New-York tribune., 1902-12-16
TO PUSH YORK ON CHOIR
Trustees Of Cathedral Of st. John the
Di1ane Get Funds.
EXPECT TO FINISH 1T IN TWO YEARS.

Owing to the prospect of obtaining sufficient
funds within the course of the next two years,
the trustees of the Cathedral of St. John the
Divine expect that the choir of the great build
ing, which in itself will be large as any
church in New-York, will be finished in that
time. The episcopal residence, for which pro-
vision has been made and the synod house,
which was suggested a short time ago, are like
ly to be completed by that time also
While money has yet been subscribed for
the synod house. which it is proposed to erect
at the southwest corner of Morningside-ave.
and ne-hundred-and- thirteenth-st., it is un-
derstood that there are people who are ready
to give the necessary amount, about 100000.
This building would be used for church con-
ventions and as headquarters for societies, such
as guilds, sharing in the church work.
The belief that the choir will be finished within
two years is based two subscriptions of
100000 and on the payment in a short time of
the bequest of 100000. made by Mrs Georgf-
ana E. Morris. The cost of the choir will be about
S600000 it is expected. The names Of the
givers of the two subscriptions withheld
until the entire amount has been received. The
trustees intend to bend all their energies tow
ard the completion of the choir within the time
mentioned.
The announcement of the plan to complete
the choir was made by George Macculloch Miller,
one of the trustees yesterday afternoon. Mr..
Miller said. speaking first of the time which
would be required to build the church:
TT is quite true that it would require a long
time to complete the cathedral in all respects
If it were necessary to build it by the methods
which prevailed when the cathedrals of older
days built. But with modern appliances
for rapid construction the conditions are alto
gether different. Many important parts of the
Of and
requiring long and tedious processes of con-
struction, in this structure will be made of
steel, requiring comparatively time in put
ting them in place: and 1 venture to say,
opinion expressed to me by more than one ex-
perienced builder that, with all the money
needed in hand, the cathedral 10 its whole eX-
tent could easily he erected within ten years.
1T is not expected that it will be, unless some
one should come forward and offer to give
the money necessary for the whole thing. as
monument to something that he wanted to COM
metnorate. 1t is not be expected, or perhaps
desired that the building of the whole should
be completed rapidly. The present purpose of
the trustees however is to push forward with
all practicable speed the completion of the
choir, which assured by the architects
can be finished within two years The 100000
soon to be received from the estate of Mrs.
Georgiana Z. Morris will be applied to this
end, and the additional amount necessary-about
S4oO,oco-is expected TO be supplied as rapidly
as needed by two subscriptions OF 100000 each,
conditional on 100000 being subscribed, and
other gifts to be obtained through the Cathedral
League, collections in the churches and from
appeals from the Bishop.
Much of the stone for the interior of the
choir is already carved. and of the eight col
umns TO be erected about the chancel three are
already entirely completed. l want to dispe the
impression that there Will be any great delay
in its completion The choir will be an edifce
as large as any church in New-York. BY the
time the choir is completed Il is expected that
the episcopal residence to be erected at the
Ann DSfp prfuT and Ono
hundred and -tcnth-st.. and the synod house. at
the corner of one hundred and -thirteenth st
and Morningside- Will be finished also
There people. understand. who are ready
to put up the latter building