The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-11
OUR CHURCHES.

OBJECTIONABLE FEATURES OF TIE INTERIOR
CONSTRUCTION OF SOME OF THEM--srAIR-
wAYs, AIsLEs, DOORS AND vEsTIBULEs THAT
NyED CHANGING.
The recent calamity at ST. Francis Xavier's Church
has caused widespread feeling throughout the CON-
munty regarding the means OF egress from the
churches OF all denominations In the city. The reco-
Of the terrible catastrophe caused the burn
ing OF the Brooklyn Theatre were gradually passing
from the minds OF the people when this disaster
occurred 10 recall the terrible once more to
public memory. The panic consequent the mere
alarm OF fire in ST. Francis xaver's Church three
evenings has suggested the idea Of examina
ton into the condition o: our churches in oraer
to ascertain how far they safe and how
we'll they provided with facilities for
escape from danger or disaster from any and every
cause II Is fact worthy OF mention that Of the 437
actual examinations made Of the churches and places
OF public worship in this city by the officers Of the
Building Department, within the past two years. 1t
found necessary to recommend alterations In
almost all OF the edices inspected. The necessity Of
watchfuncss may be ascerained when 1t Is stated that
in numbers instances the Official recommendations
were ignored, and second notification and the init.
nations that If the changes made not carried
legal measures would have to be adoped to the
desired object Doors opening inward, sliding doors
closed when the people at service, and, in
instances, locked doors during hours Of prayer
among OF the objectionable features
which II was found necessary to protest against
In looking over tho appended description Of
churches named it will be that many instances
the means eercss though apparently sufficient,
not in reality complete they might be. II is true
there wide aslcs and spacious doors through
which the people can reach the street, but when 1t Is
remembered that in a considerable number Of in
h,1.,
church and those from the galleries meet in the vest
bue before they reach the doors leading to the
street will be that many Of the advantages
cured by wide passages and capacous doorways
neutralized Narrow, crooked. elDowed winding
stairways iaom galleries TO DO found in many OF
the churches and particularly In some OF The Catholic
churches.
DR. TYING. JRs CHURCH.
Madison avenue aud Forty second street. Seats 000
There are three aIsles:-Centre aisle feet wide and
side aislcs feet s inches each. -Four OUTSIDE DOORS
each feet inches. Crooked stairs from gallery lead
into vestibue. Outer doors opened inward ordered
10 be changed and order complied with.
ST. BARrHoLoMEws PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL cHrRcH
Madison and Forty iourth street Seats 200
There three aisles:-Cenre aisle feet wide,
asles feet inches each, leading directly three
DOORS at time OF examination opening inward Doors
all ordered 10 be changed, and order complied with.
HEPwoRTH's CHrRCH.
Madison avenue and Forty-hfth street. Seats z, 0O0
There aslcs each feet inches wide. Three
outside sliding doors. Doors ordered TO be locked
back and open during service This order has been
complied with.
MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Corner Madison avenue and Fiitythird street, seats
side asles feet inches each, and outside aises.
feet inches. Three outside sliding doors, feet wide
each. Elbow stairs lead from gallery OUTSIDE doors
ordered to be locked open and back during service
Order complied with
LUTHERAN TRINITY CHURCH
Avenue b and Ninth street; seats 600. There arc
three asles:-Centre aisle feet wide; side aislas,
feet straight stairs from gallery. Only one door,
icet wide, opens from the church. this door, which is
n n 8
recommended nor are the INSIDE doors so arranged as
the attorney for Department OF Buildings Tor p<osec1
ton.
TRINITY CHURCH,
Broadway. There are three lsles, eight feet widc
one door, leading direct TO Broadway. nine icet wde
and Two DOORS six feet EACH lead directly into
the churcsyard. One door in the rear OF the church,
four feet VIDE. IL always used during service
PETERS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH,
corner Barclay and Church streets seats 900 IN the
body Of the church and 600 IN the gallery. Elbow
stars i've feet wide, lead from the gallery and empty
directly into the body OF the church and close TO the
SIDE DOORS There three aises in the body OF the
church, the centre aisle oet wide, and Two side
four feet Three doors lead TO the street.
the centre door seven feet wide and TWO sdo doors
five feet each
JEWISH TEMPLE
Ffty-hfth street ana Lexington avenue, seats 900 in
the body and 600 in the gallery. Two straight star.
ways lead from the gallery into the vcstbuic. There
Ave asles all four leet vide leading direct to Two
DOORS all i've feet In WIDTH opening outward INTO The
vsstibule with i've from vestiDue TO tho
street all opening IN Order to have them changed
as 70 open out complied with.
sr STEPHENS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH,
East Twenty.eghtn street. seats 900 body OF
the church and 900 ia the galleries. There three
aisies; centre aisle, feet wide add aisles,
feet inches each. Crooked stairs lead IRON the
gallery The stars are narrow, beng only feet wide,
aud empty small vestlbule the exit being
somewhat complicated Eve doors, three OF them
feet wide and the other two feet wide each, all
opening inward, lead the street. On the
Twenty intn street side there are two extra exits,
with doors feet vide each the stairs leading
from the gallery being only ieet 6 inches woe Tnc
requirements Of the department OF Buildings to place
stairs TO the gallery the Twenty eighth street
end Of the building feet vide and also connect The
galleries either side TO give sufficient means OF exit
the same, not being with, tho was
placed IN the hands o! the attorney.
GERMAN swEDfNBoRoIAs CHURCH,
Chryste street. Delaney, seats about 400 One
aisle q iest VIDE aud door opening inward Leads