Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-01-04
4 COSTLY ALTAR.
Fan Description OF Magnificent
Piece OF Workmanship.
Irom The y. Y. Times, Dec. 10

Fan Description OF Magnificent
piece OF Workmanship.
From the y. Y. Times, Dec. 18th.
The memorial high altar, which has
for some time past been in course of
erection IN the Protestant Episcopal
Church of st, Mary the Virgin, was, on
Monday, solemnly consecrated by
Right Rev. Bishop Potter, assisted by
Rev. Thomas Mckee Brown (rector of
the church), and Rev Messrs. Swope,
Trinity ofChapel, Olmstead, of Trinity
Church, Noyes, of St. Adams church,
Bradley, of St. Sacramento Mission,
Harrison, Van kleeck, and others.
The church was crowded by a refined
and Intelligent congregation, who were
present by a special invitation. the GER
emonies being of a private character.
The services OF dedication were prepar-
pared expressly for the occasion by
Bishop Potter They were of very
impressive character
Looking at the altar dressed with
flowers and bearing hundreds of wax
lights, the surphced clergy and the uni
formed Sisterhood of ST. Mary the
Virgin slowly filing out at the close
OF the ceremony, one was torcibly re-
minded OF the surroundings CT tho
Roman Catholic Church Indeed the
the services in this church are said to
make nearer approach to those of the
Romish than even those of st. Adams
or DIR. Ewer's. The altar, which is not
yet completed, is of the French Gothic
style of the eleventh century, and is
being built at the expense of Mr.. John
Is. Murray, prominent member OF the
congregation, as a memorial of his dis
eased wife. When completed twill be
the most beautiful work of this kind in
in this country, WITH perhaps, the ex-
ceptiou of the high altar ut St. Stevens
Roman Catholic Church, in Twenty
eight Street, and will even exceed that
altar IN height. 1t is approached from
the body of church by nine steps, the
highest of which, nearly SIX feet from
the floor Of the nave, forms the plat
form from which the main structure
rises. In length the altar is seventeen
feet, concluding the wings, and the
height to the top of the tabernacle is
about twenty-slX feet.
A marble revodos of screen extends
the whole length Mt the back of the
table, and rises to the height of twenty
feet above it, having each end canopied
inches for statuary) supported by
slender columns, with richly carved
caps. From the center Of this screen
projects the tabernacle, beautifully
sculptured piece, on the top OF which,
under an elaborate canopy, is to be
placed marble crucitiX nearly five feet
in hight, imported from Italy for the
purpose A number of brass candle
sticks, designed expressly for the altar,
will be placed upon it when completed.
Two hundred wax lights are to be used.
Two cand estlcks of elaborate design,
and fourteen feet in height, viii stand
on the ground floor on each corner of
the altar, to hold the Scanctus lights.
to be lit when the Scanctus is sung IN
the mass. The material used in build
ing the altnr and steps is Italian mar
BILE The following inscription is cary
ed on the faces of the retables-the two
last sentences in Latin and here trans
lated
Erected TO the glory of Almighty
God, and in loving memory of Sarah
Elizabeth Murray wife-who entered
into rest on Sunday, Dec. II, 1870,
In the name Of the Father, and the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost
Eternal rest give unto her, o Lord,
and may perpetual light shine upon her
and give her peace"
The work, performed IN very sub
stantial manner, is from the designs
and is being built nnder the supervi-
sion of Mr.. Edward Neville Stent, ar
chrtect oi the city. 1t is expected that
the altar will be entirely finished by
Christmas. The Church of st. Mary
the Virgin was brought to its present
state of completion, about n year AID
Il half ago, the ground for the editice
being the gift of William b. Astor, UNI
der the condition that the seats in the
church should be free When finished
it is intended that the church shall have
a tower and adjoining school-houses IA
handsome pulpit of different colored
marble is to be raised in the church,
aud the chancel floor shall be laid with
the same material.