New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-11
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

following will give an idea of the difficulties
and the cOstliness of the undertaking: lhe
original cruciiorm plan Of the church was long
ago Obllterated by successive alterations anu
additions, but the great features OF choir, nave
and TRANSCRIPTS have always been distinguish
able on the ground plan Of the church. Alter
the Reformation the choir was fitted up as
Protestant church, the Gothic arches Icing
filed UP with partition walls. About the
same time the southwest aisle was cut of IN
the same way, and formed the Iolbooth
Church. The other parts of the building were
freely utilized for secular purposes IL con-
tanned, at various times, grammar school, the
courts of justice, town clerks Office, prison,
and the stOrehOuse Of the machinery of the gal
lows. As Edinburgh extended and the popu-
latOn increased, more churches were required.
Instead of building new churches III convenient
localities recourse was again had to 81.
Glless. The school the law courts, the town
clerk, and the gallOws were cleared ont, ana
| four separate churches were accommodated
under the one roof. This arrangement con-
| tlnuec till far on in the present century, when
| the number of churches was reduced To three:
| The High Kirk, or 81. Giless proper, occupied
| the choir; West st. Giles 5 occupied the nave
and the old church occupied the south tIansept.
| These churches were separated from one an
other by solid partition walls, and IN each OF
them cumbrOus galleries had been erected
after the fashion of Scottish churches, when
galleries rested on beams inserted IN the wall
at one end, and into the solid stone pillars
which support the roof at the other. Not only
in this way and for this purpose had the pillars
been chselled and married, but they had also
been fined down and scOoped out to enable the
WOrshippers to obtain clear view OF the cler-
gyman in the pulpit. The work OF restoration
began in 1872, with the clearing out and reno
walton Of the choir, occupied by the congrega-
ton of st. Giles ; proper. second advance
was taken in 1879, when the PARTITION wall
between st. Giless and the Preston aisle on
the southeast was taken down, and wide area
was thereby added to the church When tins
had been done, however, barely One-half OF
the building had been subjected to the work
of restoration. The whole of the western
portion, most of which was occupied by the
West st. CHESS congregation, remained intact
AS hideOus deiOrmlty. In order u complete
the work it was necessary 10 get rid OF the con
gregatOn of West st. Giless. DR.. Chambers
publicly minated his Willingness TO bear TIE
cost of completing the work OF restoration, To
which he had set his hand, If a fund were sub
scribed for providing new place OF worship
for that congregation within specified time.
After various delays, the requisite fund,
amounting to GlO,OOO, was subscribed, and
the work OF completing tie restoration OF the
entire fabric was entered on This Is the part
of the work that Is now approaching compile
ton There Is now every reason to believe
that when completed, the work Will be one OF
the finest examples of ludlclous and Intelligent
restoration of which Scotland or the century
can boast. Already the famous Albany aisle
stands out in all its chaste beauty, and the
vista OF the nave, As seen from the tr2nsept,
presents an architectural effect TO when theIe
is no equal in Scotland. The central pillar OF
the Albany aisle Is not only beautiful IN ltself
it is also noteworthy as being, it is SAID,
memorial OF one OF the most terrible crimes IN
Scottish history. The aisle was built jointly by
the Duke of Albany and the Earl Of Douglas,
who were believed to be associates IN the crime
Of starving to death the young Duke Of ROthesaY,
the second son of King Robert I'LL. and nephew
of the former. Conscience stricken they built
the chapel as an expiration OF their guilt, ana
the armOra bear ngs Of the two noble muir
dercrs are carved on two shields OF the capitals
of the central pillars. This interesting his
tOrical memento was completely smothered by
the ruthless hands of the pOst-RefOrmatOn
lIOths IL has been restored as nearly a. pos
sible to its original form. and 1t Is now one OF
the most charming features OF the building
EULoGIEs AFTER DEATH. Talking of the
very general propensity TO recognize and praise
in thOs who have died eycellences not ac-
knOwedged or even seen while they were
alive The ChHrchmdD Is led to say " Ii must
have occurred TO many persons that the passion
for public eulCgy has lately broken through the
bound of Its ordinary restraints. Is there not
some danger Of excess The dead, like the
living, can be truly hOnOred only by the truth
Extravagant encOmlumS are perhaps better than
detrlctiOn, but they are after an, form OF
mental friVOitv. We may think II impossible
10 be too friendly 10 the good and great who
have done their work; but we cease to be
friendly to them a soon and a sure rs we I'M
hertake to make them look greater or better
than they were. In the minds OF them VINO
knew them more thoroughly than we did, or
saw them at more points, or judged them by u
standard made up from wider observation, we
provoke an unfortunate reaction. DEAD or
alive we must abide by the facts. During the
last few months the country, and, indeed, the
world, has lost an unusual number OF men EMU
nent in various departments of pubic service.
II pOsterity were to judge by the tributes ol
public speakers, preachers and the periodical
f,,itrbf conclude that this gem
GRAFTON has witnessed "A period OF spiritual
prOdi cics and intellectual giants that all oar
politicians are saints, all our capable merchants
are heroes, all our writer's genluSes or plllpsO-
Dhrrs and all our orators Christian teachers
and thinkers. whether they believe IN Christ or
not. What possible use can there be III TINS
indiscriminate exaggeration ! VINO Is the
better for it WHAT sound interest l. the
stronger for it II We are really living IN an
aye of mediOcrity, as we probably are, II will be
found out say what we will, over the fresh
graves Of those we have respected and loved"
During the past ten years efforts have been
II AIDE from time to time among the members OF
the American COLONY in Dresden to secure
sufficient means for the erection OF IL chulch
building Tor the use of the American residents
and visitors. The services are now held IN the
hall of the BOurse, which l. on many accounts
highly Objectionable, rs it Is also used for con-
certs. balls, etc. The English have beautiful
church in Dresden, but unfortunately IL mas
barely seating capacity for its own cOngIega-
ton. A building fund has been slowly accuml-
Iatino I'm the winter of lSSO-'Sl it was IN
creased to $4,000 by means OF bazaar,
under the direction of a number of American
ladies of different communlons, rs the ccngre,
cation of ST. Johns has at all times comprised
members of various religious organizations.
The fair was opened by the Roman Catholic
Queen of Saxony and was great success. The
yestry have just succeeded IN securing, at
moderate price, desirable lot Tor the cnuI nd6
After paving for the land a balance OF 5000
marks remains, and efforts are now making to
~ .il.. .lrr III on