The sun., 1889-01-27

|
The Proposed Cathedral Of st. John.
The gentlemen charged with the selection
OF an architect for the proposed Cathedral
Of the Protestant Episcopal diocese Of New
York, are now considering the designs sub
mitted in preliminary competition. The
| purpose OF the committee In organizing
| this competition was not to secure design
which could be definitely adopted, but to
| get the sense Of the profession as to the
sort OF church, generally speaking, which
the cathedral ought TO be- as q basis upon
which arrangements for q second competi-
tion may be made. It is pleasant to know
tha. the architects have responded well to the
coll made upon them, and that some sew
enty designs have been submitted. They
have not yet been opened for examination;
and the remarks we are about to offer have
no direct reference to their merits general
or particular.
The main question involved In the con-
sideration Of these seventy designs Is not
question of treatment or Of style; 1t
does not mean simply choice between the
various phases OF pointed Gothic or even
between Romanesque and Gothic construc-
tional features. The chief business OF tho
judges must be to decide upon the ground
plan of tho structure: to choose between
the long-drawn aisle, with its rows Of col
umns, the far-projecting transept arms and
the deep choir OF western and northern Eu-
rope, and the short, broad arms OF almost
equal length, the shallower chancel, and
unencumbered floor characteristic of the
Byzantine type.
A M ci1oh Haoicipn uo,,1H
have been necessary Then, to the American
designer and the American public. church
meant simply building on the traditional
English plan. But 1t would be strange in
deed II to-day some Of our ablest archi-
tects have not presented designs analo-
gous in character OF plan to the one
with which RICHARDSON gained such marked
success when he built Trinity Church in
Boston. Even before Trinity was built, simi-
lar ground-plans had been used; since Its
erection they have been more and more
commonly chosen by all Protestant COM
munions; and numerous essays, written
by clerlcs and laymen, have advocated
them with clear explanations Of their
superior fitness for modern needs. That |
such plan. with all that 1t implies in the
way OF CONSTITUTIONAL and decorative treat |
ment, should be adopted for the Cathedral |
OF st. John seems advisable In the interest |
Of the building itself and Of the general pub
lie, and more especially in the interest Of art.
Certain enthusiasts have hastened to pro-
claim that in this church little attention need
be paid to those requirements Of congrega-
tional worship which must be more nicely
considered when parish churches are In
prospect OF Ofcourse there Is some excuse for
this notion. But to accept it as prescribing
so i'll adapted for congregational
worship as are the typical great fanes of Eng
land. would be to work directly against the
usefulness and the popular attractiveness
Of the cathedral. The mere far-off con-
temptation Of gorgeous ceremonials can
never satisfy the desires of Protestant Chris
tlans In a place Of worship. There is no
escape from the necessity Of making every
modern church. whether a cathedral or not
place where the congregation can intelli-
gently participate in the service. and where
The preacher can be well heard and seen
rom every part. The only persons who
would be satisfied with less than this are
that small body Of Ritualists which
exists within the Episcopal commun-
on but does not constitute 1t. Nor
loes any one else desire those minor
,hrines and affairs, the provision for which
lad so much to do in the designs Of the old
Iothio churches. absolutely prescribing, for
Instance, the excessive length of English
,hoirs. It is surely not advisable that the
yiews of small body Of extremists should
70 solely or chiefly considered In this cathe-
lral, especially as Its promoters have de-
Jared their wish to make 1t the CENTRE not
II the Episcopal faith alone. but of American
in general. On the other
land. the purposes of the High Church party
hould not be entirely ignored. Some scheme
4 compromise should be found which, while
living full chance for the most sumptuous
itual service that tho Episcopal Church
lows. will likewise provide satisfactory
lace In which congregations. larger than
an be assembled elsewhere. may listen to
he words OF famous preachers. Such q
cheme Of compromise Ia offered by the
characteristic of the Oriental
,hurch. 1t provides a wide. free floor, no
arts Of which are unduly remote, even in
he largest ediace. from altar and pulpit; 1t
lows the introduction Of large open gal
cries; and 1t can be supplied with ambula-
ories and chapels sufficient for the most
professional services and for all tho
eeds OF small weekday congregations.
But, quite apart from these practical oon-
deratlons We believe that such a church.
ather than one merely reproducing an Eng.
sh or French Gothic cathedral. would be
lore sure to satisfy the taste OF the American
ublic, vitality to interest it. genuinely to i'm :
ress 1t. AL signs show. In the fields OF
sculpture. and painting, that ]
10 nascent aesthetic instincts OF our
sople are In sympathy with those Of south c
n rather than with those Of northern Euro .
ean nations. The wide fame which RICHARD =
On secured, the interest which his buildings =
lcite in thousands OF minds that never
lred for any architectural structures be- O
re. the degree to which he has been fol- =
wed by others whose productions In their h
lrn have likewise been popularly approved | n