New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-23
PULPIT SKETCHES.
THE REV. WILLIAM F. MORGAN, d. D., REC
TOR OF ST. THOMAS'S CHURCH.

.
world Of thrift and fashion gathered about IL until the
neghb0rng thoroughfares Houston Blocker Bond and
Great Jones sts, filled with the solid respecta
bity OF old Sew-York The building was, for its day,
credtable and rather imposing structure In the Tudor
esque or Colegate-GOthic STYLE and among the ycstry
and pewhoders representatives OF the finest culture
and Intelligence OF the period succession Of dstin-
Gshed rectos figure in tho annals of the parish then as
now one OF the strongest in the Episcopal Church
tors Duie, Uphold Hawks, whitehoise, Neville and tho
present incumbent Dr. Morgan. Two OF the number bG
came Bishops:-UpfOld of Indiana and whitehouse OF
Illinois. Another Dr. Hawks was at the time one
OF the most fascinating and commanding preachers OF his
generation; and the classic polished school
OF pulpit eOluence with its faultless elocu-
tion, elegant rhetoric and superb enthusiasm
which he so splendidy exempfed seems to have died
with him It was the school of Burke, of Webster and
Everett in the forensic and parliamentary world
THE MAN FOR THE HOUR.
The uptown current, however was strong and swift
and the oncepopular aud Overhrongod church left
almost stranded between the recedng and approaching
tides Of fashion and commerce. What with the encroach
ment OF hotels theatres and traders the parish had indeed
blank outlook. when ia 1857 Dr. Morgan called to
the rectorship At this crisis tmd rresoute short
sighted administration would have precpaated speedy
dissolution with nothing but an empty deserted edfce
TO commemorate the history OF dead corporation. 10
not for oratory scholarship, for the
patients had drfed out OF their reach, and the con-
suency scattered widely here and there I'm search OF
convenient minisraons To fold these scattering sheep.
to maintain and perpetuae the integrity and efficiency OF
the parish to restore and indeed nygorate s early ira
dtons and mnistratons presented problem sufficiently
pepexed TO strain the endurance and resources OF any
administrator. But che conjunction timely. DR..
Morgan master OF the situation, and st. Thomass
parish to-day under his continued recOrshp In wealth.
social influence numbers, and religious activities and
benOvOence stands well among the leading parishes Of
the Episcopal Church.
without Iande end0wment3 or revenues, depending
upon the fostering appropriations of Trinity Parish.
during the earlier period of It's history present
suits altogether the outgrOwh Of its foresight
and devotion. 1t is hardly conceivable that future deye
Opments I'm the extension Of the city may impair the dig,
nifty and influence OF its commanding position. The
metropolis crystalline about a centre
where, and ST. ThOmass Church drop ont OF
vital relations with it, The vast Cathedral, the Fifth
Avenue Presbyterian Church Temple EMANUEL the great
Reformed Church. all guarantee the gritty and perma
nence OF ecclesiastical Capitalization, while the group
OF the Vanderbilt palaces and hundreds OF buildings
hardly of secondary Importance not to be lightly
brushed away by the opportunities Of trade
THE CHURCH AND THE RECToRY.
The church again fills northwestern corner, at tbs
junction OF Fifthave. and Ffythirdst not far from
three miles above it, first Site 1t opened for divine
worship in 1870. The lots, which purchased for
100000 would now command half million, and ths
whole property 1t stands is estimated at a million
dollars without encumbrance. The church and adac
rectory designed by the cider Upiohn. The
grouping is remarkably picturesque, and there Ia
hardly a attractive corner enthusiastically,
in the city. There is broad eastern fronting on tho
avenue for the church while the sunny, southern
exposure reaches well down Fifythirdst where
the line OF the property the spacious and nyit
ing rectoy faces the cast separated from the chance OF
the church by pretty bit OF lawn and connected with
by coistered passage running along the north line
,InIo IN,
grained brown stone of warm and agreeable tone.
1t is remembered that the architect regarded this work
the masterpiece of his professional career. The
church is In later period OF Gothic which admits the
boldes broadcast treatment. The south wall lines arc
broken with deep fluctuations from buttresses and STAIR
ways to the galleries The interior prospective from the
foot of the central aise stretching between the great
monoh columns that support the clercstory exception
ally impressive and satisfactory. 1t Is unbroken by
galleries for these hidden away unobtrusyey within
the columns and behind the intersections Of the broad
trausepts-the ground plan being essentially crucfoun
At this intersection fine and original conception Of tho
architect has converted the great into grand
tagona space defined by grouped columns-all mOnOls
and this great central area is carried up with bold,
graceful sweep into an oyerarching dome.
THE CHANCEL AND THE DECORATIONS.
This feature communicates agreeable impression Of
spaciousness the pavement, and the stiffness and
chilling rigdlty OF the ordinary Gothic interior
avoided The treatment OF the chance deepons this feel
ing OF haOental repOe for il is the recessed head Of
the cross rising in apsidal form in a cOnvergng arch
which reaches the base OF the central dome Broad,
cessed chambers either side roofs archng outward,
the congregation and contain the equal sections ot
the great organ that the liturgy preaching aai music
are heard everywhere without reverberatons aud with
perfect dstnctness Standing under the DOME the grand
Florentine Duomo rresis bly in mind, and the
peerless beauty OF that consummate blossom OF half
Byzantine to have inspired this Gothic INTERIOR
The decorations of the chaucel and organ recesses by
Mr. La Fargo, intensity this Forenne suggestion. Tho
lower sections of the chancel wasuraces given up
to great panel cartoons illustrating the Resurrection two
on either side the altar above and behind which rises
great relief In gded bronze. by St. Gaudens-anges
| In alteration grouped about strongly outlined
cross, surmOunted by crown Z Mr. Ia
Farge's cartoons have the bold, assured sweep
! ana devout inspiration OF the FlOreutine painters
St. Gsudens has felt deeply the spiritual beauty
OF the della RObbla sculptures In the DuOmo as any
| may SEQ who will bear this alto relieve In MUD while
studying wonderful Lucoa della Robbla atartomb ut
the Metropolitan Art Museum. The chancol window far
| above Il died with the half smothered glow sacred
figures in harmonious stained glass. And fine mellowet
rpeness OF conguous beauty, deeply studied and pro-
! toundly religious, fills the sacred place.
AsrRoNG, WEALTHY AND ACTIVE BODY.
There are sttngs for 1900 In this great church. and
It has held occasions $500 IL Is well filed twice every
Sunday by devout congregation among whom arc many
! distinguished people and leading families. President
Barnard Dr. Short and several professors OF Columbia Col
lege are attendants. George Miller George Pe Roswell
p Flower, d. o. Mills the Rhlnelanders. schermerhora,
and many others OF the circle pewholder II
busly working church. Many societies for charitable
and social purposes engage the membership large and
beautiful chapel In East SXtieth-S built by tho
vosry at cost OF nearly $4,000, aud ia generously
tanned by the parent Church. Recently Mr.
| Roswell p Flower, az cost OF rly 500
600. founded through his rector, 81 Thomas
! House, q Memorial building IN East Fifty -ninthSt.
| for religious and socal uses. The charities anl
henevolences Of tia parish are generous and many.
There are between and five hundred families ana
| more than 700 commandments
| THE CAREER AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF TIE
| RECTOR.