New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-12-06
rETTERST0 THE EDITOR
OBSERVATION OF ST. JOHNS.
o.,u. Of Chapel as Architectural Monument
Adding to City's Beauty.
-, rss-o- q The Tribune

-. Editor OF The Tribune
So: The comments suggested by the raising Of
= r,4n's Chapel nave hitherto presented chiefly
= -s3sio,ss and economic aspects OF the subject
= nature and extent Of the work accomplished
- and its relation 70 the cost OF maintenance.
-.,.,e- the results OF the religious work ali
- might have been; whether the methods en-
t.,es we're wisely chosen: whether the neighbor-
- nov or ir the future. tustifies holding this
--sbje property exclusively for religious uses.
= many other similar questions may properly
: tss, 70 those VINO directly responsible for
= decision. namely. the parochiai and diocesan
+Ao-ities With these matters the writer is not
= concerned Nor indeed. beyond certain
- need the public be But there IS point
: ,ieu that an Intelligent public, possessing a
-.,5e-ste degree Of civic pride, may take-the
,,-- a view that appreciates the architectural
-,-,-7ents q the city.
7. ha7ners that the City Hall St Johns Chapel,
= Pauvs Chapel the Jumel Mansion Frauncess
-.ve-n and q few other buildings Of lesser arts
= interest are al that left of TIE architecture
!, ID New York Next the City Hall in arts
y 7-7--b. and repute6 TO be from the hand Of the
sssre- q 1his famous building St Johns Chapel
-snds first among the little group. for II has the
=eriry Of greater size than St PauTs and &
- admirably composed spire even than the
-z-efuI structure al Fulton street and Broadway
WITHOUT doubt. St Johns IS as fine an example
= re school Of Sir Christopher Wren and his
syecessors as any that today adorn the oioer
-a.3ss OF America The celebrated St Michaels'
Charleston. superior 10 Il eNeek3t poSsAoiS
= It's new dress OF paint and glass
No- indeed. in London itself can church OF
.-,us- -vpe be found with which St Johns may
-ot fsvo-ably be compared In charm OF compost
= g7d IN refinement Of detail there are few
.-yches IN The city that approach St Johns And
r,,-r these such gems the chapel Of Columbia
.--,ve-s-v or the Madison Square Presbyterian
,cA sre inferior TO the older church in spacious
sss and elegance Of the approaches. and are IAN
.-.shsv defective IN acoustics Were the stately
zEr
: r5p- as these newer buildings. there would not
= : ~ whole CITY a more satisfactory house OF
-.1ir than this ancient chapel in Narick street
,t,-r7ye- = Is a building OF mean size even IN
-. szv az big things for its width is about seven
:. g. feet and its length from the steps Of the
.-7osf7z rorrico 10 the chanCeI wall Is nearly TWO
Kindred feet
r. rot-+ Of view herein advanced for the preseT-
,-,-- o. ne removal and re-erection Of St Johns
--r < that q SIS intrinsic worth as architecture
.s s--hirec-l9-al ar Of high order and Of an IN
.-as-ss e-Io6 in the history Of The art OF the ma
s,- mis- building possesses distinct cultural
niue Each member Of the little group Of build
ms mute Vet eloquent witnesses TO the refinement
s-5 quiet elegance Of early American architecture
ss y--v precious. Let not one Of them b. lost DT
Naming is quoted saying that the Trinity Cor
,o-a-.11 was not Yet ready 70 announce its plans
= -re chapel property Let hope that when
- mans are given out may learn that Trim
= rs nor been urr1lirldful of her ovn-thaJ she
,-szes in this beautiful church an artistic trust
s,e-=l-E wise conservation just as truly as does
- 4-a--ial trust represented by the valuation Of
- ground upon which the chapel stands
View York. Dec. l. 1905 ARI LOVER