The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08
A RENOWNED OLD CHURCH.
One Of the Quaintesi and Most Hon
prcd of SanCtunrics


In all the wide world there is no other
building like the Little Church Around the
Corner for il is built on no plan. 4 bap-
tistry has been tackled upon it in one place.
a -Chancel added to another. an organ room
pushed out here and a Jransept there. I'M
til it has become a tumble of queer pro-
jections and quaint gables and odd, null
lioned windows
Within the church the light Is very dim
and. looking through it one sees low. vault
ed ceilings. a forest Of carved pillars,
many fretted arches and deep shadows
with the glimmer in them Of marble stat
uary and the sheen Of brass vessels and
the glitter Of golden frames. There are
long. dimly-lighted aisles and deep re-
cesses and many odd windows strangely
placed. so that the light steals in from
unexpected spots. touching gently upon
the sCmbre wall tints. or casting itself
with vivid effects upon marble statue or
great gainting. SO that they seem almost
things OF life rather than mere stone and
canvas and in other Of the windows there
are beautiful figures and peaceful faces Of
saints and prophets that seem, in the
gloom. TO glow with the actual color Of
life. so that one may sit alone and mag
Inc ones self in a company Of glorious
ones, witnessing the TRANSPORTATION itself
through the beautiful window. which il
the churchs most splendid decoration.
II is three years nearly since the first
rector the Rev. George H. HOughtOn died,
after a ministry OF more than half a cen
tury. but the marks which he left upon
the religion Of New York will never be ef-
faced He was succeeded. at his own
request by his nephew. the Rev. George
Clark Houghton, D. D.. the only man in
all New York whom the old priest felt as
sured would administer the affairs Of the
parish as he himself would wish. The
choice has never been regretted. and the
church today is being carried along upon
the exact lines mapped out by its founder
half a century ago and pushed with unde-
Waiting faith through his whole life.
All day long from early morn until
evening the church is open, and within and
without there is peace and beauty and
restfuluess that few churches hold. Il is
like a bit Of country landscape dropped
AMID the noise and hustle Of a great city.
TAN elm trees shade il from the sun, and
in their branches are little houses for the
birds The turf in summer is green and
refreshing, a fountain FLASHES near the
gateway. and there is stone seat under
he Itch gate where tired wayfarers can sit
and rest. The quaint architecture. and
she rambling lines Of the building. suggest
the setting OF an English village rather
than a new world metropolis.
All through the day they pass In and
out-the rich. the well-t0-do. the poor
and those unfortunate wilted creatures
who seem 20 have no other place in the
world Il is the boast ef the church that
no person fortunate OF unfortunate. Is
turned away empty. but If a man is drunk
en- or Enthusiastically an impostor he is not
helped Sometimes as many as forty
strangers are provided f5r in a day. yet
there is always a little left for The next
conner and even at night there Is a bell
20 be pulled and an iron tube from the
door 10 the rectors bedside and through
10 the unfortunate may ash for aid OF for
any OF the ministries which the church az
fords
And vet with all its simplicity. the
church does not lack that social distinc-
ton which is sometimes expressed in
hands some equipages and splendid attire. Il
is &c home church of most OF the oldest
and best families Of New York, and among
its members there are still representatives
Of those Old houses. on the plates Of the
pcws are such names as Nerplanck. "a
nri.kic Livingstone DreXel. Ast0r. Fish.
Bronson. Chauncey. and Gerry.