The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-04-16
Great Episcopalian Edifice,
Building for Eighteen
Years, Will Be Dedicated
on That Date.
PRESIDENT MAY BE
GUEST AT OPENING
Hundreds of Distinguished
People Have Been Invited
to Participate in Solemn
Ceremonies.
(American News Service,

(Amerlcan news SerNScct
New York. April l5--After more
than eighteen years of building the
choir, the crossing and two chapels
of the Protestan Episcopal Cathedral
of S. John the Divine. on Morningside
Heights are completed and ready for
their opening and dedication on We'd.
nesday next. Preparations for the
first service in the chancel and the
cathedral on the morning of April 10
are practically completed and judging
from the program the opening service
will be Il brilliant and interesting ev.
ent. worthy of the most magnificent
and monumental cathedral structure
in this country.
The President of the United States.
the Governor of the State of New
York and his staff, the dignitaries of
the Protestant Episcopal church and
OF other denominations, distinguished
members of the Bench, public officials
OF the state and city and many other
noted members of the clergy and la
lety have been invited to attend the
opening service and it is fair to as
sumo that nearly all the invited guests
and many others. not especially invit-
ed. will be present on that occasion.
When the doors are thrown open on
| Wednesday morning, those who hold
cards of invitation will be admitted to
the crossing, an open square of Sc
| feet in which chairs to accommodate
1,400 persons have been placed. Bish-
op Greer will preach the conservation
sermon. The music that has been ar
ranged for the occasion will be in
keeping with the memorable character
of the event.
An immense Choir.
| The choir will consist of thirty
boys and twenty-five men, all picked
voices and thoroughly trained by Mr.
| Miles Farrow, the organist and choir
master. The magnificent organ, the
| largest and most complete in this
country and one of the largest in the
world will be played for the first
time on that occasion. 1t has four
manuals and 100 stops and is capable
of producing some seven thousand
tones. The organ is divided into two
parts, operated by electricity, and
placed high up in the galleries. over
the two choir stalls. 1t is played
from gallery over the south stairs.
According to the program arranged
the invited guest will assemble in the
Synod Hall and proceed to the south
door of the Cathedral. at the western
end of the choir. The order of the
procession has been carefully prepar.
! cd uy;. ho
prevent confusion. Special seats in
the crossing have been reserved for
every one of the invited guesets. In
the afternoon of the day of the ded-
ication at Evening Prayer there will
be appropriate music but no sermon
and the service will be open to the
general public.
The location of the Cathedral, upon
the highest point of the crest over
looking Morningside Heights, 120 feet
above the level of the sea, is ideal It
? affords magnificent view of the city
and the sound on one side and tho
. Hudson and the Jersey Hills on the
Other.
Work Done Slowly.
About the year 1890 it was decided
to build the Cathedral and architects
were invited to submit plans in COM
petition. The plans submitted by Mr..
: c. Grant LaFarge were accepted and
the cornerstone of the edifice was laid
on st. John the Evangelists day, De-
cember 21. 1892. Ever since that
time the monumental work has pro-
gressed, slowly, it is true, but stead
II lily and. up to the present time about
s3.5o0.0o have been expended in the
construction. The first part Of the
Cathedral to be finished was the
crypt, in which for several years daily
, and Sunday services have been held.
The striking feature of the crypt is
, the beautiful mosaic alter, containing
, more than a million pieces Of glass
and costing more than $4,000.