New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-20
PULPIT SKETCHES.
THE REV. EDWARD McGLYNN s. T. d., OF
ST. STEPHENS CATHOLIC CHURCH.

IL.
mIngs young aud brilliant priest from the Propaganda,
to establish tho parish Of 81. stephens build
church. to COLLECT and organize congregation. II was
then pioneer uptown enterprise At the southeast
corner OF Madison-ave and Twenty seyenth--t. lots
procured plain building erected, consecIated and
the work OF young parish hopefully begun. But shortly
afterward the Harlem Railroad Company became pro-
pretor of the rest CT the block thus rendering the po-
sitlon uncomfortable for religious In 1853 the pro-
perty sold 10 the waiting corporation and given up
wholly to public business, The parish purchasing
while the present site, between Lexington and Third
ayes, reaching through with frontage on Twenty
eighth and Twenty ninth sts. The building de
signed by Rcnwck tho architect Of Grace Church and
also the new Cathedral and at the time perhaps tho
most noteworthy church for the Catholic worship the
city.
Dr. Cummings who had attained on unprecedented
popularity for his cloqucnco preacher his ostimabo
social qualities and fine accomplishments died in 1866.
and Dr. McGynn OF his assistants, who attended
him in his last mOment- appointed his successor.
In year his life DIR. Cummings had undertaken
an important enlargement OF the church building bn IL
was left for his to complete at the large outlay
OF 100000. The building now extends through tho
block from street TO street. the chance resting on
Twenty AMI the main entrance and facade on
Twenty-eghth The plan Is cruciform. and the style
thoroughly mOdenlzed Gothic, with not few hint, OF
Forenine inspiration. On high festival as many as
5000 worshppcrs may be seen IN this vast Interior with
its intermlnable asles and multiplied galleries Few
churches present o impressive chancel picture
The high. vaued ceilings are picked ont In blue and
gold. A fresco Of enormous proportions, by Brumld,
fills the great above the altar The subject is tho
Cruchxion. and its bold, deyOut treatment awakons
breahless interest. At the south Is the adjoining altar
to St. Joseph, the north the altar devoted To tho
Blessed Virgin Behind these are the Maryrion Of -.
Stephen and the Immaculate Conception, reminding one
at the time Of Nurio ana Raphael There IS ino
\ .rt.fff tho glo
eel columns and some interesting rescoe- In dl,emper.
The high altar and also the two lesser are executed In
the purcst stauary MARBLE the designs are full OF tue
prOfoundest religious suggestion exceedingly harmonious
In proportion and outline, and everywhere adorned with
the most exquisite work OF the sculptor The great al
tar with width OF than seventeen feet reaches
the height at the central elevation, of moro than twenty
four feet These affairs together with the general deco
rations of this enormous efce. provided by DIR.
McGynn. Tho choir and organ occupy the gallery NJ
the south end. the entrance. These are supple
mcnted by sanctuary organ and choir OF men and boys
for the responsive paris OF the service, unS part OF
the east trInscpt gallery for that purpose.
The present pastor who Is especially devoted 10 tbs
welfare OF his great parish and is untrng IA works ot
mercy and bcnevoencc has founded home for dcsti-
ute children belonging to his flock. II occupies four
buildings adjoining the church, and also fine property
AZ New Dorp staten Island, with cOmnodou- buildings
and twenty-three acres OF grounds. There are 900
are under the gentle fifteen Sisters OF Mercy
THE WORK IN A GREAT PARISH.
The present territorial limits OF his great parish arc
Twentv-fourth aud Thirty third sts ana Madson-aV"
and the East River. THIS includes Bellevue Hospital;
and tho spiritual care of the Catholic inmates who num-
Der OF the patients, is In tho hands OF 81
stephens clergy Here in this precinct, more than
90 600 Catholics who look to DR. McGynn and his az
slstants for spiritual minstrations. They are mainly
thrifty welltodo people in trade or business or tho
multiplied Industries Of lahorvcy little squaid pow
ery and not few families of the highest culture and
social distinction. At the opening OF the new Cathe-
dra many of the old ST. Stephens families Of wealth
and position living in its neighborhood on" it, con-
creation st. stephens, however, Is always hled
IncesSant and almcst innumerabe activities charitaDc'
devotional and edyng stir up the people and every
body seems busled in carrying forward the plans ana
purposcs of the pastor. In recent mission Dy the Re
demptoris Fathers more than 10000 comuunions were
given At its close 1900 persons confirmed by tn"
Archbishop perhaps the largest number ever presented
at single visitation I'm the American Catholic Church.
ON Easter or Christmas between four and five thousand
communicates visit the altar. These parochia siati-
tics have deeper significance than lies on the surface
They are only superficial ndiccs Of the finely organized
ministries OF the clergy IN the great handOhand con-
hlct with the degrading elements OF metropolitan hei
going on day and night and every day throughout tho
year. without pause cessation for winding up slh
suffering need, birth, death, burial are all the while
henk
great church works and tolls ~ untrinsy ~ tho
strong heart OF the pastor himscra living orFanza-
ton the true heart as well brain, OF this tccming
parish.
Here IS rapid sketch OF what takes place on every
Sunday of the year. Get up at half-pat i've III tho
morning and despite rain, tempest snow, cold OF neat
Won will find hearing mass gathering OF two or three
hundred who can ind not another hour in the day for
worship; nurses hotel servants stable-mcn doneslc-
and others who II they visit church. must 90 when most
NJ the population sound asleep AT siXand al cach our
until Grand High Mass at eleven mass l. sald TO largo
congregations At nine chapel mass Is sa LOT tue cl
dren I'm addition the going forward In tho great
h,r,b Hcrc are nine separate said every sun
dov IN the yoar On every week day in the year. begin
ming at hall past five, mass Is said at SIX seven csh'
and nj nine High Mass Is celebrated St stephens never
ipdulges in a midsummer nap of Il month Or t"o. us
clergy are perpetualy on duty.
Rnt hcrc l. nry deal " stastics Who are the men
carving on this perpetual burden OF dutyt Dr. Nc
Gynp now In III. forty year, aud five assistants.
mat six priests undertake this bewdering amount OF
labor All are thoroughly educated scholarly men,
The pastor is man Of exceptional accomplishments
No priest his church has incr native gifts ot mhh OF
| ner.on His requirements would appear brilliant in
deed II not held in such modest reserve by his habliuaI
| humility Educated at the Propaganda. deliberately
undcr fav cOndOns endowed with sem
sitiye and exquisite suscepblitics for brood AMI gem
crous culture gracefully winning his DECORATE almost
IN his boyhood drawing all toward himself by the charm
OF grandly disciplined refined and gracious manesS'
thoroughly eloquent and eNcmpying the best o''' VI
sacerdotal Omtory in his church. persuasive
Ineligible to all ranges OF listeners; an irlt'l>t'e "b
nifty and sweetness of presence; voice WHOSE thu,r
rcIoIy prnctrates the Twenty nnth-s chah''I 10
Tho Twentycirlth-st porch; visible picty andier'or'
| ncnetrotIng steady. edifyins, perfect eXtempore
,.o,,.r with all the legitimate weapons or ntgiu NJ
sPc, io, rcmou,trancc, cntrcaty well IN hlnd iti,
PrracSiui elegant in bearing, what Official ein9iuil
| l-pNN
n.y. Main truth /, this the parish oEns clergy nous, AZ
,ning the church Here the stan OF priests i've, IN COM
JnitT under their pastor who receives the regular pa
,arai salary i'm TIE diocese OF New-lOfk oi Tue il'h
cent sun OF $500 His as,Nt1 hts receive r2OV any
no Zach according TO the length Of their service anu
q, oJdfon 70 mi, the household and domestic eN,hses
for out OF the sunday offerings OF c poo