The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-11
THE CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL.
GOTHIC STRUCTURE IN AMERICA - THE
STAINED GLASS wINDows-coMPLEIIoN OF

PROGRESS or THE WORK ON THE yINEs1
GOTHIC STRUCTURE IN AMERICA = THE
STAINED GLASS wrSDows-coMpLETIox OF
THE BUILDING IN A YEAR.
The great Catholic cathedral Fifth avenue which
has now been nearly twenty years building, prom
to be completed The building has been re-
psatsdlv delayed by the absence OF funds 20 carry ON
the necessary work, but It 10 calculated the requisite
help will be forthcoming to accomplish the remainder
OF tho design, which Is pure Gothic. The main ex-
Of the cathedral, tho roof included 10 already
finished and oil that remains to be built up outside
are the the Fifth 'front.' tho parapes
around the side aises and the pinnaclcs connection
Herewith. The grading OF the surrounding land
will DO the last piece OF labor and that will involve
much cost. Standing within the main aisle OF the
cathedral tho impression gives 10 Of harmonious
vasncsa The great clustering pillars, larger than
those OF the Cathedral Notre Dame in Paris have
nothing like an appearance OF bulk heaviness as
the pillars OF Notre Dame have. They do not in
the least interfere with the view aud though each
Of pillar weighs eight TONS they look az light
and graceful In the coup-d1n as 80 many single
slender columns Of about twelve inches in diameter.
APPEARANCE OF INTERIOR.
Tho whole interior at the present moment is covered
with scsdoding which, at the extreme oeva-
ton OF tho ceiling resembles q SPIDERS web,
SO great - the netgut u tu0 run
tho ground floor Tho clustering appears TO
have been almost entirely DONE and the coioring Of
the ceiling intended 10 gvo 1.-THE appearance Of sone
was tho only worK going on the afternoon OF ycs-
terday Il has triforlum like Notre Damo away
near the spring OF the rooi but 1t IL hardly likely It
will ever be used in these modern days for the same
purposes II Intended IN the early time oil Gothic
ecclesiastical architecture There will be at least ten
side chapsIs, and the main altar will have
space around 1t, giving ample room Tor large
ana Impressive effects the matter OF decoration.
sIrH ON THE ISLAND
The site OF the Cathedral perhaps me happesI gee
lection on the whose island. IL caps the hshe point
OF the ridge on Fifth avenue and when New YORK Is
built up will form the very centre Of the CITY The
Cathedral Of Notre Dame in Montreal and the cee.
brated cathedral IN Mexico have hitherto put In rival
claims Tor pre-ominence as ecclesiastical structures
on the continent oil America; but. though eacn
IN It's way is vast and imposing, neither
attempt TO compare 10 beauty OF
In the moonlight with all tho exquisite traccry OF
side windows and facade sotened aud relieved, there
is nothing earth that SO vivdly recalls the saying
oil Nine. dc Stacl that architecture is frozen music.
The of this temple 70 tho worship oil God has
been, like efforts in the same line OF the Catholics
would seem, to solid and successful. The money
has como o rather sluggish stream but none the
less surely and the cathedral be finished
and prove the greatest ornament OF the CITY.
A DIFFERENCE EUROPEAN CATHEDRALs.
On the east epd Of the building several large ooiies
for heating purposes Deing placed In position.
Contrary to the practice in Europe, this cathedral VIII
reg ular pews the same as IN any ef CITY
churches The European he rails have been built
IN u great measure at government expense, and can
afford to dispense with revenue from pews; but one
like this which has raised chiefly by the money OF
tho poor and continue to be sustained from the
Same cannot afford neglect its opportunities
10 demand price for choice seats within It's mag
nincent precincts the richer members OF It's
gregation. Its accommodation Will be At least ten
Inousaua one year IRON now IL is expected, should
the money not fan the towers on the Filth avenue
front-3S5 feet high-wili be completed HALF OF the
stained glass windows presents from individuals and
nrIan nneif md I'M OnP
geous specimens arc no IN course OF preparation TO
MI the remaining half
TIE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS.
The lives OF the four evaugelists, Mathew, Mark.
Luke Jonn, illustrated In the four transept
incidents in the lie 81 St. Patrick, the gilt OF the old
Cathedral 10 the new, are represented and 10 the cor
responding window OF the north transept The striking
features that marked the career OF the Blessed Vrgn
portrayed from the visitation Of the angel Gabriel
to nor Translation to heaven. Window No. ],
on north side, the gift OF Nj. Bernard
McKenna, represents sTho Three Baptisms," by DIRE,
water aad sword, and Is strikingy VIVID picture.
Window No. 2 on the same sde contains very bril-.
liant sketch Of St Bernard preaching second
sade for The OF the holy places in PALESTINE
gift TO the Cathedral IRON tue diocese Of Rochester
Window No. 3, contributed by tho Society
all the rest, IN Charities, IN France, rep.
wnom famous railroad town in Illinois is now
called, his commission to preach the gospel to the
"Martyrdom Of ST. Lawrence" is strangely lascinat-
ing arrangement OF light and color. The SAINT
stretched nude upon tu0 grlQiron ana the wiz,
flames tapping HIM all over realistic IN the rend-
ering, while the remorseless judge sits above the
agonze saint and wears al expression OF face ex.
tromsiy ike Boss Tweed.
DESIGNS.
window in the facade 10 in rich mosaic
stained glass. The sanctuary and the apse the ONE
with and the other with live windows, will con.
tain, perhaps, The fnosL designs Of all All the win.
dows will contain tue outside frames oil double
plated French glass Window No. i, the south
sidc Of the Cathedral, represents ST. Vincent dc Paul
gathering httle and forlorn children around him.
In frame 10 tho lett OF his ful length
likeness he 10 seen personating man
whom he has succeeded liDcrating IRON
prison and bears the whole brunt oil the jaors vle
abuse and cruelty. In frame TO the rIgnt he
served STOPPING down TO talk 10 Two iitlle ragged
walls in tho common tnoroughfare OF a town. The
representation extremely clear and the colora
handled with artistic discrim nation
hfsCRLLANEoUS DETAILS.
The Cathedral has . Tar cost about 81, 500 900.
vast amount OF brickwork has been done
structon, but not trace OF II Is visible to the eyo
The marble came from Lee, Aass, and Wsstchester,
N. Y.
The foundation stone YVES Lard by Archbishop
Hughes Ia the summer OF 1858. The towers are at
raised $50 eet 70 the base OF the SPIRES which
VIII ascend 235 ieet higher Tho root, though con-
structed of wood, has been rendered 1reprooL Mr..
Dryer, the assistant superintendent furnished the