New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-22
4 TEMPLE or MYSTERIES

The stone church suddenly looming up before the
travellers eyes as the Long Island trains trund
ling across Hampstead Plain has its ccccsastlca
and its popular namo. In tho diocese of which II
will be tho GROWING edince when IL ID finished,
endowed and consecrated IL is known tho Catha-
draI of the Incarnation. The public, with Its
practical instinct for indicating the source OF
financial supplies, mas named IL Mr. Stewards
Church. II might be called without impropriety
Temple Of Mysteries. From the laying of the
corner stone to tho present advanced stage OF COM
pletion IL has not only excited admiration and
WONDER but it has also plqucd curiosity, baiied tho
restless spirit of inquiry. and induced perpexity OF
mind.
Who shall say whence tho aggregation 10 to
como to fill the stalls bearing the Stewart arms
How can tho great organs be effectively handled a
choir ADEQUATE for cathedral services be trained a
staff OF clergy organized and the cathedral be prop
erly maintained, without n larger endowment fund
than has ever been suggested within the range of
reasonable expectation Who can trust the evil
donce OF his eyes in interior where the archi-
tocts art has made dimensions and spaces so expau-
siye that Linear measures seem to be q downright
delusionf What Is the architectural relation be-
tween tho cathedral and the adjoining pile Of brick
and mortar known as the bishops resldoncof All
these things are hidden from the understanding.
The initiated native of the plain and the bewll-
dered stranger alike have found the cathedral per-
manent source of ingenious conjecture. strong
and genuine structure, with architectural lines as
honest and direct as they graceful, and with
interior effects Differing from the grctesque shapes
and weird fancIes of European cathedrals as day
light differs from darkness. it has been invested
with mystery. IL expresses with simplicity and
DO Eer the idea that was In tho architects mind be-
fore gle stone was fashioDed-the conception of
a unique monument. But it has also secrets of its
own. of which it tells no tales-obscure riddles
which may be guessed at, but cannot bc solved.
1t Is scarcely necessary to mention what is the
chief secret that is locked up in the heart of the
cathedral. 1t relates to the presence absence Of
the ashes OF the merchant prince with whose
money tho structure has been reared OF all the
euigmatlcal questions to which the cathedral has
given rise this is the simplest in form, for through
the operation of what the logcians term he law OF
excluded middle. the number Of possible solutions
is limited to TWO: either the few handfuls of dust
are there amid the bewderng spendoIs of deli
cately carved marble and pictures in lass, or else
the costllest and most magnificent tomb In America
is empty Many OF the villagers Of Hempsteui
Plain believe that the tomb contains the ashes and
fhsir faith Is confirmed by the precautions taken to
screen the mausoleum from prying eyes, and to
protect the cathedral from meddlcsomo intrusion
by day and from hostile invasion by night. Garden
City has its local tradition of sud len preparations
in the mausoleum and mysterious visitation un-
der cover of darkness. But thore Is sceptcal
ton of tho community that refuses to believe that
there has been any bargaining with the ghouls
that despoiled ST. Marks Churchyard. The win
dows OF the mausoeum eloquent with the in-
spring story OF lie is rsen." but the exquisitsly