New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-22
PLANS FOR THE CATHEDRAL
THE TRUSTEES READY TO ASK FOR DESIGNS.


THE INTEREST IN THE BIG UNDERTAKEN
STILL LIvELY-THE FUND GROWING
Professor Felix Adler took occasion In recent
lecture before the Society for Ethical Culture u
allude to the scheme for building Protestant
Episcopal Cathedral in this city as surVNai OF
mediaeyalism This will scarcely dampen the
ardor however, Of the projectors, who have given
their credit personal and financial, to the under'
taking, have organized u board OF trustees ana
spent $3.50, 900 on q magnificent catncdrai ste'
The cathedral scheme, in fact, Is by no means as
dead as it may look. Little has been done during
the last six months TO bring the labors Of the
Board of Trustees before the public but the COM
mttee on plans and drawings has cleared away
oil the preliminary work and is now ready TO issue
a call for sketches by the leading American archi-
tects This circular will be sent out this week
or next. 1t invites drawings in more or less de-
tail for complete cathedral plan and announces
that from the sketches submitted, two will be
chosen by the committee as basis to work on.
Any foreigner may compete, but the invitation Is
given more especially to native architects The
plans will be examined during the summer and q
choice will probably be made by September. The
Rev. DR.. Morgan Dix and William Waldorf Astor
are the committee in charge of the plans, but the
circular is issued under the direction and with the
advice OF the whole Board Of Trustees.
NO HURRY ABOUT THE WORK.
Building cathedral worthy Of the site at
Morningsde Park, and worthy Of the city as it
will be fifty years from now Is great project
and the trustees are wisely anxious to do nothing
in hurry. There is really no reason now for
pushing the scheme either in the WY Of perfect
ing plans or collecting subscriptions The Leake
and Watts Orphan Asylum will keep possession
of the Mornngside Park grounds until the sum-
mer of $3.50. Till then the work of grading and
levelling the big plot cannot even begin. But
by that time, it is hoped everything will be in
readiness to go straight ahead on the Cathedral
building and one part, the choir, probably Will
be built for immediate use. Other parts will be
added as fast as the money can be raised No
one Is oversanguine about the completion Of the
work in less than twenty or thirty years. =" 10
took thirty-iye years TO build St. Paups," said
one of the trustees yesterday, land las years,
with twelve architects, to finish st. Peters. We
shall be satisfied IL get oil as well as either
The treasurer of the Board. j. Pierpont Morgan,
is now abroad, and no effort has been made re-
Gently to figure up the amount Of money in the
Cathedral fund 1t is said, however, that there
are funds enough on hand to pay for the LeaIe
and Watts grounds, in all SS50000. No special
effort will be made TO raise more money until the
plans are accepted, and the subscribers viii be
able to see just how their money will be spent.
Tho subscriptions SO far have all been paid in,
and the fund is thus drawing interest Many
promises Of money have been made which are
virtually subscriptions. II counted IN the fund,
they would easily swell it beyond million dol
lars. But the Cathedral corporation feels that
the money will come 1t is needed by and by:
1t is content to let matters rest for year, and
until year from next fell certainly no active
canvass for subscriptions will be begun again.
TRINITY SCHOOL TO JOIN THE CATHEDRAL
The Leake and Watts Orphan House Board has
not yet decided definitely where to move
when it is obliged to give up its
present grounds. 1t is probable that
it will take Westchester County farm. The
place will be taken in part by Trinity School which
has agreed to join forces with the Cathedral
Board and put its new building on part Of the
Morningside plot Trinity School dates from
about 1850 and has grown enormously rich by
the appreciation in value Of farm, now uptown
city lots, decided to it by its founder John Baker
The school now occupies two houses in Seventh.
ave-, near Forty-second-st. 1t will be turned
into something Of parochal school under the
shadow of the big cathedral With its wealth
and resources it will prove useful ally in clear
ing the site ut One-hundred and-tenth-st, and the
work on its building, which can be put through
without delay, will give increased confidence in
the substantial character and ultimate success Of
the larger scheme