnst the sky ~ IL Pointing the
three.iourths " million Of human beings sur.
rounding II to that "houss not made with hands.
eternal In the heavens" But to gain = full appre
citation u It's noble grandeur, and TO obtain true
idea OF It's imposing appearance, closer o. sei I.
ton ~ necessary. From Logan Square IL pres.
. SIGHT which is equaed only by the magnhcen,
church edihces which constitute d leading artf-
cial attractions OF Europe The structure impresses
the beholder with comminglcd admiration for It's
uesnty and veneration for the noble csuse OF reli-
8on' TO which II IL consccrated. II IL magnificent,
yet not gaudy: elegant In artistic design, vet siy.
gest We Of sorDethin NJ higher of immortality The
massiveness OF It's construction, and the frnncss
with which u immense brown stone walls stand
upon their foundations IL strikngly noticeable and
marks the edifce as q structure that will stand
through the coming ages, when all the vast tbronp
that surround to-day Will have returned to dust
The general form Of the cathedral is oblong, and
in the form Of cross-being two hundred and
sixteen feet long by one hundred and thirtv-sx
feet wide The longer piece Of this cross IN ONE
hundred and ninety-two feet In length, and the
shorter one hundred aud twenty eight fect-ench
being my feet wide. From the ground TO tn top
OF the building prupcr Is little more than one
of he tvrn
hundred and ten feet. The dome, at the base, Il
sseventy-one feet In diameter, the wallis are ten
feet thick, and from here II rises symmctrica,ly,
contracting gradually until the apex 10 reached,
and the eye rests upon the g!lded cross which sur.
mounts II, At distance that makes tie head dizzy
Hut the exterior Of the cathedral only prepares the
mind TOR the grandeur and impressiveness Of the
interior On entering the beautifully arched door
way, scene strikes the beholder, which. for mag.
nihcencc and sublimity, has rarely been eau,lled
Unlike most church buildings there arc no aide
windows-the edifcc being lighted and ventilated
solely from the top. From the ample sky-lights an
abundant flood flight falls, bringing the Splendid
artistic design Of the interior, the elegant freseo
work and the gorgeous decorations plainly into
view. The nave or longer portion Of the building
10 bordersd on each side with q row Of massive MI.
lars, ten feet square, supporting the vsuited cell.
Ing ~ distance Of eighty seet from the ground
floor. These pillars are surrounded by alsles
twenty two feet wide, above which, at . hight Of
forty-two feet, are . number Of small domes each
having window In the top, with small staipel
glass centre.
The dimensions Of the sanctuary are filty by for
ty-sx feet, the floor being composed Of Ieautful
white marble, the blocks Of viii, are srranl Ell In
such manner as 70 give 1t highly pleasing effect,
Enclosing the sanctuary u 9 railing also Of marble
aud polisned to the highest possible degree lie
alter 10 not yet completed, and . temporary s,ruc
ture was mprovsed for the conservation ceremon-
les According W the plan upon which II 10 being
constructed, However, and the grandeur Of the de.
eorstions with which IL 10 " BE- surrounded IL will
be well In keeping with tho maguiHcence and sol.
emnity which impresses the behoider with re.
gard TO every part Of the wonderful ediace On
arm Of the building 10 large aud beautiful paint
tng-thas On the North end beng the Nativity or
Birth Of Christ and that on the South end the Ad-
grafton Of the Wise Men Of the East. The picture
OF the Nativity represents the Child Jesus resting
In the arms Of The Virgin and far in the distance
the star Of Bethlehem appears In the heavens, and
ths shepherds are seen peacefully watching Their
Aocks. In the second painting he Wis men are
seen bowng low before the babe and placing at his
feet their gin, OF ointment, gold and precious stones
The Cruc.hxion-the emblem Of the Roman Catho-
liz e'eed-s represented the eastern side Of the
longer arm Of the building. A. the foot Of the
cross the Virgin, Mary Ma9dalen and the Apostles
are portrayed, md the vinegar cup and sponge
clearly discernlble. Far above Mis- 10 another
painting representing sic Father, surrounded by
the heavenly throng, looking down at the suffering
Son, who Is dying for tho redemption of = sinful
world. Aud s,i;l higher IL seen the sym olicsl
dove, representing The Holy 0host-the three paint
ings being typical Of the fsther, the Son, and the
Holy Ghost--the Trinity, upon which is founded
thsse leading paintings other desigps are inter-
syerssd In the ircscong throughout the building,
The whole giving grand aud awe inspiring appear
Ance. As the eye wsuders upward from the boly Of