The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-01-18
THE NEW MANHATTAN CATHE-
ORAL.

| ro-Cathedral on stanton street.
Unattended by pomp or special cere-
mony, an epoch was marked in the his
of the diocese of New York when, last
Sunday, services We're for the first time
held in the crypt of the cathedral Of st.
John the Divine, at One Hundred and
Thirteenth street and Morningside
flights.
That portion of the crypt known as
the chapel Is situated in the lower por-
ton of the structure, over which the
steeple will in the course of time be
erected The work on the cathedral
progresses slowly, and comparatively
few persons were aware that any por-
ton of the cathedral had reached
stage of completion which would admit
of services being held. The first service
was at ten o'clock, when Rt. Rev. Henry
c. Potter, bishop of New York, admin
istered the holy communion, assisted by
the canons, Rev. DR.. c. G. Tiffany Rev.
| 49, NiOOi sc l. ANClocil, WV l. 49,
Humphreys, S. #. D., and Rev. Robert
the afternoon second service was held,
and Rev. DIR. Morgan Dix preached
from the text:
| Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: Let
your hands be strong, we that hear in
| these days these words by the mouth of
! the prophets, which were in the day that
the foundation of the house Of the Lord
Of Hosts was laid, that the temple
might be built (Zachariah viii, 81.
DR. Dix outlined briefly the history of
the work on the cathedral, and alluded
to the fact that twenty-five years had
elapsed since the plan was made to
build the cathedral. In closing DR.. Dix
spoke at some length in eulogy of Bish-
OPP Potter, whose work for the cathedral
he commended in the most glowing
| terms. The music incidental to both
services was rendered by the vested
choir of the pro-cathedral.
| Large tapestries illustrative of the
scriptures were draped from the walls
and all available portions of the crypt
were deliberately decorated with Christ
mas greens and spreading palms The
decorations and furnishings of the
chapel are the work of the Tiffany glass
and decorating company Of New York.
The altar situated at the east end of
| the chapel, Is composed Of mosaic and
white marble. The mensa is single
slab of Carrara marble resting upon a
frontal Of white glass made Of one hun
bred and fifty thousand pieces, relieved
and ornamented with the apocalyptic
emblems of the four evangelists,
wrought out in mother-of-pearl mosa-
les in four circles Immediately beneath
the edge Of the mensa, and either side
of the center line, where there Is a
larger circle containing a monogram of
the Holy Name, imbedded in back
ground Of rosary beads and enriched by
inlays Of gold and precious stones, and
made iridescent with mother of-pearl.
Back and above the mensa are two ret
ables; dividing these, Immediately in
the center of the altar, and two feet
back from the edge Of the mensa, is
low tabernacle, the door of which Is
made of semi-precious stones, and en-
riched by real gems The altar cross,
which rests upon the top Of the taber
nacle, is made with just enough metal
to supply the settings for an immense
quantity Of white topAzes which, owing
to the unique fashion in which they are
set, scintillate the lights in every direc-
ton. The altar Is approached by a Sc
ries of treads (steps) made Of Carrara
marble, and the risers (fronts) of glass
mosaic bearing ornaments and inscrip-
lions from the Psalms Of David, giving
the appropriate quotation II will 60
unto the altar Of God. To God who
giveth joy to my YOUTH
At the left of the altar is a memorial
window representing "The Angel of the
Resurrection" and on the right me-
mortal window, picturing 1.-THE En-
tombment," de signed by Louis C. Tiff |
fanny. Instead Of the topaz altar cross
a small crucifix stood out in sharp re-
lief from background of white roses, |
and masses of crimson leaves adorned |
the sides of the altar. Regular services
will be held hereafter in the crypt chap |
ell Of the cathedral
Bishop Potter is the leader Of the pro-
cathedral work. In order to be thor
oughly in touch with the people he de-
sired to reach, he has not only laboref |
for them, but lived among them when
ever the opportunity occurred. The |
pro-cathedral is situated at 100 Stanton
street, one of the most crowded districts
of this city. the congregation being com
posed mostly Of Germans. Features
which might at first strike the casual
observer as unique in connection with !
church work are here introduced, and |
the success Of the work indicates the
wisdom Of such course. The "Cathe-
dral cadets" number about one hun
dred, and the drills held weekly under
Captain William c. Casey. The Sun
day-school superintendent by Edward
II. Mittelkauf, has membership of
six hundred and seventy-five and is
very encouraging branch Of the work.
The choir represents much faithful
work, for of the men, women and chill
dren who make up it's membership
many live considerable distance from
the pro-ca thedral, yet attend the re-
hearsals with unfailing regularity. The
vicar who has charge of the pro-cathe-
dral and under Bishop .Potter's super
vision conducts it's affairs is Rev. r. L.
Paddock.
The work Of the brotherhood Of st.
Andrew is mainly in the direction of
using organizations already in existence
for the purpose og getting the members
to form closer acquaintance with each
other, with view to helping and adj