Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-10-10
SUNDAYS:
AMERICA's HIGHEST SPIRES.
The Stesple's of st. Pstrick's Cathedrs
are EiDishS Il.


TIE finished spires of the Roman Cstho-
Lie Cathedral were the lions of Fifth ave-
uue yesterday. They were enjoying their
first Sunday of completion and of tie
thousands who went up and down tie av-
enue, not one failed to cast glance up to
the top Of the graceful marble shafts. They
are rot yet in q favorable condition for in
sleetion, for they are swathed in the
plsrkiny ard scaffoldiDg Tn which the
woIkmsn have been clsmbel log like cats
these thr,e years past, whenever the
weather permitted.
Many who looked at the tv in spires yes
tardsy did rot know that they we're gsz-
ing up n the highest of their sort in Amer
les. There ore those of greater altitude in
Europs, bot the 332 feet Of the spires OF
st. Pat;iSk's carry them further heaven
ward than any similar p;ecs rf architec-
tural work in the Uuit>d Sta'ea James
Renwick, tho architect, has been singular
ly fortunate in having seen the entire
structure grow ~ der his supervision. As
G young man and an ambitious artist he
drew tie pans for tais great cathedral OF
the greatest diocese of tie Catholic Church
in America. He drew q design far mere
magnificent than Archbishop Hrghe'
would venture upon, but the yOupg aIchi-
tect Piles ded for art, and won PERMISSION to
20 on with the building, of which the cor
ner-stone WIS laid in August, 1858.
Three Archbi, hops have held sway daring
the thirty years since then, ard one WAS
hor o.ed by tire Cardinals hat, which now
bangs slot under the groined ceiling over
the high altar.
1t was Archbishop John Hughes who
plsesd Il e cornerstone in position. Car
dinal Me- lOsk ey presided at the dedici-
ton in 1879, and il will now fall to the
lot of Archbishop Ccrrigan to conduct the
grand ceremony of cons Grafton Of stree
tore which, il is estimated, has cost 81
500 0CO to construct.
At the high mass yesterday TIE Arch
bishop occupied the pulpit and naturally
took for his text the nat er which was In
thu mird of every worshipper before him.
He alluded proudly to the cIowning cross
es that had tesn placed IS finals on the
'spi:e tops, and congratulated his people
that st last so dangerous work had been
virtually comp loted and without the loss
of even q single life. For this mark OF
divine supervision and protection he ex-
pressed his thanks, a1d his devout Cross
ing of the breast WAS followed by every
OF Of the vast audience before him.
Tho cost of this latest work 10 the
Cathedral has been, the Archbishop 81 d
about $500, coo, Of which Sl2O, 600 has been
contributed by tie faithful, and it now
remsinsd to make mp the difference. This,
he had no doubt, wouli be done as coon
as the opportunity offered, and special
collection had been arrsrgsd for the tUst
Sunday in December. He reminded his
people that the Cathedral was not yet a
use there was a nsed of enc or more Lady
chlp,lI and thsse would re the next task
in hand and one which would APPEAL with
great force to tIoss mos. Intimately cen.
uected with the spiritual side CT the work
done at the Cathedral.
The preacher spoke of the significance Of
the emblem Of the cross which had been
thus placed high under the vault Of heav
en-. II had bsen charged that the use OF
the siSu of the cross was in the nature Of
idola,ry, bat sGch . charge displayed o
lack Of knowledge Of Sacred history, a.
we'll as an error in judging the significance
of the act. The use of this sign
was not of modern oisin. 1t
was Iart Of the Apostolic wor-
ship, and from that day to this the sign Of
the GRO fa3 bsen q sign of honor. This
was its main significance. There wss no
idola,ry in its use, though fcom the won
deIful powers of this enc true cross 1t YVES
rot surprising that men should fall down
srd worship II. TIE scholarly p-elite de.
yeloped tins theme Of the significance OF
the cross by cop:ous quotations from the
early fathers Of the church, and thea the
gcest congregation pDursd out end stopped
10 gaze at the beautiful emblsms which
had served Is ths text Of the morning ser
mon.
The rich nursl trscery and p'nsiljpg
aye followed mp until lost in thed stance,
though in the clear American air the
spires fail 10 give that impression oil
height which they would have if Of dark
stone standing sgsinst o leaden Epglish
sky and surrounded by Sic haze Of %
Euslish atmosphere. Far mp In one ol
uppermost psnels could be ssen o pair Of
pigsons enjoying o rest,
Niehed far awsv within their airs loft,
Where the bells clamnr wounds the quiet ali
/ And the worlds noises grow suhdued aud sDfi-