New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-05
OLD AND NEW ST. PAULS.
THE ENGLISH CATHEDRAL AS 1T WAS
AND IS
ALFRED corLETT LECTURES IN THE CHURCH
CLUB AND FURNISHES FORTY EIGHT BEAU

ALFRED CoLETT LECTURES IN THE CHURCH
CLUB AND FURNISHES FoRTY-EIGHr BEAU
TIFU. sTEREoPTIcoN VIEWS
The first OF Alfred Collects series OF lectures on
English Cathedrals" opened yesterday morn
ing al the Church Club. Fifth-ave and Forty-sev-
enth-st. The subject was "Old and New St. Paul's
Mr.. Coett said In part:
The great cathedral OF London IL the third which
mas occupied the present site or the first there is
now no remnant whatever, and the foundation OF
81 Pauls as cathedral Is lost In the shadows Of
legend land. II we to believe medieval legends
we should ascrbe TO II antiquity dating back
possibly 10 the second or third century, but moth
ing Is certain until the early part Of the seventh
century, when we find Mellitus Bishop OF London
LONDON, we may remember. did not become the
chief city OF the realm I'll after the Conquest and
therefore It until after then that any effort
was made TO produce cathedral worthy OF the
metropolis. However. the close OF the eleventh
century cathedral was begun. and after two CEN
turtles OF building formally dedica ted with great
pomp and ceremony. 1t had the glory OF being the
largest and possibly the finest Of all the English
cathedrals. being nearly one hundred feet longer
than the present structure and having a spire fully
five hundred feet high.
After suffering many repairs and iniignitles.
brought about chiefly by successive fires the cathe-
dra fell prey to the great fire OF London in 1866
Al frst some effort was made to rebuild It. but
upon the recommendation Of Sir Christopher Wren
an entirely new design prepared and after
much trouble with the commission appointed 20
supernend the work Wren finally succeeded In
getting his last plan accepted and the work Of the
cathedral was begun at the end OF the seventeenth
century Wren lived TO 1t completed. and. ac-
cording TO the Inscription which Is still 70 be
In IL Interior. il ia only the only monument
existing In -. Pauls OF Wren himself. but re-
mains the chef-d'puvre Of ono OF the greatest Of
Great Britain's architects. The Gothic style Of
architecture being that time entirely extinct ST
Paurs Is the chief monument in England OF the
Renaissance style. and however It may he open
to criticism # will always he one OF the nobest
churches In the land. Wren's designs FOR the In
terror have not been strictly adhered to- and a
great many experiments have been tried in the
present century The smoky atmosphere Of London
precludes tAe possibility Of mural decoration by
itesco. Rli series Of mosacs are beipg placed in
II warmth and dignity worthy OF f.
possibly no cathedral IN England appeals the
hearts 81 the people more than ST. Paurs 10 the
with people. popular TO degree that is quite ex-
ceptonal In its evening services even on the most
stormy winter nights The Church in England
The famous sermons Of Canon Tiddon will long be
remembered within its walls and. however mistaken
the modern embellishments % IL NAV he we must
regard them as something OF a national work.
trinuted In the spirit OF London's munifcence'
Among IN" iorty-eight views shown by Mr. Col
lett were the following. view Of London before
Pauls on fire: the monument Of The fire OF London:
the river: peep at St Paul's INDICATE Hi and
Rome. the sculpture on the western pellment OF
81 PauIs The phTnix on the southern porch; the
rauTs. looking east: the reredos: the crypt and
St Pauls from the river