New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-23
THE NEW CATHEDRAL PLANS.
COMMENTS EVOKED BY THE REV. DR. SAT.
TERLEE'S LETTER
THE TRUSTEES DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM THE
CHARGE OF DISREGARDlSG PUBLIC oPIN-
DELIBERATIONS.

., omen letter to the trustees of the Cathedral
Of ST. John the Divine, in which he makes a mum
ber of criticisms upon their actions with regard
n the plans lie says, in the first place, thaO
. final decision in March upon the designs ior
the Cathedral will be premature
If must be evident" he adds, to those VINO
have noted the expressions called forth by the
nroiect that there has been considerable change
in the attitude of church people III the UOcc9V
toward the matter of the erection of the CathcdrM
nnder the conditions, which, whether colrec'N
or otherwise, it has been generally understood
have been determined by the trustees and there
arc many who apprehend that the enterprise VIII
take on the character of a great uptown PARISH
church rather than of centre of missionary eIioI
ora diocesan interest The reason for all this IS
obvious Under our peculiar American traihins'
tho sympathy Of the clergy and laity cannot ~
evoked in a church movement in which 'heN
,re treated as mere bystanders who have no III
terest at stake. :.
Diocesan enthusiasm cannot he awakened III
any place. even in the plan of Cathedral u,i'
the clergy and laty treated as those VINO nav
common interest in the great uIo'
shrine. And the apprehension that they cNi" ,,I
now is a forecast of the indifference 'ieN WI, ~i
manifest by-and-by when the appeal for oulluinS
funds is made .,
Tho Doctor believes that before the trustees
come 70 a. decision they should afford pupic
opinion every opportunity TO express l'Scil ",'
tinc;lv and adequately" For that reason liz
saws. it would have been well TO nave ia"
nublic exhibition Of the plans. Inc nHS''N'
would no a grave one. he adds, If the trus'eVs
should hastily decide upon the acceptance Vi "''
INADEQUATE or unworthy design. Inc ueEtS Vi "
decade would not be too great lie .iii'i>S II
would be we'll for the trustees 70 INFORM V"e
nublic that competition is still open
Iy,cn the people." he adds. are thus made to
oo1i,o that they are taken into council; Wheh
bo, have the opportunity of studying the different
orcbitoctnral plans themselves, and not only oil
discussing them privately with friends, but also
of expressing their opinions, either in the puolc
nrints or else by letter to the Cathedral Board
when. in a word, their cooperation Is thus gen.
erously invited, they will respond in the same
generous spirit. and an interest Will centre III Uhe
Cathedral that be evoked in no other way
Ours will then be truly an American Cathedral,
for it will be started in Americas way OF trusting
tine people 1t will be house of God for ALL
Because it asks the cooperation Of all IN laying
the cornerstone Trust is the great power of the
GOSPEL. If Christ trusted human nature IN mat
ters of conscience can we not trust the people in
great power of the United States. If our country
trusts the people with the high privilege of
suffrage. cannot we trust public opinion with the
sbaping of the great religious shrins of New
York;"
By this method Of procedure the Doctor says,
the trustees would not necessarily depend upon
the dctum of a few experts or assume so grave
responsibility as they now mourning. Neither
will they. if they make q mistake. have the
anathema of all succeeding generations hurled at
their head"
THE sEcRETARY's ANSWER
This letter caused some surprise in Protestant
Fniscopal circles of this city. No member of the
BOARD of Trustees is better able to speak in reply
70 DIR. Satteree than George Macculloch Miller,
the well-known lawyer and the secretary OF the
board. In conversation with Tribune reporter,
Mr. Miller said that as matter of course the
trustees wished to learn the sentiments and opln-
ions of the people regarding the plans OF the
Cathedral I'VE expect to be guided and in
Guenced," he added, by those opinions III the
final selection of the plans think guar
antce of that lies in the very fact that all
members of the Board OF Trustees are
men who, through their positions in life, have
leen taught to know that the people are to be
consulted In a great public enterprise, such
ME should be met and satisfied. l think that
the measures which the trustees have taken TO
receive an honest expression of this Judgment
have been. from the outset wise, and Will prove
in the end satisfactory
in the first place they opened the competition
N tbe whole architectural world, and invited
plans and suggestions from architects of all coun-
tries Many Of the plans received by the trustees
came from abroad, as well as from various places
in this country outside Of New-York When it.
vas ascertained that architects of high standing
would not enter upon the competition except
upon the condition that the plans not accepted
sbould net be exhibited TO the public without
their consent, the trustees were compelled 10 ac-
cede TO those conditions They are sun pouhd
bv those conditions. II is understood however,
that the plans accepted and selected 1of Hh'l
connection. shall be tie property of the trustees
10 the extent of their right TO exhibit them
Although the trustees Love not acted upon thlS
point as vet there is no doubt that Ihey VIII
exercise that right Neither is there any douoV
that no final decision will be made IN reeaI'
10 the plans until there has been full expression
of criticism on the part Of the punlc' lhoD
criticism too. must be well digested by the Board
of Trustees.
REALIZING THE DIFFICULTIES
Mr.. Miller added that the trustees more Ihah
realized the difficulties of reaching WISE de-
cison. both as to the ground plans of the Cathedral
and as TO the requisite dignity and beauty Oh
the building proper TO meet these problems
SUCCESSFULLY he said, 1.-THE trustees called 10
their aid engineers and experts, who advised 'he
architects prcparing the plans, as 10 the ground;
~ incotjo5 Tho Surroundings. the material, and
the t cost of the proposed building The plans now
about perfected, are expected to cmbody these sug
Tor final seIectioI. il is hoped, at least, that
t fSe viii '' indicate which one of the COMPETING
architects is best dapted to draw satisfactory
design. . a.
= Bnt the actions Of the trustees, up to the
present time show no intention on their part -
exclude much less TO ignore, the opinions or
WHEN if if fulfil lis proper purposes, will be
their cathedral. By that, mean building winch