The New York herald., 1877-06-28
THE ASTOR MEMORIAL.


b. AsToR.
Yesterday afternoon set apart by Mr. Frederick
c. withcrs Tor private the altar ana reredos
lately erected in Trinity Church the memory Of the
late william b. Astor. Hundreds OF invited guests
and passing strangers visited the church during Tho
afternoon ana expressed admiration Of the work 10
MI. Withers the architect, who stood inside the
chancel railing. Those familiar with Trinity will no.
tcc other changes besides the memorial yhe walls
on boin sides the chancel nave been newly painted
and she passages newly tiled. All the stalls the
chancel are newly built OF oak. Fifty persons
be accommodated there besides the clergy.
Two new robng rooms for the clergy and the choir
have been added, extending twenty feet in the rear;
also iadies' retiring room, leading from the NOR
tuary chapei, where repose the remains Of Bishop
Ondcrdonk.
The magnificent memorial erected to the memory OF
their ather by Mr. Astors two sous cost, nearly
can be approximated, the sum OF $40 600. calcium
light over the organ lott served TO show all tho beau
tres OF the reredos altar yesterday Tho reredos
(Which means SIMPLY .'bcnnd tho altar is iniriy-nve
iceI long. occupying nearly the whole o chancei
and Is about twenty feet high. complete dcscrip-
ton Is Jound in tho architects own words, FOL.
lows-
THE ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION
rho altar ~ eleven ic.t long, and IS constructed OF
pnre white slauary marble with shafts OIL LISBON red
dividing the 'front.' and side into pauos In the centre
panel, which IS carved with passion lowers s
Maltese cross IN nosac, set WITH canoes n head OF
our Lord being in the centre and the symbols the
evan9eiiss az the exircmics OF the four arm. TINS
panel is nanked by TWO knecling angels, tue one ia
adorSton and the other IN prayer Tho other panels
10 front, winch ara carved with ears o. wheat, also
IA mosaic, ana contain ihe "PciicaI" aud the .Aanus
Del.' and those al the side the sacred monogrnms.
lhe whte marble slab u set cornire composed OF
srapcvlnes, and Is ioiad with i've crosses oil red
blc The super-alt,r c rod Lisbon marble, with the
words slloiy. Holy, Holy" iniaid III mOsaics Its
face, ard ~ shelf is continued each side the whole
length OF the rccdos Tor the reception Of flowers at
festivals.
The design of tho rcredos Is in tho perpcnd cuar
style OF Gothic as 10 keeping with that or the
church II Is constructed oil Caen stone, eaboratcy
carved, great deal Of the carving beng after natural
ioiaee. In Tho lower poroD, on each side OF
the altar are three square panels nllcd with coorcd
mosaics IN gcomelrca patterns. Above the ne OF the
super altar are seven panels OF white marble, scup-
OF Blessed Lord immediately preceding and subse
qnent 70 .he Last supper; this IS modelled alter
the celebrated picture by Leonardo ua Ninc aud nils
tho centre panel over the altar. Underneath this ap-
pears in raised letters the words, Having loved HIS
own which we're In the world He loved ,nsn unto Tho
end On tho right OF this panel, under
bic % s'a.ues'o OF :. Raphael WIN "a nam,ns u
| sword In ms hand, ana ON the let, 81. Gabriel
hoding bunch OF lilies aud scroll on the extreme
right 0 the reredos IN the other pancs arc;-l 81
Mary Magdalene pouring ointment on tho icet OF
Lord Inscribed underneath with the words, ..he hath
done what Sue could" = The Iriu,nphal Entry into
Jerusalem with the words .sHosaruu TO the Son OF
DAVID" 8. Our Lord washing tho disciples icet, with
| II am among you as he taat scrvcth." On tho let
in continuation s:5 The Agony IN the Garden, with
the words, "0D HIM was laid tie iniquity OF us al"
q. The Betrayal, inscribed win. 'Tnis ~ your hour
ana tho power OF darkness" I Our LORD before
Plate, who IS IN the act oi saying ~ und no fault III
| this man.
Tho rcrcdos divided three bays by bultresscs,
which contain, under canopics on their lace, tour
Doctors OF the Church - 81 Jerome represented IN
the act o transialiug the Bible, accompanied ny the
lion endcasorDg TO snow his gratitude Tor taking the
thorn out oil MS loot. =. ST. Ambrose, in bishops
costume in the attitude OF delivering discourse, with
the beehive, his characteristic emblem, on his lc j.
ST. Augustine, IN the same costume as ST. Ambrose, IN
the net o giving the benedction. a. 81. Gregory, in
the act OF wrlng his homiiics In the GENRE bay,
under = large muitlloed arch, forming Baldachino,
Is represented tho cruclxion IN high relief. On The
right Q; the cross stand ST. john, and 81 Mary tho
mother oi our Lord; ST Mary Magdacne, knec!ins,
embraces the ieet which brought mercy to her
and the left the other Mary and the Centurion.
This subject supported on caboratcly carved cor
composed OF PASSION flowers, and underneath
| the words. ''Behold the Lamb OF God" Ranged on
either side 10 the Two Other bays sauettes OF Tho
twcve Apostles, thirty inches high, each with his
characteristic ntiributc.-
1. 81. Jude with a halbcrd. the weapon with which
| he killed.
. ST. Bartholomew carrying tho Gospel OF ST. Mat
thew, and large knife. the instrument OF his martyr
oon.
s. 81. Thomas with builders rule
| 4. 81. Matthew, who was tax-gatherer, with
money box ~ his lett nand. indicative OF his calling
| D. ST john ho.dings chaiico with serpent issuing
& ST. James Minor nrst Bishop Of Jerusalem, with
pen and book, and tho fucr's ciub, the instrument
! with which he was beaten to death.
Z. ST. Peter with Tho keys in his right hand and u
| book ia his lett.
| g. ST. Andrew with n transverse cross, similar in
| shape 10 that on which he was cruclhcd
| o. ST. simon with saw, tho instrument with which
| he was sawn asundcr.
TO- ST. Matthias with book and an axe as he was
| bchoadcd Tor his preaching
IL. 81 fhiip holding y tall stat with Latin cross
| ut the top
| II ST. James Major bearing a pilgrims staff, to
which wallet is suspended, and win scallop shell
on his lappcd hat
These statueltes are placed In inches with
heads, carried by polished Bay Of Fundy rcd granite
|. shafts, with the background carved "a diaper and
gdcd. On the extreme ends OF this line facing north
and SOUTH the hgures of SITS. Michael and George
under canopes similar TO those ovcr the doctors In
the centre bay, above the crucxiDn are scuptured
panels set in diaper work the Resurrection the Ae-
censton. In the gabiet which surmounts It, and en-
closed IN Vcsca Piscis, is represented our Lord in
His Majesty holding the gobe III ms lett hand and
blessing with his rIght; ana Oh either side, and lng
the spandrs are scuipturcd angels kncenng adora-
ton. Underneath The main corncc OF the side bays,
and forming part oil IT. Is Inscribed r raised letters,
10 the Glory OF God, In Memory of William K
Astor this rercdos Is erected A. D. 1871" Angels with
upnlted wings playing on musical instruments lvz The
tambourInc, the paldorc, the Tyre and the cymbas)
cmbcmatc OF The Church triumphant, crown The four
buttrcsscs. The statusry executed by Mr. Robert
Smith. OF London; the mosaics by Mr Daniel Bell,
also OF London, and the whole OF the carving Caen
work OF rcredos and marble work OF altar, IN.
ciudpg the setting up has been dono ny Mcssrs elm
kitsun. OF this CITY,
A coorcd drawing by tho architect shows how the
altar and rcrcdos would look w.th new and ap-
proprlaic window. 1t IS suggested that as the Astor
family have done much the church meet them half
way and mako the window IN keeping with the
rial. Tomorrow ISL Peters Day. and Saturday VIII
be celebrated with tho usual ceremonies. The musl-
cal programme Is appropriate aud beautiful Mr..
Henry Carter Will preside a the large organ and Mr.
Messiter at the small one IN the chanceL
DON'T DARE TO TALK BACK.