The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-18
A GREAT CATHEDRAL.
The Story OF Gotham's 100000
Church.

(CoDyrfoht.)
New YORK, Dec. 1.-THE cornerstone of
the great Cathedral Of St John the Divine
will be laid with imposing ceremonies on
Dec. "a, and a few of the men prominent In
the movement since its inception will go
back in memory to the eventful meeting at
the deathbed of Bishop Horatio Potter-will
see in the exercises Of the day the consum-
| nation of the devoutest wish of that great
clergyman.
The idea of erecting Protestant Episco-
pal cathedral. Of creating an epoch-making
event in the history Of the church, had its
inception In 1870 to the minds Of many Of
the men who were near and dear to the late
bishop. Entrusted to him il grew in scope
and grandeur until, at least in conception,
| 1t became the great structure Of which the
great cornerstone Is now to be laid.
The first seventeen trustees were named at
| about this time, but the stirring events Of
the next few years, ending with the great
panic, gave the project a set back from
which 1t took dozen years TO recover. In
1886 it was found that but nine OK the seven
teen trustees were among the living, and
under the original compact 1t took major
ity to act. The bishop lay dying Several
| OF the trustees were abroad, end after
| almost superhuman efforts the eight
men we're finally brought together,
and the first steps looking TO the actual
| taken at the bedside Of the late Bishop Pot
| ter. The vacancies in the board Of trustees
were filed and then work began. Bishop
| Potter, the present head of the diocese, is
| sued his famous address, In which occurred
the following notable remarks:
1T will he the peoples church, in which
| no reserved right can be bought, held or
hired on any pretext whatever. 1t will be
| the fitting shrine of memorials Of our hon
ored dead. 1t will supply the especial need
of this material age. commanding witness
| to faith In the unseen.n
The fund grew apace. Contributions
| came In from the Vanderbilts, the Astors,
Pierpont Morgan, from the estates of de-
ceased members OF the Protestant Episcopal
church, and in 1887, less than year after
| the memorable meeting. enough of fund
| for good payment on tho site was at hand.
Prices Of property just south OF Central
park were going upward at no small gait
and speedy action was necessary il the
cathedral was to look down upon its great
neighbor. St. Patriok's.
A place between Sixth and Seventh ave-
nues and Flfty-seventh and Fifty-ninth
streets was at first decided upon: but the
W.
trustees agreed that it would be best to look
far north for q site. In November, 1887,
the old Leake and Watts Orphan Home
grounds were bought for $3.50 900, and the
new cathedral will stand in perhaps the
most picturesque spot on Manhattan island.
Its towers will look down upon the Hudson
and the Palisades will be within view Far
off the busy cities OF Hoboken and Jersey
City will be seen from the towers OF the
edifice, and its great spire will, on the east,
be in sight OF all Harlem and the bills of
Long Island.
It is spot hallowed by history as we'll g,
for it was here the famous Leake lived In
the early days Of the municipality.
But the trustees were ready for plans
now, and TO this new work they applied
themselves with the utmost energy Fresh
appeals for funds met with hearty responses,
and sum that would cover the erection Of
a portion OF the proposed structure was at
hand.
1t took thirteen years TO build st. Pat
rick's cathedral on Fifth avenue, and as it
was proposed to have the new building sew
eral times as large, time was valuable, and
event must follow quick upon event ia the
history that was TO eliminate in Americas
greatest church structure.
Il ia now believed that the fifteen years
will elapse before the building is completed.
This means that thirty-seven years will
have elapsed between the conception and
the elimination, more than generation of
tune, In which many noted ia the work
have passed away.
The architects from whom plans were
asked took up the task In a most commend
able spirit. The competition was spirited,
and at times exceedingly bitter. Charge,
and countercharges we're made and met,
and finally. when the smoke Of the battle
bad cleared away the competitors had mar
rowed down TO four firms. OF these the
most notable plans were those Of