The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-27
ST, JOHy,s C4THEDRAL.
History md scope of tho Proicct-Thc Cor
stone TO he Laid To-day.


amid gathering Of somo OF the most prom
inent of tho Episcopal clergy and laymen in
tho country. II is now twenty-five years since
the idea Of building the cathedral was pro-
Jcctcd. and many %. tho original trustees
whose names appear on the charter which was
granted on April III. 1873. have diod. Others
will be in tho procession this afternoon.
The project Of building cathedral worthy
o: the namo 10y tho Episcopal Church IN tits
city which could be the centre oil great MIS-
sion work was preached in 1870 1t was
fortunate time for such an undertaking. Tho
sharp divisions OF High Church and Low
Church which had prevented united effort in
tho diocese had disappeared. and the
conservative clement was very strong.
1t was proposed TO rear an ediice
that would be n monument in America of the
Protestant creed and ii was argued that the
Episcopal Church was best lifted to carry out
such n project Hora'io Potter the uhcio OF
the present Bishop. was then Bishop OF New
York. and he took a very active interest III tho
proposition il was he who selected the name.
Cathedral of st. John tho Divine At tho
convention Of the diocese in 1872 committee
was appointed Ito take measures for tho
establishment in the city Of New York Of a
ra,h,dra, OF the diocese. and those nnmed on
the committee were The irst trustees OF the ca
hSara Thoy WyrS NshIr i%;"tlo oh% %'er l Rr
smith. Geo. II. Huuchton IhiIander Is; Cady.
iam't2n r,sh. John ). Wsf9 ,,S stephen T.
Samuel nni B. i;usslcs. William Scott, George
MnGcHIl9ch Miller, ,Howar%% Potter and WI;
liam +. FlodGctt. Ncssrs. RuGgles. scott. aud
cisco. and tie Eev. John Cotton smith. who
was the. rector q! Tho church OF the Ascension.
hIS a aaa fp owarI oc hsvs as
trustees. rho others are to-day active men,
On Jan. B. 1873. thc;rustees met at the house
N lISUpp and
TO apply TO the Legislature for the, charter.
which was Granted the following April +;
rortiSn. say ."t me l." ehartcr snail 10 lie
establishment. erection. maintenance. and
n f.,I"iS in til" city Of New York. in
accordance with the doctrine. discipline. and
TsHn Of T." ro, 81 Mih X
such incidental cathedral foundations. schools.
faculties. and other religious or charitable
woik as NAV he property connected there
with. in and for the said diocese"
Under the charter the Bishop OF the diocese
must always DO President OF the coronation.
George Macculloch Miller was elected Secre-
has held since. \ great deal OF interest was
aroused in tho PROPOSED cathedral 1T that
t maS: Ihe nane OF was
to the project. and two subscriptions Of $780,
900 cach were lost in consequence, ate in
1879 the Committee ?n, site Irrlorted in favor
Of the hi ock bounded by lilty ciGhlh and
lifty-ninth streets between Sixth and seventh
avenues. Tho board had previously resolved
that, tho site must not be less than city
block in size. m! tho one selected was con
sidered at the tine as far north Il. il was '.fs
erected on the ! iftv-ninth stcoet pToierYua
its spltnii outlook ont cntr"i Park seemed 10
make it's selection all the more dr>i;I' lc.
The financial depression came soon a'tcl this
choice o! n sito and 10 cny.: to acquire the
From ISL; Until 1886 few meetings OF the
trustees were held. and little or nothing WAS
done, towari! ln5S,hinss the sYh h.; Ess.es
original trustees said the other day. the oN-
IRENE mo,lcsty II bishop iioratio Potter was
FIR III Ec@'t NOT NOT Hns "StIsy
to the injury of other Church matters OF more
pressing nature. The failing henitl. an,! death
cesso in the early part OF his incumhenrv. and
disappointment rs to certain expected gifts
nH Snt is When th9 To %,
convened the trustees. n n few months the
whole plan had been Iuckcncd into life again.
and in lSSi 'he present site WAS Ell
The unanimous selection and general ap-
iicetes Ia" 'nnrvrl9u~ grown and movement
sciectc" because it WAS tho APPROXIMATE cen
tire OF the city grogrnlhicnllS. aud promises
Tie recent history of the cathedral is better
known. The actirr rom:'"iiti"n among many
cations was accepted It was decided 10y the
trustees recently to hntd the sh9tr OF re
bishop Henry {. Potter has worked indus;
Of ST. John 'n DIVINE wiz pr"e before lis dS
ccso and the city OF New orli. He has sue
cecIad in interesting in il many outside OF his
own Church In uicrrnt arpral 20 the citizens
Of New York asnin. FOR their cooperation and
support. the Eish1i ravc tho following. as tho
lines uron which tic Cathedral would be recu-
:! it VOID re tie peoples, church. in which
held on any UretcXt whatever. 1t would he
tho fightful centre Of practical philanthropies.
having foundations or eut"Wm"n;s for tho
mission work Of great city. AN! especially
for tho education OF skilled teachers aud
workers. in Intelligent as well as emotional
symp3ihy with cur crave s""ihi rioDicms. &c
"rs within IL command from al parts Of tho
land and Of various schools OF thoHsht wonIi
have II place md opportunity. 1t would
be- The fitting shrine Of memorials OF our hon
ored dead. tho heroes. leaders. and helpers
whose names have adorned the annals OF our
country. ard whose monuments would vivid
y recall their virtues and services. anu.
finally it you'd tell t. all men e1yt ,,
than ra air "l, hut man 5 after ali q child;
needing guidance. comfort. ami pardon. and
that he best lives here vii" ives in the In
,al None" " .,..-.,.,,
hishop, Potter has s.rivcn TO show that thH
tho very purpose to make the cathedral
place where all can como and Worship freely
Is more in accord with the III Oh, american
institutions than the p"wci churches rXciu
svey for those who have ii property Irht IN
them. Ito instances st. Paul > athcaral in
London. whore thousands Of Workmen are
frequently brought together 70 Worship:
Nh" design for the eat hedra Includes Seven
thnreIs Of Tongues in which 1t ~ the rur-
pose 10 have II service at lea7t every sunday IN
seven different tongues ~
at the last diocesan convention Ilshop iot-
ter devoted considerable attention in his nd
dress 10 the cathedral. ITO accomplish the
work already pcgun so well. he said: 'itwil!
be necessary for mo to invoke, as have not
vet DONE Tho general cooperation OF the do
ceso. OF IFS clergy and lHily. us mon, women.
and children. = Durirg IT." coming Win
ter lprnrose to submit to tao clergy and lno-
nle OF the diocese certain methods Tor making
this enterprise u diocesan work ana interest.
aud TO ask in tho initiation OF tNrSe plans the
help. In whatever measure, or ny whatever
give it TO me-"
A temporary platform structure has been
erected on tho site. within which the ceremo-
MES viii take place. Tho main part Of the
building. which is OF wood. covered with can
vas, Is 100 feet long and - feet wide. with two
wings. each 30 feet Ion" and - feet wide
These wings make the structure cruciiorm
and glve the effect of n nave ana transepts.
The building will he lighted 10y electricity and
heated by steam. In the centre OF the nave
will b. the corner stone. Tiers OF seats have
hpnn nm in at NJ, "a for tnA Olu.