The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-11
ONE OF CAPEL's STORIES.
A Protestant with Weakness for ChurcI
Architecture Builds "a Catholic Cathedral.

Protestant with Weakness for Church
Architecture Builds "A Catholic Cathedral.
Philadelphia Times.
Monseigneur Capel tells an excellent story
in regard to the manner IN which funds we're
obtained Tor the building of Catholic cathe-
dral in London. The British metropolis is
the seat OF the primate of the Roman
hierarchy in England. The Cardinal-Arch-
bishop OF Westminster, Dr. Manning, has, a
palatial residence, magnificent school build
ings, an army of highly in telectual clergy at
his command, many handsome churches il
his diocese, but not a single edifice worthy
of being called cathedral or of sheltering
the canopied throne appertainng to the
archepiscopal see For thirty years and
more the present and late cardinals
have cast their eyes in every direction
in hopes of meeting with the generous
sons of the church whose donations
would at least pay for the foundation
walls of the desired fame. but, although
whispers and rumors of intentions on the
part OF certain very wealthy noblemen have
from time to time famed the wings of hope,
the see OF Westminster remained with noth-
ing better to represent its purple and scarlet
dignity than pro-cathedral, pretty little
church hidden up an alleyway off one of the
main thoroughfares of Kensington.
Within recent years, however, a suitable
piece of land near the pro-cathedral became
the vested property of Cardinal Manning,
and it would not have been very difficult
undertaking for the Dixie of Norfolk, the
Marquis of Butte and the Marquis OF Ripon to
have contributed the half million of pounds
sterling and set the builders at work. But
his Grace of Norfolk preferred spending his
money on private cathedral of his own on
his estate at Arundel while the Marquises of
Butte and Ripon were each making their
many shekels roll with their particular hob
bies-Bute on the Improvements of his
docks near Cardiff and Ripon on vice-regal
Inequalities to native princes in India. To
the reproach of the Pope's faithful it was
reserved to protestant to fifty clothe the
dignity of the English Catholic primate.
Sir Tatton Sykes is very wealty 5aronet,
whose ideas have peculiarly pronounced
direction They all flow toward church
architecture. He is protestant as far as his
religious beliefs are concerned, and has hith-
erto shown his devotion to the established
faith of which Queen Victoria is hereditary
defender by building handsome churches in
various portions Of London. AT present he
has erected sixteen places of worship in Lon
don. Every style of architecture is repre-
scented in his churches, for a new fancy in
4 the way Of a groined roof ora square steeple
on the part of the worthy baronet usually
led to the conception being promptly realized
in stones, mortar, conservation, new rector
and Woodworking cura5e Finally, it De-
came joke with chbishop TAFT, of Canter-
bury, that his particular duty was to couse-
crate Sir Tatton Sykess new churches.
The building of the sixteenth church, how
ever exhausted the worthy baronets church,
architectural fancies. He included in his
collection splendid specimens of the Gothic,
RomaneSque, Tudor renaissance, old Saxon,
Norman, Byzantine, and had rung the
changes on perpendicular, Gothic obliqIe
Tudor and other little whims, but he was net
\ happy. He still had an ample slice OF lE-
come to devote to houses of God. The cost
of the other sixteen shrines OF heaven had
only been a bagatelle-some hundred and
fifty thousand pounds or so; but for the life
of him he could not discover any novelty of
idea in the many plans of churches proffered
to him by any one of the dozen or more archi-
tects who daily sought his audience. So the
baronet determined to travel, and travel he
did through many lands, in search OF an
idea for church which should eclipse his
previous efforts, and, if ruined his fortune,
remain perpetual monument to TaIton
Sykes forever.
In Vienna he came across his ideal of the
church he desired. 1t was one OF the re-
Gently erected magnificent Catholic edifces
for which the Austrian capital is famous,
and built in a combination of many styles of
architecture hitherto unknown to Sir TattoR.
At once he sought for the architect and in
quired the price of such fame
Two hundred and fifty thousand of your
pounds sterling" was the reply.
Thank you. L will take one of those"
was the calm reply of the baronet Cresus.
Zone of which,? questioned the architect
Il wish you to build me in England
church similar to that one for which | will
pay you $3.50 000," quietly reiterated Sir Tat
ton, pointing to the church, which directly
faced the windows of his lodgings in the
Kaiserstadt.
For Protestant or Catholic churchr'
asked the architect.
"A Protestant, of course"
Then, SIR" was the answer which fell on
the astonished Englishman's ears, you must
get somebody else to draw your plans aud
build your church, for | will not defile nay
knowledge by aiding in the erection of
place of worship for nonbelievers
The baronet argued the architect was oh
durate when suddenly an idea crossed the
mind of the former The Catholics in Lon
don were longing for a cathedral; why should
they not be the recipients of his seventeenth
church? With the contribution which would
undoubtedly be added TO his (Sykess) very
large donation, magnificent structure in
deed would be the result. As to the little
difference of worship, church is a church
under all circumstances, and so the Baronet
turned to the architect and said We'll,
make the plans; the church shall belong TO
the Catholics"
Cardinal Manning, in due course received
Sir Tatton Sykes's offer, and gratefully ac-
cepted the magnificent gift, and since its
public announcement money has been flow
ing in on all sides for the fitting and decora-
ton of the cathedral. Nevertheless it will
always owe its foundation to Protestant
Episcopal money.
A Little Surprise Party.
Letter in Philadelphia Press.