New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-10
PULPIT SKETCHES.
DIR. JOHN c. ECCLEsToN, OF ST JOHNS PAX
ISL, CLIFTON, STATEN ISLAND.

along the bold wooded, Dill region oFoii""N"b 'N
Lower Bay, with Sandy Hook on one hand ana on inc
other the Upper Bay, and the great city Win inc u
Pallsade pcrspectiyes thanking it on the west was
pcopled by the representative families OF metropolitan
wealtb enterprise and social distinction. Perhaps no
rura or suburban parish before or since, has couhtcu
amonp It's families 20 many solid fortunes and brilliant
connections Among the founders and subsequent sup
portcrs of st. Johns arc found the names of William H.
and Joln Aspinwall Levi Cook, william b. Townsend,
ot tho old New-York Express" William III. Vanderbilt
and others of that family, +. b. Sattcrthwaite William
Cutbbcrtson, Edward Gillian, William Feilowes,
William Hawxhurst Townsend, ID B. Allen W. u
Pickcrsgill John Appleton. and many Others oi s'ar
position The neighhorhood gave homes, besides, NJ
dieercnt pcriods To the Cunards, Duncans, Living
stons. AleXandrcs, Ciscos and Bclmonts: ...,,,
The first church building was modest wooheh Sttuc
ture clearly enough q temporary affair Tor Such
populaton II was built nearly opposite the pres MT
site on the west side OF the avenue m the ma'i OF
natural growth of young forest trees 1t would DOUBT
less have made for the permanent church at
much earlier day but for the rapid succession OF ttg
recors who in those days, i'll heir brloi pasoratcs
ranging from three to five years. seemed to resort !" 81
Johns "a judicous c0lgn OF vantage Tor hlgher
ecclesiastical ventures Within the first twenty-five
wears We count six pastoratcs; an experience when
lew parishes urban or suburban, could long survive,
Yet those ccrgymcn undoubtedly among the most
promising oil the rising evangelical preachers, win
single cxccption,-and men who might nave won per
INSTRUMENTATION in the service of ST. Johns Among
them bra Kingston Goddard, A. H. Mercer iat'r
the millionaire proprietor of All saints chapel NOW
port; K. VI Abcrclombic, Thomas X. Conrad, ana Dr.
Ecclcston who enjoys tho unique and eh''puo1al
honor of second plstoratc in the same parish Under
his administration plans were naturcd "r the erection
of "A costly stone church commensurate with the re-
ourcments of the congregation and somewhat III Keep
Ing with itS culture and resources. The building was
cOnsecrated III lSGo.
CULTURE OF rIIE RECTOR SEEN IN THE EDlFlCE.
The plaus were made by Arthur Gilman, and the
4 Ito tttar.aI VINO
Conn. il extremely effective with ts quar-
ried surface with chiscllcd work about win
dows. doors, striEgpiece4 and Communications
of Bellevc stone, while the style is one epecioy
adaptcd to the comfort and convenience Of
conqreCaons that of the later decorated Gothic OF the
fourteenth century the finest examples of which may
he found in the ecclesiastical structures OF Edward
HIS reign The ground plan is crucitorm, but the
nave and transcpts wide in relation to length the
asc arc low while tine main roofs not 80 high as 10
destroy the acoustic properties OF the INTERIOR or the
symmetry of the exterior lines, as haDpcns' in st
Georges, Trinity Chapel, and elsewhere III the city.
Indeed the interior is thoroughly enjoyable and salts
factory result of Gothic art for practical church work
III roofs in omen timber work of CHESTNUT exquisite
in design aud admirably eKeclllcd. ne cnaicei -
broad and deep lighted by two narrow side windows III
addition Ia its beautiful east window. And these Tour
great windows in the chancc al tue west end OF the
nave opposite, with thusc at the ranscpt ends nearly
alike in proportions and dimensions, are illed with
some of the finest church glass produced IN TINS CEN
fury Ii il all figure work. the designs are dawn from
the pures period of early Italian religious art and the
drawing and color rcvtren and harmonious thaJ the
great masterpieces OF Fra Angelica, Raphael ia mel
and DOmenchnO seem spirltualilcd IN dAphahOu-
rartnons hung In mid air Certainly the Hcat0n~, of
London oldest firm of stained glass workers IN the
world have sent nothing admirable to THIS country
And the degree OF excellence Is loud III iny VI
the side windows.
The composition and art motives OF these windows
nearly all of which memorials, reflect the SOUND
culture of Dr. EcclestOn in religious art who with I'M
restricted letters of credit devoted several months OF
study abroad the accomplishment OF thls plOus work
Nowhere in the metropolis can the connolSseur
in church glass with good bnocularl spend an hour
or two with greater edication. The great south tran
sept window Il memorial OF the beloved physician,
DR.. Anderson So long celebrity at Quarantine ana
in St Johns. The north side window in the
chancel figure of surprising loneliness in memorial
of daughter of john Appleton, one of the most muni
cent and devoted friends of the parish VINO II hil7e
Inemoriazed in an elaborate mural tablet OF polished
brass, just north vi the chancci arch
LOSS TO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
DIR Eccleston during whose ministry this exquisite
church, with its roomy parsonage III quaint queen
Anne gri.e close at hand, has all come TO light IL u
Marylandcr descended from old English family who
we're frcchodcrs for than 800 years OF Ecccston
near Chester. England lie was born in 1928; his
father was a nguhcd judge of the Supreme Court
and hi4 uncle the fourth Catholic Archbishop of Balt
ecclcsastcs of his Church, of whom it IL pleasantly
recorded that on alternate sunday afternoons hc and
the venerable DIR. Wyatt rector of ST. Paus Episcopal
Church. we're accustomed exchange visits of courtesy
and good will DR.. Ecclc'tOn cducatcd Roman
Catholic bv his eminent knsman the Archbishop, Mt
the Supican College of ST. Mary's, Baltimore, being
graduated in 1917 Subsequently he studded Tor the
medical profession, taking his degree at the Maryland
University with the highest h0nors OF his Bs AZ the
ago of twenty two the loss of his wife ana only chlld
together with an ample private fortune lea hn 70 give
up secular for the religious lite, and having entered
the Episcopal Church, after preliminary instructions
under Bishop Whtyham he became a member OF the
General Theological Seminary and was graduated IN
company with DR. James de k0ycn and Bishop Sey.
mour After n brief diacOnate he made prottaottd
tour chiefly pedestrian, through England ana across
:hc Continent to Milan, followed 10y travels m Egypt
and Palestine. Here gathered rich ana abundant
materials from history arch Geology ana the hnr arts
which were to render beautiful and unexpected service
In his future career In 1896 he became rector OF ST
John's leaving II IN 1863 Tor Trinity Churcn, Newark,
which he WA forced to rcuqush in 1866 by impaired
health After declining three or 01r brilliant oppor
ncs enter other churches, he returned to h's aid
parish the following year ia the full freshness OF his
In personal appearance DR. Ecclcston is tall grace
tully pronortioned. with n sinewy hgure As II well
in,fed TO manly pastimes aud endurance, aud that I'M
mstakabc presence and carriage of thorough breeding
which doubtless characterized Chauccrs Ecrny par
fat gcntil man" His complexion IL deeply bronled,
ha features are refined, mobile and singuarly ex-
pressive and his dark finely set eyes nave way OF
lighting up wonderfully when his heart AID BRAN are
bnsy He IA a boldly marked Individuality Weeds no
proIping nor tying to ecclesiastical social rspaers
thinks his own thoughts and calls scolist party
whmpcr.in master. Born and bred q Roman Catholic.
begin nng hs ministry I'm sympathy with Evangelical or
Low Chufchmen he has crthcles pursucd career OF
singular freedom and Independence. He has no room
for sacerdoalsm ecclesiastlcsm in his scheme OF
labor while his rugged, impetnons temperament hhus
scant nuriment among mere petsts and dreamers.
He seems more at home with men of kiugslcys type
and George Macdonald
DR. ECCLEsToN AS PREACHER AND LECTURER.
His sermons strongly east, reaching out boldly
with fresh invention. The voice is ringing. at times
almost defiant then full OF cxhilaration. and not with
out resources of pathos and great tenderness The
matter full of sudden flashes of keen intelligence,
And thia elnnnnnnn