Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-25

IL was cracked III some uucAptd4ieb man
ner. and had 70 be refounded in the
following year The inscription upon 1t
is quaint. and Of great interest:
In the year Of Grace,
1884,
MARCUS KNOX.
A Merchant of Glasgow.
Jealous for the interest of the Reformed
Religion.
Caused me 10 be fabricated In Holland.
For the use of his felow-citzens in
Glasgow.
And placed me with solemnity
In the tower of their Cathedral.
My function
Was announced by the impress on my
bosom.
Ne audIto venias doctrinam sanctam ut
diseas.
And
l was taught to proclaim the hours Of un-
needed time.
1875 years had / sounded these awful
warnings.
When l was broken
BY the hands Of inconsderate and I'M
sklful men.
In the year 1870
/ was cast into the furnace,
Refounded at London,
And returned to my sacred vocation.
Reader,
Thou also shalt know a resurrection,
May It be unto eternal life.
Thomas Mears, fecit, London. 1890.
II is impossible to describe adequately
i'm small space the truly exquisite proper
tons of this fine building as it now stands,
but a few words relating TO its dimensions
will not be out of place. The nave or body
Of the church, from western wall to choir
screen, is 155 feet long, 50 wide, and 80 in
height, the entire roof of ribbed stone
being supported on each side by seven col
umn5 of great size. Carved on the lower
roofs of the aisles may be seen Ave Ma
ras crosses, crowns, and other Isolated
devices, happily not destroyed in troublOus
times. The most noticeable features or
the nave, or outer court used In Roman
Catholic worship for professional displays
II high festival or solemn function are
simplicity and sublimity, owing to it's
great extent and purity Of outline. The
choir-screen is the latest portion added to
the building, as l have said, and extends
from transept TO transept, separating nave
from choir. 1t is covered with intricate
designs, presumably representing Scrip
tural subjects. The key 10 these carvings
has unfortunately been lost. which IS 70
be regretted the more so as the scenes
translated according TO modern ideas have
Robert BrOwnings characteristic descrp-
ton Of Bishops possible tomb at st.
Praxed's c'Saint Praxeds ever was the
church Sor peaceD. For obvious reasons
this portion Of the building sustained
great damage at the hands Of the Re
formers.
The choir. of old always a place OF
special sanctity is much more ornate
than the nave, and has probably from
use throughout as Protestant place
of worship, escaped the dissertation to
which other portions were subjected. Its
style is an exquisite example of the early
English. Five arches on either side,
resting upon massive pillars. the capt.
tails. Of which. with their rich and beau
tlful designs. are each different from the
others. here support the roof The
choir is 81 feet long, by about 63 In
width Adjoining II, at the extreme east
end Of the building, is the Lady Chapel,
and here. perhaps, Is 10 be found the
most delicate and elaborate carving Of
all. The groined roof, % feet in height,
is supported by three clustered columns
of most graceful proportions, the foliage
of the capitals being so deeply cut that
human figures. birds, and animals may
be seen nesting among the branches.
Entering the nave through the central
shallow steps, descending to the great
crypt. named after its artistic founder,
Jocelfne. The extent Of this gloomy
place. the massive and enormous pill
lars of every variety Of form-round
triangular many-angled-from which
spring innumerable delicate ribs support
ing the stone roof. are source OF aDso-
lutely absorbing interest The reputed
tomb and wen OF ST. Mungo ana the
modern Observation-Disclosures and brasses
are not less alluring; viewed as they
are through the never-endlng twillght
As we strolled about examining the beau
tiful windows our attention was IL
rected 10 a heavy oaken door. on level
with the churchyard outside. which stood
narttallv open, secured by a chain.
| Through IL the broad beams OF the
morning sun, and the noises OF the city
subdued by distance, made their way,
! IN no swallowed up in the cavern that
| seemed to yawn around. We were told
that through this doorway Rob Roy,
the outlaw. had once passed closely
nursued by soldiers. and in the semi
| darxness had lodged his would-be cap
tors about the great pillars. in the end
successfully eluding their grasp.
We have now only TO speak OF the
! Chapter House. not the least interesting
part of the venerable pile. IL Is entered
| from the Lady Chapel. and is square
| chamber twenty-eight feet in diameter.
| II was. OF course. the place In which the
| clergy met 10 transact business OF all
Kinds. The passage connecting It with the
rest OF the building is short, narrow, and
| yaulted. still giving the impression OF
| great secrecy. 1t is closed at each end by
= massive oaken door. studded and Sc
cured by bolts and bosses OF iron. The
stone stalls. formerly occupied by the
monks in council. yet remain against the
| walls OF the chamber. and the heaVy
oaken table still stands In the mlddts on
| the floor. all In a perfect state Oh piess'
vation The sight OF such relics cannot
i fan 40 raise a lingering ghost OF the