The New York herald., 1870-08-28
THE NEW CATHEDRAL.
What Has Been Done in the Present Season.
The Cathedral Steadily Approaching Conn.,
pletion-The Altar-Ths Confession
sls-The 0rnamentations

Patrick's Cathedral was iaid by Archbishop Hughes,
the HERALD has given Its readers occasional reports
OF It's progress towards completion. During the
season. more than half OF which has now expired,
the work has been pushed steadily forward and 1t
is again pleasant task to review what has been
already accomplished ana to indulge in an antici-
pa.ory vision of what the future will bring us.
IL Is now more than twelve years since
the erection OF this magnificent temple
was inaugurated by solemn and affecting
reremony, In which 1t Is computed that at least a
hundred thousand spectators took part. Since then
with "a noteworthy tour years interruption, while
the nation was struggling for newer and nob!er
existence, this glorious poem In stOne' has been
steadily and patiently rising yard by yard, until at
last we have indeed golden earnest Of what q Will
ultimately become.
The wisdom which prompted the selection OF its
site so far up town Is constantly being
yndcated. Its situation, when the city has
attained the development into which IL already
surely promises TO mature, VIII be The most central
that could have been chosen. Standing on the
highest elevation In the most arstOcratc avenue OF
New York, 1t Will be the one conspicuous object Of
the landscape, whether one h going up or coming
down town. And not only that, but its graceful
spires viii be dIscernable far away on further
shores OF each OF the grand water highways that
inclOse the imperial city OF America. Genera
shall have grown into the full splendor OF Its COM
Ing glory, and when New York will he the centre Of
human wealth and intelligence and power. the Pill
grim to the great city, whether he be an American
coming for the first time to view the chiefest city
beneath the protection OF the Stars and Stripes or
foreigner, mpeled by curiosity to visit the metro
polls OF the world, will strain his eyes eagerly for
ward TO distinguish the most famous landmark of
the city-its cathedral.
1t Is most interesting sight to watch the daily
progress Of the work. outside vast quadrangle of
white marble, 332 feet IN length and 1872 feet In
width, has risen up to height OF some fifty or sixty
feet. and but for here and there the gr0aning and
creaking OF some aboring boom "a stone Is slowly
hauled up be laid In position the operations seem
TO be carried on in silence that is singularly I'M
pressive No hideous scanodng suggests the con-
fusion that generally makes inchoate archi-
lecture such disagreeable spectacle but
all the hosting Is done by an ingenious
arrangement OF slngie poles supported by
wire rope braces. Everything, far rs the exterior
Is concerned, preserves the decorous appearance
beiitng the erection OF a 'hOuse of God;n and the
children, who on their way up TO the Park gaze
wOnderingy at the work golng forward, viii, in
after years when the cathedral Is one OF the famous
sights or New York, have no disagreeable reminls
OF the disorder tnat usually attends the early
life OF great buildings.
e neaps a n9cR D nrs
blocks OF carved marble, mounds OF dust and rub.
| enclosed area, while here gang OF workmen are
iashiOning huge masses OF stone into their destined
shape or tnere couple OF patent steers meek-eyed
and dOce, in spite OF the angry switch at the rieS
they make every now ana then with their tails, haul
painfully along the latest arrivals from the quarry.
Still, however, there Is pleasing absence OF nOise
the space occupied by the operations large that
| the seventy men engaged IN the work seem utterly
powerless To breakhe prevailing stiffness; ana only
occasionally family hear the sharp, teci-
siye CHIP OF the chlse the tap OF the mallet One
Is strikingy reminded OF that other temple the
glorious ana celebrated ever but In honor of the
living God whose erection was absolutely and per-
fectlY nolselesS.
Enough %; the cathedral has now been built to
allow OF one forming very tar conception or what
It VIII look like when the last stone has been
hoised INTO itS place aud when, Ior the
first time, divine service will he celebrated In
precmc,s. The facade fronting on the avenue Is
almost finished, and Will well repay careful study
La the centre handsome Gothic arch, exqulsitely
carved. forms the main entrance to the cathedral.
On each side OF this main portal are two side
inches which at present empty but which, no
doubt Will be at some time hled with statues or the
Madonna and child, 81, Joseph and @ couple OF tue
apostles. Above the door fine pointed window,
with mullons and delicate tracery, Is supported on
each side by smaller window. AT eacn corner of
the facade a huge tower rises up giving couple
more entrances over each Of which Is another win.
dow Each OF these towers. after being
carried to height OF lS0 feet, Will ternl.
nate in graceful spires springng up another hun
dred and hfy feet The gaze The main en-
trance is richly panelled win ira eries and bears
in the centre the Of the See OF New York. with
tie symDollcal Keys and the legend, "CidudU et
aDe1it' (ne opens and shuts. The traceres over
the side entrances also bear shields; the right
That OF the state OF New York ani on the let That
OF the United states. These last features are
alteNhought Of the architect aud deserve notice,
tney SHOW tie true American spirit which ~ color
ing the work, and are, apart from that, introduced
with singular grace and felicity.
The cathedral mas now reached what may
term It's first story, the building having been carried
up, almost On every side, as ar rs where the side roof
can be hled IN 50 soon az the columns dividing the
church into nave ana aisles are erected 10 support
IT, wnen this side Tor 'shedD ROOF has once been
bullt. the main roof viii also he commenced IL
worth while 10 mention that 1t vii! be supported by
nying buttresses, which Will add much 10 the APP
parent ligntness and gracei,tlncSS OF the edhce.
IL Is scarcely as yet posili,cly decided wnere the
high altar Will begin. bur IL VIII be IN every way
worthy OF tnis noble church. It w.!l probably bc
series OF three lights Of steps, three steps each
light. All along the sides o. the aise there wlli,
OF course be MINOR atars alteriated probably with
confessionals. At the cast end of the church, on
each side of the chancel, there Will be chapes, one
OF course dedicated TO the Holy Virgin
The great diIlicuty IN regard TO the cathedral IS
the same that has been the grand problem out the
same class OF edices IN Europe--ilow to warm 1t.
II Is, however, already determined not to attempt
10 use the chlch during Tue inter ioi ihe ceepia-
ton of mass IL would be altogether impracticable
to do so, unless some means OF warming were de-
vised "a the oltcnting priests would DC unable to
hold the sacred vessels in tDer hands And, as no
satisfactory method OF warming the church can be
suggested mass viii be probably celebrated in
OF the side chapes during the winter for the first
few years CT rs history, and, as soon as possible, the
requisite lunds VIII be raised for building small
winter chapel at the back OF the nalu edihce. On
any important occasion, when it should he found
necessary TO assemble from ten to twelve
thousand people together, no doubt the
cathedral proper. IN spite OF It's intense
cold. could be endured lur the short time
necessary for the delivery ot sermon or the ordi-
nation OF DsAop, or the celebration .! a con1rma.
ton.
II is not too much to say ttat the new cathedral.
wheu once iihlshcd VIII be one of the chief orna-
ments OF even New iork, which already promises TO
be 50 rich IN splendid pubc buildings The Catholic
Cnurch, whiCh la Europe mas ever been the mistress
ana patron art, could DOT have found litter
ncr IN winch 80 express It's gratitude for the gener
oJls hospitality T. has received here than by giving
us noDe example Of that glorious Gothic architcc
ture winch has enriched aud adorued almost every
part OF lurU,ie, and Which, wherever IL has iOur-
ished, has h9d q sensible effect IN refining the
tastes and even ia rendering less gross the OF
the ucopa brought under ils iulitlence. There is
one feature OF difference. however, between this
beautiful edncc ANA It's sister temples In Europe.
Tine la!ter nave generally been erected directly or
Indirectly, by Kings or great mobiles, who, however
devoted 10 the Church, were also, no doubt, partly
| inspired IN The good work 10 which they dedicated
Their ine ins by selfish ambition. But this church is
hnll with me voluntary olerlugS OF honest indus.