The sun., 1888-02-12
THE WORK OF sEYENTEEU HOURS IN
THE GREAT CHURCH
From the Coming OF the First Wsrshippsr
Ustu the 9siua Of the Last feaasent-
baptism, wedalnr, and Fansral.

strolllnR 10 the Park, hesitatod between Wlsn
to crafty his curiosity as to what was going on
within and a desire to continue his walk.
1t was Sunday noon. and the most impressive
service OF the week was being concluded In the
grandest church edifcs In America. At each
OF the masses said hourly from o'clock to IL.
and at the vesper service at 4 o'clock in the
afternoon. 5000 worshippers filled the pews
and crowded tho aisles of the great building.
To most OF the residents Of New York the
cathedral exists simply as d place Of spectacu-
lar worship une1ualled in this country. They
know nothing OF the work which Is daily car
ried on within those stately walls. Suppose,
therefore. you who compose this great majority
go with me this Saturday morning and remain
all day In the cathedral, and sec what the
weekday uses Of this vast building are.
The street lamps are twinkling through the
mist OF the early morning as we leave our
homes. We must make an early start, for q
later hour will not answer. The day in the
cathedral begins before sunrise and ends long
after the calendar day has come 70 u close. As
we approach, a dim light can be seen through
building The sacristan ip charge has lighted
the burners in the Lady chapel, which tllls the
chance cSancel r organ. I We are @ Just % in time At $50
the oak doors Of. the church cresk on their
hinges and n. cathedral + opsnsdt t9r tho day
been Watching the lights through the chapel
; q have
sieStss.rs. I Ike ourselves % They r' are % la6orins
their daily work. This old man is q pressman
ns the mass or
many years He stops In on his way homo from
Silently they e into tho ssy
front door. Through the darkness they walk
until they reach the CHEEKY brightness Of the
for the time being tho cares Of the night that
Is past and the annoyances Of tho day which Is
just dawning are entirely overshadowed. by the
consolation OF the present moment AS the
cation increases. A rattle over the avenue
ftstops at the door. and speedily another nddi-
ton is made to the worshippers. A lady neatly
dressed in q travelling suit. and her Two young
iivions Of the worldly honor which Is being be-
millionaire banker. and starts for Europe on the
morning steamer. She wants to hear mass be-
fore her departure.
The whispers OF tho deyotees are hushed,
though the congregation still remain kneeling.
he priest Il fabaq M fbs
rector of the cathedral. half an hour later the
last words Of the mass have been said; The
Lavelle has removed his robes and rsappears
IL sombrs black: He takes his place before
the altar ana Dows ms mead ~ silent prayer.
Some came before the 1rst service was ended
Others went to tho chapel and are still upon
Tho chapel Is one,third illled now. and We
and clerks in business houses who are Obliged
ere are many Some
some are sewing girls sales girls: and not .
in the chapel surely can afford to come to .
later late service long ssaiskin CLOAK envelops
notes money enough to purchase ease. She is
widow. and six OF the worshippsrs who Hli the
two seats In advance of hers are servants in
income is over 500 900 year Ever since her
a death few IS has
sence from @ the city prev prevented, 40 A''A VI ''
from bis half hours devotion and gons to bis
no will remain while the last mass Of the morn.
priest approaches the altar. He is clothed IN
chaplain. He is the Archbishop. who daily
takes his turn with the other members OF his
y Ths IS
ths OF tae the
again plains Glad IN blscE snd y bis pPed
ecessor at the altar. he kneels and makes his
While the Archbishop has been intoning tho
mass the chapel has been rapidly filing up
with still another set OF worshippers. There
1880 mass. which begins Whom the Arohbi bisbop's
faer bss snnsss Of h'
Near Meanwhile the Arehb!shpp kneels at his devo;
him as though he were tho sole OCCUPANT OF
the % private chapel In his marble palace, back
pass a. h rss from Ms
self leaves the church for his residence, whittier
his official duties call him.
personnel OF the congregation has again un-
Grnins 1erGons chhnge and ths first rays q the
ns so iar hs G
day contained. Dresses OF silk simmer in the
bsa and Wb|s |Swsls glitter in the
rusty attire OF mechanic returning from his
night Of toll. or the pale face and modest cos
trn ths 81 some ba lust releaSsd
great majority OF the 'eoneng eoegresaoa nash e.hbis
Meaith fSss N their garb and comfort in their fresh
Father McCuskey conducts.
day Ths apa nshss Il hss the regular masses Of the
the worshipDers have left the church; few re-
ony ao .o prsS n T. rather early for visitors
door and takes her place in a pow, where She
make makes 5 her humble devotions. Another and
oiusf maiden wrinkles her sealskin sacuuo as
she kneels before the first OF the fourteen sta
ti9ns which lead to the foot OF tho cross It IL
set, ,-imposed penancs that she is performing.
. mere comes washerwoman who deposits
ner empty basket by her side Ms sho kneels on
the cushioned stool In millionare's pew, and
Peaas IN the seat by her side across the aisle
kkneels the vile OF the absent CrDsus. and the
Orra9siets on her arms iinglo family as her Jew
SlIe9 t Deads are similarly fingered. All is equal
,Iy mere. Ihe devotion Of The laundress and
tne PRAYERS OF the society leader blend together
Win common fervor, Meanwhile men OF ali
anu merchant princes rub elbows with seedy
seekers seekers tor work to keep body and soul to-
s se,ner. constant string, coming and going,
slhKiy Ky and In pairs: make the lofty arches re-
SCUM SCUM Win thelr footsteps, Thus the time
passes unlll 10 o'clock. An occasional visitor
mas lptsrrogated the darkrobed sacristan as
10 the features OF the ediace, and not a few
~ st9 tRs seEssd fh9 privilege q visiting the tombs
sole oecuPants OF the cathedral sepulchre.
a., Az l0 o'clock Father Mulhern energies from
,ie ,h saeTlsiy and passes down the side aisle to
tns .ias Daptismai font by the door There are
Ga,ncred together at this SPOT three sturdy
women and one man, who hnv. entered tho
thnurch than'c 20 silently that We might have missed