Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-11-15
HUGE CHURCH EDlFICE
Canon Bouillon's Plans For
Worlds Greatest Structure.
EIGHT YEARS SPENT IN DESIGNING

Architect Priest of Ottawa Estimates
That the Building VIII Cost Twen-
| ~ Million Dollars-Hopes to See 1t
Built In New York City-The Dome
to Be an Imposing Feature.
Canon G. Bouillon, primicier of the
basilica of Ottawa, designer of the
most elaborate ecclesiastical edifice in
the world, which he hopes may be
built in New York city at a cost of
not less than $20,OOO,OO0, was visiting
friends in New York recently. While
at the parish house of the Church of
Our Lady of Lourdes, in Brooklyn, he
told reporter Of the New York Times
OF his eight years work in preparation
for what he believes will be counted
the greatest accomplishment of his
long and active life. The Rev. Father
Bouillon Is one of the foremost church
men In Canada, as his title tells, and
an architect of about twenty-five
churches in. the Dominion, including
the large cathedral at Ottawa.
The plans for the ecclesiastical build
ing he proposes for New York city
have been left In the keeping of Rev.
Father Henry Beaudet, O. p, at the
parish house, $3.50 Lexington avenue. 1t
is the desire of the author that they
be placed on exhibition in some public
building, so that New Workers, partic-
ularly those who will be in a position
to aid in the movement to secure funds
necessary for the construction of the
edifice, may inspect them. They are
for structure which would surpass
in many ways the world famous st.
Peters of Rome and st. Sophia Of Con.
stantinople and, the Rev. Father Bouil-
Ion says, would attract visitors from
every part of the world
Father BouillOn was born near Que
bee and was educated at Ottawa and
at the University of Montreal, taking
his theological course at the latter in
stitution. When a lad at home, before
he was sent away to school. he drew
pictures with chalk and pencils. max
ing copies and drawings from original
subjects, his work usually being in the
line of designing houses
When he took up his theological stud
les and visited churches, he took to
making architectural plans for cathe-
drals. His study of the work was 80
thorough and he developed such strik-
ing originality Of general designs and
features that he was called upon for
plans for many church buildings. Dur
ing all >of this time he Travelled much,
going several times to England and the
continent, visiting all principal cities
and particularly the big cathedrals.
st. Peters at Rome was a peculiar in
spiration for him in his architectural
work, and when there and in COnstan-
tinople in 1883 be was first filed with
a desire to design a church edifice that
would excel the magnificent cathedrals
in either Of those cities. During eight
years he revised his tentative plans
time and again. A few weeks ago he
announced the completion of the work,
which he confidently believes will be
known as his greatest.
Describing his plans for the great
church building for New York, Father
Bouillon said that the structure will be
more imposing than any cathedral in
the world. The foundation and frame.
work as planned will cost between &c..
600 600 and 100000. The decora-
lions and features Of embellishment, all
Of which have been designed In great
detail by the author Of the general
plan, will make the total cost OF the
building about $4,000, O0O.
The predominating and imposing por-
ton Of the building, according to the
plans, is the dome, which is 400 feet
high inside and 800 feet from the
ground level to the summit, upon
which rests a cup0la having diameter
Of thirty feet. Inside the vast dome
will rise uninterruptedly above all. and
4 complete view Of the entire structure
can be had from the doorway. There
will be eleven chapels on all sides, each
Bb feet in diameter and 100 feet high
The entire length of the structure 1s
600 feet and the width 400 feet The
yeats for the worshlpers are to be ar
in circles about the altar in the
center Of the great room.
Father Bouillon's plans call for dec
orations Of mosaic work, set with
precious stones, throughout. The in
side of the dome is lined with work OF
this character. Besides, there are
thousands of pieces Of statuary both
inside and outside of the building, rep
saints, angels and other SYM
bolic figures. The room is to be light
ed with seven wide rows Of windows,
the seven gifts that en-
tighten those who believe.
Four semicircnlar naves will sur
round the dome, encircled by an I'm
posing row Of windows On the gable
pf each window there Is challce, ana
between the gables are saints who
adore the holy sacrament. The idea
NJ the designer is that the structure
.ho1, r>o church in honor of the |