New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-04
NEW CHAPEL DEDICATED
EXERCISES At COLUMBIA.
Hobart President Pleads for Free
dom from Dogma.

The new St Paul's chapel of Columbia Uni
versity was opened yesterday afternoon with
plea for freedom of thought and condemnation
of. dogma. The sermon was preached by the
Rev Langdon Cheves Stewardson, president OF
Hobart College.
Dr. Stewardson made his sermon O plea for
life in religion. At the present day. he said,
men were bound down by dogma, and because
their forefathers thought certain thing con-
ceived that they had to think likewise. The
speaker said the task of the college man was to
get away from this point of view, to think for
himself and form his own conclusions. even
though they might conflict with the established
views. Because OF this lack Of thought he said
that religion was dead thing to-day. People
he said. divided into two classes, the
empiricists. who accepted nothing in the line Of
religious doctrine and the extreme relgionlsts
who accented everything without question
What DR.. stewardson plead for was a middle
attitude which accepted truth only after study.
1t was announced that the building. costing,
exclusive of stained glass. wood carvings and
organ, 100000. the gift of Miss olivia
Egleston Phelps Stokes and Miss Caroline
Phelps Stokes n memorial TO their father and
mother, James Stokes and Caroline Phelps. In
reading the deed of gift Preside~t Butler
nounced that it ito be known as st. Paul's
Chapel Of Columbia University. forever 10 be
and to remain a house set apart and dedicated
to the service OF Almighty God and his Son,
Jesus Christ our Saviour"
Announcement of the gift was made three
years ago, although at the time the name of the
gver not announced.
The most Rev. Randall Thomas Davidson,
Lord Archbishop Of Canterbury performed the
act Of benedcton al the breaking of ground on
September IS 1904, and on October 81 Of the
ma Of +I,a
the celebration of the both anniversary OF the
founding of Kings College, the cornerstone was
A letter from Archbishop Canterbury to Presi-
dent Butler read yesterday
Bishop Potter, who expected to be present
at the services yesterday, was unable at
tend. Bishop Greer was there, and opened the
service and gave the benediction. Prayers
were read by the Rev DR. Vincent OF the class
Of 90, trustee of the university and a professor
at the Union Theological Seminary. The lesson
was read by the Rev. Edward h. Coe, a trustee
OF the university and senior clergyman OF the
reformed Church The Rev. q. Ashton Old
ham. acting chaplain Of the university, also
took part in the service. Among the other
clergymen present were DR.. RemenSnyder of
the Lutheran Church; DR.. JudsOn, OF the Memo
rial Baptist Church, and DR.. MacMullen, Of the
Madison Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church.
After the deed of gift had been heard a resOlu-
ton accepting the gift and conveying the thanks
OF the university for the chapel read.
a feature Of the service was the musical pro-
gramme, which was under tho direction Of sam
uel 4. Baldwin, organist and choirmasteE OF the
Church Of the Holy Trinity, Brooklyn.
Besides the chapel itself several other gifts
IN connection with It made public. The
Lltany desk is the gift of Mrs Charles r.
swords in memory OF Charles K. Swords, OF
the class Of 90. and a trustee of the college
from 1870 10 1877. The altar books, prayer
books and hymrals the gift of John Mclean
Nash. OF the clasE OF 90. and Thomas Nash. of
the class Of 80. The lectern Bible was presented
by William Barclay Parsons memorial 70
his great great grandfather the Rev. Henry
Barclay one OF the original governors OF Kings
College from its foundation in 1854 10 his death
In 1864, and also rector OF Trinity Church. The
organ Is the gift of George Foster Peabody and
Charles j. Peabody, and is said have cost be-
tween $4,000 ana $4,000.
There also in the dome nineteen memorial
windows.
The present transept windows are temporary.
J. has been suggested that the window I'm the
south trausept shall be a memorial to Samuel
Johnston the first president OF Kings College
and that the IN the north transept shall be
a memorial o. President Barnard. The sum OF
$4,000 has already been subscribed toward the
cost OF the latter wldow by Julien T. Davies
&C. George G. De Witt, 81; +. Augustus Scher-
merhorn '6S George l. Rlves. '6S, oscar :.
Straus II. and 3. Aymar Sands. IA
The chancel windows the work of John La
Fargo.