The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-29
CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN'S.
The loading RitURIistic Church in Ame-
ricR-Vicws of Rev. DIR. MOrrlIl-Ehe
Mass at 81. AIbans.


The Leading RitUaIistie Church in Ame-
ricR-Vicws of Rev. Dr, MOrrlll-The
Mass at ST. Adams.
On Forty-seventh street, between Lexington
and Fourth avenues, the Protestant Bpi. co pal
Chapel OF St. Adams is situated. Externally
there is little to distinguish 1t from many of the
smaller aud more modest churches OF the city.
The crosses h CD surmount each end are not an
uausual addition to an American Episcopal
chapel. luside, the windows simply stained and
"uupictured," the three lows OF polished seats
ana even the puloIt would not be out of place in
tue stric'est Puritan conSentcie. But it is not
that that makes this lttle church 50 important
or so unusual. At the end generally occupied
by the preaching de,k or by the pain commu-
nion table OF an English church, there is ra led
OIL Sanctuary" or choir in which an imposing
structure rises. One glance at this salts les the
VISITOR that 1T is an altar sucn as Archbishop
MCCloskey might otliciate at in his cathedral.
The ministerial portion of the church elevated
by steps above the part allotted to the lalty
consists OF two parts; the outer, in which the
cborsters and attendant priests are seated and
which correspCnds 10 the cnOr OF collegiate
chapel; the inner, in which the altar is placed
and which is ralled off by communion raIl.
The roof over this part OF the church is hand
somely decorated IN green or blue aud gold.
That tTeiOil mod dhCation of the cross lormel
by three large sesmens of a circle, so
familiar to the student of ecclesiastical
ornament is frequently found on the
field of the root. Tue transverse beams are
Inscribed with the words Al eiu'dh. Tue altar Is
OF the usual Roman Catholic form. The ascent
to 1t is made by three narrow steps, aud the
last is wide "plane" on which the priest
oifCiates at Mass. The altar is adorned as in
Roman Catholic church. An anlependium of
the color OF the feast depends in 'front.'. On
raised ledge there are placed a crucltY, candles,
flower vases, but there Is no tabernacle. 1he
wall behind the altar is suitably decorated, aud
over the CruC6X is well knoWn picture OF the
'.A9nus Del,' carrying cross. Next the cructdX
there are on ordinary festivals but two candles,
while around the altar are Caudelabra. On the
right hand or eplslle side OF the altar is the Gre
dence table or cruet stand. These points Will at
once show the remarkable similarity OF the altar
of st. Albau's aud its Surroundings to those OF a
Roman Catholic church. The ldentityis almost
perfect. But this is not all. The CeremouIal
used at tue mass performed beneath its root Is 20
like that used a. similar service in the H0man
churches, that to Que accustomed TO the differ
ence betWt en- ordinary Pro'estantsm aud Catho
licism the similarity Is fabulous. This sim arlty
will be Traced further on; III the meantime, a
few words about the pastor of the church,
"Fathor" MoTrill. as his flock love to cali
him, AMI his particular tenets, will neither be
unintert sting nor foreign to the subject of this
article.
THE PRIEST OF ST. ALB.N'S.
In one OF the trausepts of st. Adams there is
q little room cut off from the rest OF the build
ing. In position it might answer for a sacristy;
in actual use it is employed as the study aud
receivipg-Ioom Of the pastor, Father Morrill,.
Seen TIN ouch the halGopen oaken door 1t has
faasaqet as el%k 20kths II @ coal m r e the books aSd pic
Tary man, ii no other, can apprC ciatc. Enter, at
The polite invitation OF its occupant and be seated
in that easy Chair which stands vacant Tor the
casual visitor. The room, we said, was pleasant
one. 1t is not large. It's haltcarpeted floor, the
doors, the extraordinary little windows, the cup
board and the bookcase, the WrItlng.stand, teW
exquisite prints, and large chrome irresistibly
INDICATE the sanctum of a student. A glance at
the books and at parchment bound folio, with
bibulous leaves and Tubrcs staring out nom the
page IN their peculiar red letters, the subject OF
the Prints; thuIIbe in the corner; and, above
all, the picture of ST. Bernard, that wonderful
monastlc refOrmer, indicate the private room of
Catholic clergyman. Does Il glance at the
pOrtly form and pleasing tace Of the gentleman,
still young, who occupies that carved oak
chair dsspate the idea? He is q CON.
tortahl looking Roman Catholic clergyman.
beyond all doubt His dress is OF the most
clerical hue; his coat is Of the most clerical
cut, well made, buttoned close under the
throat, over which the Roman collar" APP
pears: the waistcoat displayed and crossed
dagoualiy by a handsome and tasteful gold
chain. This is Father Morrill,. In mis- personal
appearance there is little to iudIca,e unusual
ability as one oe the characteristics of DR..
Morrill,; his head is of that order which men
of great courage. prepared to face popular
obloquy, possess; IL is round and compact. A
casual inspection of his personnel produces the
impression of a kind hearted man who will
never set the Hudson or the Thames ablaZe.
Watch the play OF the eye aud the compression
of the lips. or The sudden projection OF the
hands during conversation. The actions are
those Of an energetic thinker accustomed to
almost voluble, he freely expresses his views in
language which seems unprecedented, bat
which, on analysis, is found to convey pretty
accurately the precise idea OF the speaker. THIS
| accuracy has doubtless been acquired by the
logical habits OF thought which his hvorite
study involves. HIS Auency is traceable to
the frequency of his being called upon to
''eive reason for that which is in him." What
this is, Father Morrill, thinks the public have
never fairly learned. He has been so frequently
msrepresented by unlutellGent Intervene wers"
that az ordinary reporter has become his bete
nor. He does not obi CT 10 Il full ventilation of
his peculiar views, but he desires that they may
be fairly stated. The doctrine and customs OF
the communicates OF st. Adams Church are
probably strange rs they are certainly interest
ing, but what they are may be gathered IRON
conversation with the members. visits TO the
church, and a perusal ofthe great authors whom
they adopt as the exponeDts of their faI' b
These sources are open TO ALL With these it
Will not be difficult TO state acc lrataly ii eX-
planatiou is impossible, Father Monall'5 system
of theology.