New-York tribune., 1884-02-17
PULPIT SKETCHES.
TIE REV. w. s. RAINSFORD, RECTOR OF ST.
GEORGES CHURCH.

The narish of St. Georges, now wOrshlpping
IN the great church which looks down ON stnyVeSah'
Souarc between sixteenth and Seventeenth ss' wa" d"
the outset one the chapels Of Trinity PARISH an" vas
nm evolutionary history old church was lonc
one 81 The landmarks in lower Beehuhui-S"' a. ~
porlol wlcn the old WALTON House was S""i'i'" ''',
in - s,,,cons gardens reaching down 10 tic river II
4, ,,led that during the British possession" &" "e ciH
vas seized hy the military authorities and con
vc,fl tu,o a riding school, the coug egation meanwhile
driven m accept the ho>pitacs Of the od Dutch Chuch
which kindly opened one of its Chapels Tor her WORSHIP
In 1872 there was friendly separation from the mother
cutch which made generous sit OF lands ana proper
,i, f,r Tie future support OF the hcdgling parish
ALREADY or.nlcd into an INDEPENDENT NeSiry IN ISL
Ir K,wlev the first rector resigned IN lSl6-oh ms
soe,., 10 the Roman Catholics. He was succeeded ny
The celebrated Dr. Mnor Of the courtest ecciea~-
ties of h!s day Of extended influence among the
leader. in society AID politics. and great fayore IN the
pulpit. At his death in ls45 the Rev. Dr. Tying was
called IRON, philadelphia 10 tho rcctorShip; man or eN-
.e.oual bhiancy and effectiveness as preacher with
q vidc reputation magnetic and persuasive oratory
Ills administrative and executive abilities are OF iigh
order and in the ripeneSs of his he power
no. only IN his own communion bat in the co-operatlNe
societies which represented the enterprise and religious
ventures Of the great Protestant denominations
A DESCRIPTION OF TIE EDlFICE.
During Dr Minors ministry. however the project 'I
I,.rlu, a chanel on Stuyve,ant Square matWcd-to
pf,,,r for the par-hioUerS who had ml-raed w Ha'
nciahborhOOd. then the most faShonahe ana promising
of the up-toyn settlements. The proposed c"l'i S"on
grow into the removal of the parish from Beokan-Sl
aud the e,eciit Of the magnificent church ana recioy
cost OF nearly 100000 the present SITE certainly
oc of the most attractive in the city The old church
WIS barncd down and then rebuilt IN Becbmdn>t anu
similar fatality beell the building in 1860 When 1t
WIS reduced mere skeleton OF Welcharrtd masonry
THIS huge cader was restored TO its former dignity and
s,crdor at an outlay Of 100000 and critical eye
l,pc can detect few traces the flames the oven
work Of the north spire. This church wa buii' ny
TAitz The style chosen is Byzantine, which Is bo-dy
developed the great twin spires of open stone WORK. h
,xamplcd for structural elegance combined with veor-
ous ANA commanding symmetry. No tmher-work could
have been treated with larger spirit and freedom The
strongly buttressed nave dsprOpOr;l0naey OuAy
aHd foreshocned on account OF The cHaSSefa"n hesht
of the ceiling and tine absence OF proper ch"lr duu
chanccl extension. These With shallow transcpts aud
a lantern over the intersection would have gwen
f,u,,lrss perspective without and within The material
Is the finest brown of rich. warmly mottled nue.
The interior Is exceedingly impressive Notwithstanding
the eoped conception Of the architect Low
galleries supported by half hidden brackets and here and
there slight pillar which does not intercept the sight
extend along the side and end, which is filled with
AN imine,se organ with eaboratey illuminated pipes
and architectural The roof is most elabora'N
finished in open framed uiberwOrk IN hard wood. spun
like lacewor throughout the great vault The ceiling
surfaces are boldly poyehrOmed in glowing crosses ana
Christian symbols, while the deep uitIamaline ceiling OF
the slender apsda chancel soaring boldly III the upper
air is tickly with golden stars The walls oi the
nave are frescoed in yet delicate dusky gold ana
filled with slender picked out in harmonious
,ints The gallery fronting-whch wlh the woodwork OF
their interior is in oaks worked ~ bold panels bearing
an elaborate churchy design IN white and blue great
belt Of beautifully composed color more lhau Nard
wide glowing ana finely wrought as an oriental tapes
try vet in harmony with the place SWEEP alon- IRE
wall parallel with the conLcc, which it almost t"uel'a
ss IL is carried over the rOundheae slender windows
But the greatest wealth OF coAr and design u hty re
served for the chanccl with its stately, bold conhod
arch and Its sides, rising to great height hel"e
they are pierced with slender stained glass windows.
The caueel arch abaze with its long lines ri crimson
Vud blue ard gold The wall surface, within are Alrd
with panels Of deep crimson bearing large Maltese
crosses in gold. Above these are long panels IN ultra
marine blue lccred in gold, setting forth the Command
ment~ the Bea tudes and the Al Ostles' Creed, With
sacred texts
DuTns the Tast summer n proper Choir has been
formed by removing single hay OF each gallery nearest
the chancel aud the raised area l. provided Win an
effective chancel organ at the northern side Nth apino-
pirate stings fof the choir which fills the oppl lie se
II consists of "a goodly number OF and ,oy0 saiy'd
and reinforced by . substantial chorus Oi women
voices. behind the southern body o chorlSicr> A. fh'
n,rtn side of tli, CHOIR space stands deliberately
carved pdlpit with its Christian symbols Al tn' oi-
pose near the choir stalls is rooay reading desk or
PRAYER and tie SCRIPTURES Immediately az tie bead OF
the middle aisle i tie great FONT clabo'tc clr\edin
Tac entire c'ance area beyond is rallied
%
which are Tiled with stngs. But 10 The eye o. lie ec-
c,,ioln.i>t that which alone explains BJAniin"
church and concentrates its profound meanings - here
vantn- The eye waits yainly for the great altar for
the csic Of the old religion There Is ony
found a comfortable Enclosure filed with broaa liable
ami ruOLy chairs such a. might DC iohd IN t'r h"9
o. On oxford college
The COMING OF THE NEW RECTOR.
Dis ,bcd py years and nnrnitics, Dr. TyHg refined
honorary rectorslp, merely tnoai' VIII n'r-
os annuity nom the vestry. After lHle ministry o.
three years nv L, assistant and successor Dr. Williams
nm! rcrilous vacancy Of YET another year. Mr Rons-
ford then officiating at the cathedral IN Toronto was
made pastor. The congregation lad bccolne much seat
tered and weakened. II reduced 10 hanunl ana
the future Of grand old parish seemed imFenIhd IN
lsis the wor-ppcrs leaving the new chufcE could look
out ON tue East River and shipping. Now there are
mile Of soall built blocks film: the acres ana reach
ing fOtT five miles 10 the north CicHrJ St'Ai
future great failure waiting fOr tie ~" rector
He ALREADY knew the iield had studcd 10" pro'leInS
counted the cost aud wakcful ready and Willing for
the cri. The hopeful elements were, first ana bcst Of
all ycstry OF singular intelligence. UnsuniD and dr-
v0tiDu their corporate trus-reddy 10 support n re
imorce the rector with unsWerNIn-, uni''I"ii@'
enthusiastic id generous hdey then there vas one OF
the noleSt and attractive chuIcie5 IN the ciy, with
its great recory. its chapel and -una! scOOl buiin-s,
aud ali the midst OF as population add a'eJdt@ Oi
churches. ana then there tile stilwiut. stout
hearted young rector, skilled In aggressive in~>I0n
glowing with ana energy, Wise III N"'HH w
percnce gained in travel and manly adventure Si5id-
ale of ST. Johns College cambridge, Engii>hmJn Of
distinguished and honorable lineage SOD of
London rector gifted with forensic power "f service
able versatile, compelling sort, fearless. intrepid re-
1ous through and through, direct simple and sincere as
n child
This II something OF the TectOrs outfit; but not all
OF it, Hi> presence Is itself assurance 81 success.
Such q would have "a well among the nohlc six
hundred Ills bearing L. half military, hall athlete Ii