Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-20
Edifice Of St. John the
Divine, First in U. S. and
Fourth Largest in the
World Is Dedicated.
HAS BEEN BUILDING
FOR TWENTY YEARS
Huge Structure Only Par
TALLY Completed Now and
May Require 20 More
Cost Will Be $10,000,000.

ceremony and in the presence of a
notable gathering of clergy and laity
the completed portions of the cathedral
of st. John the Divine on Morningside
heights were consecrated today ac-
cording to the rites Of Protestant
Episcopal church. The impressive
service was presided over by the Rt.
Rev. David H. Greer. bishop Of the
diocese Of New York. Among the
guests invited to witness the function
were the representatives of many COM
presidents of universities and
officers of the city, state and nation.
The ceremonial began with the pro-
cession led by the vested choir of boys,
across the walk from the synod house
to the huge mass Of gray stone, still
outwardly crude. but representing an
important step in the work of making
the cathedral of st. John the divine
the fourth largest cathedral in the
world.
Within the structure, where many
beauties of the decorative scheme al
ready have been carried out; the pro-
cesslon proceeded under the great
dome and with impressive exercises
the presentation of the chapel OF st.
Saviour and st. COLUMBIA and of the
altar, organ and choir were formally
made and the consecretion ceremonies
performed. Music from the great organ
and choir formed q notable part in
the ceremonial.
Bishop Greer preached the sermon
Of the day. dwelling upon the volue Of
the present day cathedral as force
for righteousness in modern life.
Twenty Years in Building.
Although only partially constructed
1t has already been twenty years in
at cost Of $3y50O,O0O and it
may take as much longer to complete
it, at a total estimated cost of $10,-
100000.
Seating accommodations are now
provided for about 1,700 persons, but
although consecrated for present use,
four-fifths of the work remains to be
done, and the full capacity will ap-
proach 1000. At present the inter
lor walls stand in great part as they
we're laid. in jutting tiers of rough
granite; the vaulted roof Of the cross
Ing is only a makeshift Of terra Gotta
to be torn. down later; the arches from
which the transcripts will spread are
blocked with temporary concrete baf-
fles; the flooring itself is but cement
bed on which the mosaics will yet be
only hint Of the full
glory appears; and yet SO noble is the
harmony Of the ample dimensions, and
so rich the promise of fulfllment, that
the fragment opened to the public to-
day is itself an invitation to worship.
In style the cathedral is late Roman
esque, with strong traces of Byzan-
tine influences, or as the architect in
chief, G. Grant LaFargo, a son of the
late John LaFargo, describes 1t, $50
far as the cathedral in the larger
sense is Gothic, it is the Gothic of a
very early period; the time OF. transi-
ton from the simple Romanesque to
the more complex organism" No
where is the constructive scheme based
on the pointed arch. The mystery
Of long vistas down dim, pillared
aisles has been exchanged for the
solemn grandeur of great central
wherein the congregation
may mass within sound of the preach
er's voice, lighted from above by a
domed lantern of sixteen windows,
in turn by central tower.
Holds Commanding Site.
The site is the most commonding
IN the city, on what once was the
battlefield OF Harlem Heights. over
looking the main plain of Manhattan.
he Hudson river, and Long Island
sound. 1t occupies three city blocks
bounded by 10th and 18th street to
north and south, and Morningsfde
lrive and Amsterdam avenue to east
and west. The cathedral itself is a
,ruciform structure $40 feet long, 165
'eet wide across nave and aisles, 238
'eet wide across transepts, having two
western towers in angles made by arms
If the cross, with a central tower and
,pire planted on a base 100 feet
square and rearing its final cross to
height of 425 feet. AS the great dome
If the crossing dominates the interior,
10 the lofty tower soaring from the
edges of Morningside Heights will
dominate the exterior.
Comparison With Other cathedrals.
Some idea of the size OF the cathe-
lral is to be gained from comparison
7 - VI II