The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-03-08
SOME LOFTY READ iEG IN 1
LOFIY SUBJECT.
Csnotnnatt's Eor,y tharch H.srorv.
ST. xAvIER's CHURCH splRE DESCRIBED

such form as 10 raise in the mind OF tht
beholder thoughts of the comparative
omnpotence and immensity OF the AL
mighty. Hence, we see the churches O
our own times, with their lofty spiret
built with that grandeur and beauty o
: outward appearance which only the mine
OF the long practised and able architec
! could suggest. The form Of the churcl
at the birth of Christianity has been con
siderably deviated from, however, il
present times for the twO-tOld reason oil
more adequately sulting the convenience
and taste Of its members and to admit o
d wider sphere Tor ornamentation,
: The First Presbyterian Church, bull
IN 1892, stands on record as the 1lrsi
church constructed i'll Cincinnati par
taking OF the character OF a place of wor-
ship which would place it outside of the
general appearance OF other buildings,
and characterize il under its correct
name as church editioe. 1t was situ-
ated on Main street, about midway on
the square between Fourth and Fifth,
where ut present the new Custom-house
is under process OF construction. 1t was
u brick building, about two stories in
height, and measuring 6S by 85 ieet. 1t
had two cupolas, one at each corner
facing toward the front. 1t had one hun
dred and twelve pews, five aisles, and O
large bell.
1ne Second Presbyterian Church was
built in 1877, and was situated ON the
| east side OF Walnut street, between
Fourth and Fifth. David Root was the
pastor. 1t has now, however, given place
to suit the business demand OF the city.
| The irst Epscopalian Church was
situated on Sixth street, between Wal
nut and Vine, and was built in 1917. The
| first Methodist churches were built in
| lSO4-one at the corner of Fourth and
Plum and the other on Fifth street be-
tween Sycamore and Broadway. The
Enon Baptist Church was built in 1920,
and was situated OH Walnut betWe
Fourth and Filth streets. 1t had Ca
pacity for seating 100 persons; its men,
bers, however, only numbered 250. The
new Jerusalem Church was built
| in 1911, and was situated Oh Cen.
| tire street. between Fourth and Filth.
| The Wesleyan Methodist Church was
built in 1Sl7 and was situated on Vine
street between Fourth and Fifth. The
| Friends Meeling-house, at the time Of
| its construction in 1911, was merely a
tWo-Story frame building, and was situ-
ated ON Fifth street between John and
W. Stefn Row, now Central avenue. A
spacious brick building now occupies
its place.
Tne German Lutheran and Reformed
Church was built in 1914, and was situa-
ted on Third street, between Broadway
and Ludlow. III still exists, although no
longer used as II place OF worship.
The First Baptist Church was built in
1913. Ii had at the time only eleven mem
berS. 1t was situated on the corner of
Vine and Sixth streets, and the first bap-
tlsm by immersion ever performed i'll
this city occurred there. IL took place
i'll March, 1914.
The first African Church was built in
1913, north of Sixth and East Of Broad
way.
The first Jewish Synagogue was situa-
ted on the corner of Fifth and Walnut,
Bishop Fenwlck, ID. D., erected the
first Catholic Church on the site where
the present ST. Xavier's Church now
stands. The structure was Of frame
work, and in 1876 brick building was
added.
The Catholic Cathedral was situated
on the corner of Seventh and Sycamore.
1t was of Gothic architecture, ITO ieet in
length, 50 feet III breadth and 30 feet III
height. 1t had ten windows, each 15 feet
in length. A handsome organ and ac-
comodating and capacious choir, to-
gether with IS pews, finely decorated
walls and a beautiful altar embelis he'd
its interior.
The first Catholic Church has since,
however, given way for st. Xayier's
Church, situated onsSycamore street be-
tween Sixth and Seventh, which will be
one of the handsomest Churches on the
continent when the spire, now under
process of construction, is wholly COM
pIeted. It's exterior and general out
ward appearance has, however, long
been marred by the fact that the place
where the steeple ought to be has been
Weather-bOarded cover, while the ap-
prOaching steps were Of wood and of a
merely temporary character.
This is all to be changed now, now
ever, and to give our readers an idea of
the contemplated change description
may be properly given in this connec-
ton. the plans tor the steeple have
been matured by Mr.. Louis Picket, one
OF CinCinnatPs most able architects, and
the immense undertaking is in the hands
of the enterpriSing firm of Michael Fin
negan d Son. The stone used is from
the quarry back Of Vanceburg, known as
Buena Vista stone. The cost " i'll amount
TO $4,000. ana the altitude reach 325 feet
from the ground. The architecture is
purely Gothic in semblance to the bal
anoe of the church. An idea OF Its height
may be best attained by comparing it
with the famous hand-steeple of the First
IfeSDyleflan CnuFcl, on Il Fourtn street,
the highest in the city, which measures
from the ground to its extreme top only
2S5 feet, and to the Cathedral, the next
highest, which to the top of its
cross attains n height of 245 feet.
When completed, the st. Xavier's spire
will assume the seventh place among the
noted highest towers of the world, as
will be seen by the following:
Feet High.
Great Pyramid OF Cheops Observation-Disclosures. .4SO
strasbourgs Min, ter. ..... .4J9
Do'he u ot. ctcT .aSi
Pyramid of Cephrentros. s.............,.......4 .45i
St IauI lLond0n) ..........................3 .365
-" -A"sie go
Capitol OF Washington. ......................2S .2ST
Trinity Church IN. W I.)........S............ 1856
Bunker Hill Monument. ....................,.22 221
The church proper, to point where
the steeple begins, has an elevation OF |
lob feet from the ground, in detail meas |
uring from its base to the floor OF the |
church 6 feet inches, and to the top of |
the church front, 81 feet 6 inches.
At the base where the new work be-
gins, after a few successive layers OIL
stone. are two leveled holdings, drop
ping off line with the buttress weather.
ings, on which are erected four pima
Giles, one on each corner, finished otf |
with elaborate crocketts and carved