The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-10-05
r1x pAULIsTS NEW UURuk

|
ysther Hecker, the Founder 81 ~ Order.
In Ninth avenue. between Fifty-ninth and
| Bixtisth streets stands an immense edifce. the
new church Of the Paulist Fathers. Its correct
4 name IL the Church Of It, Paul the Apostle. but
as 1t has been built by the efforts and the con-
grcgaton Of the Pauiists. II Is generally spoken
| OF a. their church. II Ii conspicuous object
| from oil parts OF the middle section
OF Manhattan Island. while from the tow
| ers eau be had o commanding Wow for
| miles around including tho rivers and
the upper bay. Strangers from dis
tRnce consider Visit to this church, only partly
| finished as II IL. one OF the sights. while New
| Workers.. dropping Off at the Fifty-ninth street
station OF tho elevated railway. walk around
tho building which looms up gray and grand
| far above tho surrounding buildings. Soon all
| persons will have an opportunity TO soc the In
| terror as vol as the exterior OF the Church OF
| tho Paulists; for fair. immense In tho magni-
| tude OF its projection. will aoon be opened
| there for the purpose OF raising funds 10 finish
| tho building Those who attended the fair held
In the cathedral before II was opened for wor-
ship can form an idea Of what the fair OF the
| Psulists will probably be.
| As 1t stands now. unfinished. but as near
complete as Is necessary for the celebration OF
| MAYS. the Paulists' church Is regular paral-
telegram. starting from two massive towers In
| front. facing Ninth avenue. and running back
230 feet. carrying a width OF 121 feet until It
reaches five-sided apse. which adds to the
length "a feet making tho entire length 284
| feet. To give some idea Of its size. II we COM
pare II with At. Stephens or st. Francis Xa-
| viers. tho two largest Roman Catholic churches
| In the oity except the Cathedral. 1t. Paul's
Church is about 100 feet longer than either OF
| those structures. and hall as wide agaip. II 1t
| faced north and south In any cross town street
rntLA and kkA t--l- kt. l,.A~
width OF the street and twonty-four feet into
| the next block. Any Of the largest churches
| In tho city could be placed inside OF Its
| outer walls. The height OF the church
| u 100 feet. In front 1t Is IA feet higher having
| two towers 10 feet square. and rising in I'M
| broken. massive proportions. with scarcely an
| aperture. to a height equal to the front cor
| nice. Between the towers Is the great portal
| 10 feet in width aud 80 feet In height an arch
spanning 1t. The style Of architecture Is early
| Norman. but mixed in some Of the details.
Above the portal Is Is feet OF rough masonry.
intended to be nlied with an immense tablet.
| or. rather. tabenu in relief Of colored marble
mosaic representing the triumph OF Chris
tianlty. and above this work OF high art. some
sixty feet from the ground. lie a Gothic marble
colonnade OF five arches between pillars. more
than 40 feet in height. behind which are Ave
lancet windows. with corresponding arches a
little less In height.
The outer side walls nre unbroken with win
| dows giving a fortress like look to the build
| ing when viewed from the side at present. but
| In place Of windows are eight sunken spaces
intended TO be filled with tablets OF terra Gotta
representing sacred subjects. The light. in
stead OF coming from the sides OF tho building
Is admitted from the side roots above. Tho
clores,ory walls are piercnd above these side
so that the light striking across the sid, nave.
with the lights from tho roofs makes the in
Of light being intruded upon the observation
Of , the visitor or worshiprer =, ,u-
unique nnd IMPOSING 1t is like a baslca In
effect, the Ravo being nearly the entire width
tow! town Streets Of New York. on each side Of
limestone, dvj ng the 235 feet Of length from
ns s 4hs
ere aiTrma v ~ hsNmgoha an, and Syi,ndr,c in
Usually wds sanG to al throw
the whole interior into one grand space and
ds asssy IF oa
side the nave and and back q these pillars are
sses twelve Sr iee Ia Width afo5dnS ro1 ON
groned side roofs eight chapes. sixteen feet
Width t" contain each an altar And con
priately decorated with paintings and statuary
OF the interior OF the N i the
II ao, Tv ehSreh IS ris as tnn
the choir. The, organs are to bo behind the
high altar, and The choir stalls. capable OF con.
cassocks and surpliccs ranged on the two sides
in tHll view Of s the , f9ngresa,ion: Above the
the csdn1s ali to be eventually ed with
arehitsctaraI, ornament either With n or with,
out the church. the idea being to afford room
for the other fine arts, statuary and painting.
On entering the building the impression Of
ninety four feet in height from the floor.
seems infinitely higher; 1t is concave. and on
this enormous on eoncayity.as 1t were Of the
one of the Pauiist Fathers. who is I'M astrono-
the 3 yan%ssy Of tn s1 pres
snt year, the festival of the conversion Of St
Paul the patron OF the church.
chapel CAPABLE Of seating several thousand
ana also the house, o. the Paulist Fathers.
was s!rr .tis
grounds and was il Inl view Of Central Park:
more than hall the number are born Catholics.
community They are ali msn Of Culture e. and md
men whose education and intellectual sndow-
thoughts and aims 70 the nobler end. Of SELF
the '' romance Of their lives MANI OF
the Paulists. notably their superior and
founder, are from families Of influence and
ample means. The columns Of the Cathode
World are largely indebted to the suggestive
ideas of these priests. Their Superior is or
was formerly. editor and director OF the
Catholic Publication, Society. He is the noted
and popular Father Hecker, whose name was
made familiar TO non Catholic Americans
twenty years ago by Mr.. James Parton in a
couple OF articles published in the 5NdHiG
Monihlp and entitled Our Roman Catholic
Brethren" From that now almost forgotten
paper the following bref extract has been
taken rs illustrative and descriptive:
THIS community, in Important particular, differs
from Cath otto order~it special
tts members Father Hecker 10 American patriotic
American, American who believes IN Amrricn prn.
cplesin short he ~ what used 10 call good Jeer
sonan Democrat Being mat IN politics, he desires to
be II also In religion; he Ia OF opinion that
stUn which il the polls be false before
the altar. Jefferson says All men equals. True,
this American priest because they al brothers
Jefferson says. Man IL capable of selfgoyernIn-nt
True adds Father H-cker. for nIsie the
OF his Creator. This PHulist community, therefore
conducted on American principles the door op-ns
hnfn,I In,