The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-05
SACRED CONCERT
/ GREAT SUCCESS
St. Mary'S Cathedral Organ Is
Dedicated at Beautiful FeS-
tivai of Music.
WAS AN ARTISTIC TRIUMPH
FIRST PUBLIC VIEW OF MAGNET
CENT INTERIOR OF CHURCH.

The real reward Of the work of a life
time was given to Bishop Laurence Scan
Ian last evening, when, as one of an audi
ence OF entranced listeners, he heard the
beautiful strains of sacred music from
the grand organ re-echoing through the
magnificent new cathedral. the building
OF which has been the Iifework of the
bishop.
To one who knew the struggles and pri-
avations of the priest who forty years ago
tra.nped across the Nevada sands, led
nope that the spiritual welfare of the
Dinners, FAR from civilization, might not
be impaired by the mad rush for fortune
the successful termination of these strug-
giles as indicated by the grand concert
OF last evening was the more pleasing.
The sacred concert was I'm many senses
a great occasion. not only for the Cath
Ole people of Salt Lake, but also to the
Protestant people who formed a large
proportion of the audience.
II was, first of all, great event in
Salt Lakes history. 1t marked the first
public opening Of one OF the largest and
most beautiful houses of worship in the
country True. IL was not the formal
dedication of the great cathedral. but IL
was the first time in the eight years that
have been occupied with the building of
IT that the public has been inside its
massive walls. For nearly forty years
the cathedral was TO the bishop his one
dream. his one hope. For years he strug-
gled on, endeaV Oring TO secure the funds
"A small congregation. He asked but a
humble living for himself. The rest went
into the cathedral.
Tale of the Beginning.
Eight years ago in the face of innumer-
able difficulties, the construction Of the
great edifice was begun. On the beautiful
site on Brigham street the great building
began TO take form and finally the ex-
terror was finished. For months the
work of decorating and finishing the in
terror continued. The work was slow, but
II was done in a manner that was a
credit to the exquisite taste of the bishOp
to the Catholic people of Salt Lake and
70 the people Of Salt Lake-Catholic and
Protestant alike.
Many Of the struggles. the worries and
heartaches caused in the process of the
construction are known only to the bish-
op- But now il is almost finished and
the appreciation of the people who visited
u last evening must have repaid the
bishop for his life of work and worry.
The entrance is one Of the few parts of
the cathedral not completed Coming
through Il 10 the inside. however. the adj
fnlring visitor gazes in almost awestruck
admiration at the magnificence and ex-
Gdisite character of the decorations The
grandeur of the interior view is enhanced
by the simple and harmonious decora-
lions. Massive pillars skirt the audi-
forum Of the cathedral and SUPPORT the
beautiful choir loft The decoration is
simple yet complete. detracting none from
the massive appearance of the building
and leaving nothing to be desired in per
feet decorative finish.
Changes Yet to Be Made.
The altar has not yet been placed in
the cathedral and Che seats were ar
ranged facing The choir loft. When th,.
church is completed the position of the
pews VIII be reversed and they will face
the altar. From the rear of the cathe-
dral as il is now arranged the view to the
choir loft is magnificent The handsome
ly decorated pipes Of the great organ form
an artistic and beautiful frame for the
circular Saint Cecilia window in the
front of the cathedral. Beneath the pines
and arranged ir q semi-circle before the
organ keyboard and the conductors
stand are the seats for the choir.
The beauty of the musical numbers of
the concert last evening was enhanced BY
the wonderful acoustic properties of the
building. The roll Of the great organ, and
the beautiful notes of the singers were
carried TO all parts of the great cathedral.
losing none of their beauty. their tone
quality or their sweet melody in the dis
lance from choir loft TO auditor
To Miss Nora Gleason. director of the
ST. Mary's cathedral choir belongs almost