New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-20
THE CATHEDRAL PLANS. q
GOTHIC AND BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE
REPRESENTED.
SUMMARY OF THE FOUR DESIGNS FROM WHICH
A SELECTION is TO BE MADE.

in Europe and America for the proposed Cathedral OF
St John the Divine ended last week As ortG-
| nay intended the number Of possible plans has
been reduced TO four, which win be elaborated and
beautfed before the final decision Is reached in the
| course OF the coming fall Although the architects
in accordance with instructions from the trustees with
| held their names while the examination was in pro-
| gress, these have now been made public: william
Halsey Wood, OF Newark, n. j.; George Martin Huss,
of No. 2s5 Broadway, and John H. Buck, manager of
| the Gorham Manufacturing Company; W. A. Potter
and r. Ii. Robertson, and Helms & La Fargo, Of No
Bockman-st., I'm conjunction with W. w. Kent and
| General W. Sooy Smith. Several OF these men
young a fact which is OF interest because years Of
supervision will be necessary when The construction
of the Cathedral begun and this could DO given
| only by undor middle 20 to-day.
| A PLAN IN EARLY GOTHIC.
Mr. Wood IN drawing his plan looked upon the
Early Gothic tho catholic and comprehensive Of
It's stages, as the proper medium Of expression. IL,
he also considered, best adapted 10 granite The
inspiring motive OF the design said the architect, lay
| In the corporate name OF the Cathedral ST. John
| the Divine" Tho spirit Of symbolism was found In
| the Book OF Revelation. Tho symbolism OF tens
gave a decimal analysis 20 he lateral and upright
space; the symbolism Of sovens' found expression
| in the Ch8pels about tie sanctuary. The Ten
Tribes, the Twelve Apostles, tue Seven Churches, the
Sevenfo Gift OF the HOLY Ghost tho four evanGeliStS
| the twofold Of the Lord arc among the
|
| purpose.
! Following the plans OF the ancient Temple, there
| Is symmetrical clustering of the courts In this
! plan which," the architect says " the develop
mcnt Of cathedral life and work has made inseparable
from the sacred edince, and also hst Immcdlatcness
| OF approach which such a relation requires The
entire length of the Interior fIom the sanctuary wall
to tho opposite end. the proportions Of which are
founded upon the relations Of the different parts OF
tho human body is 400 feet Tho sanctuary. repro
sentlng the head VIII be Oneelghth OF the entire
length, so feet. The transept, ard foot OF the
below the transept intersection Of equal dimen.
sions.
| TWELVE EXITS AND DOoRwAYS.
There are twelve exits and iOorways on tbs vari,
| Gus sides Of the building Thu IS 20 feet wide
and on a continuous line with the choir. The tran
septs arc OF the same width Tho choir is about 1875
feet IN length with places for $50 stalls In each side
The choir IN Canterbury Cathedral, IS raised above
| the NAVE. The sanctuary is also elevated above the
| choir while the altar is stt!l higher Tho bishops
throne placed between the sanctuary and the choir.
on the south SIDE facing the gospel side. The pull
pit stands in the nave, detached the northwest
corner, and placed that II commands tho altar and
| throne we'll the choir and nave
| The cloistcrs present noteworthy feature in the
| general design They lie in the plane Of the main
floor surrounding the Cathedral AMI connect with the
| interior by multiplied entrances. They arc about
25 feet vide sni complete the actual square Of the
|
the exterior angles the north and south sides OF
the west front VIII be the chapel proper. furnished
and fitted for the daily services with seats for sew
eral hundred, and opening from tho southeast corner
Of the the great bapuSty both with proper
! vestrics and cOnvcnIences-
As TO Its ornsmentaton, opportunity for monumental
and memorial treatment In given I'm the construction
Of the sanctuary, with IFS srchei openings. a.
we'll as the numberless inches and angles In n" am
bulatores and sIses. The greir organ VIII be Eroupo
| into two divisions. placed the north ard south
entrance towers and corbced uIon Stone arches IN
| front OF the trlfor inner passage ways.
| AN IMPOSING TXTTRIoR
As TO the exterior, the plot Is treated square
With tho frontage the southern linz. The main
approach is from the south. Great and unbroRsn
lines OF steps approach the frrut the entire
length. Flanking each OF the great spires small
| supporting spires resembling rho,e OF St. Peters
| at Rome. They afford entrance TO a sub clolstc',
which underes the entire lcngtb Of tho cloister
| proper and can be used a carriage drive. Then,
seven chief entrances markc by elevated arrhwags
The central tower, with rs dome and spIrr riso1
above the Intersection OF the nave and transeP's It
rises from qualrangular base $50 feat squaro the
stage Immediately above the roof serving As 4 vast
lantern to Eight fhs inner spaces Of the nave Tho
noXt stage is for the bclfTy. II then mcggcs into
the octagon ana approaches the pcric, circle Of the
great DOME slopng upward IN Characteristic line, .!
true Gothic to tho spiral terminal that crowns tLo
whole.
THE PLAN or MISSES. HUss AND BUCK.
III tho plan OF Mc>srs. Huss and Buck tn, usual
/ form Of church Is followed. cruwnol at the
Junction OF and ranScps with a largo central
tower and splr Tho Is forty four feet vide
from tc contre OF the piers. The trora de- gned
TO be used also galleries, with ample staircase sp.
prOaches. Tho gallery the south end Of the |
nave Is intended FOR the great organ. Tho whole |
interval south Of the choir including tansept,
IgIgI lttY. IL.
$4,000 feet, and VIII accommodate over 1000 persons
The choir is continuation Of tho nave Long enough TO
accommodate the bishop, clergy snd choir
ranged TO the east aud Of nc choir Win a small |
morning cha.cl Mr early communion, near the north.
west tower, which is 10 be- utIllzei bartsrD. The
lower at ih' southca't forms porto cocucsr. III
cergy and choir ro't,Gs are wo' Of III choir com
passage 10 tn" chapter house, AMI with either OF the
PROVISION Is also made for layatOries and for the |
sscrlstsn and his ASSISTANT. The choir organ II i
p0P94 o e. place in in the o two northern bays Of the
The principal entrance, ars al the south end and |
or r G@ from hf wss5c ar" PT s'I and
passages in Es walls give Access TO al parts Of the
dean preccntor other Officers with tho Fatr house
and lodge enHn' house and schools for the choir boys
are shown also upon the plan. Arrangements arc |
made to build crypt, II thought necessary.
TIE sTONL TO III USED.
The walls arc 10 be faced inside and outside with |
wrought stone, with granite for the outside, with
dressings OF wyoming Valley or WarsaE hlucstOnn. !
indiana buzz limestone, with marble shafts, slabs, |
etc, win be used also. The roof 10 De vauItcd
with ribs Of warsaw blucstOnc, aud filled In with
either HOOs ler buH limestone with nTo.pruof ma
teHa, which In turn T. 20 be covered With rich |
mOsaIcs Tho roof above the waiting Is 10 be Of
lr0n filled IA with fire proof block. and covered with
either lead or copper. The floors 20 De- Of stone
OF marble, and tho crypt, II any Is 70 be- yaulto1.
me design is based IN par upon the best examples
OF the Mother Church IN England and scotland with
no attempt having been made - experiment IN any
new direction Of architecture but 10 adapt the best
periods 20 plan suitable 20 tho site.
TIE OTHER PLANE.
The plans OF MessrS. Potter and Robertson and
MesSs. Helms and LHfarcc cannot BE-
described infinitely, owing to Lack J