New-York tribune., 1911-11-22
LAY CHURCH CORNERSTONE
Bishop Greer 0ffiCiates at Cere-
mony at St. Thomas's.
BUILDING TO COST MILLION
Architects Say 1t Will Not Be
Overshadowed by Tall Business
Structures of Fifth Avenue.

In the presence Of thousands Bishop Da-
vid H. Greer OF the diocese OF New YORK
Yesterday afternoon laid the cornerstone or
the new St Thomas's Protestant Episcopal
Church. at Fifth avenue and sd street.
The LAYING OF the cornerstone followed
simple services inside the temporary
church conducted by Bishop Greer, Charles
Sumner Burch. Suffragan Bishop. and the
Rev. Dr. Ernest VI. stires. rector of ST.
Thomas : parish.
After Dr. Stir,s read the list of the con-
tents OF tho eaden box that was placed III
the cornerstone the surpllcet choir. singing
Christ Is Made tho Sure Foundation 10
a fanfare Of trumpets, led a procession 20
the stone. Behind the choir came the YER
ger of tine church, bearing the leaden box
containing copies Of tn" New-York Trio-
une and seven other daily newspapers, re-
igous periodicals and sermons OF DR.. Stires
and his predecessor DR.. William r. MOT
ran. Next canc the three architects oi
the new church Ralph Adams Cram. Ber-
tron Grosvenor Goodhue and Fr@nk W.
Ferguson in dcaGemical robes. Following
these came tho wardens and vestry OF the
church. the clergy Of the parish and visit-
ing priests. including Or. William T. Man
ming rector % Trinity. and then tho Bishop
and the Suffragan Bishop, followed by the
congregation.
The new St Thomas's will be the COST
liest parish church in the world. The struct-
ure Itself will cost Slca00 and the rur-
nishings 10000 and the land on which II Is
being built is worth Slj00co. lis designers
have sought 10 make Il rival the parish
churches of Europe i'm ncauty and reverent
appropriateness. They have combined the
ma issty and grandeur Of French and Eng
lish cathcdrals in tho now edihce 10 the END,
thev saw. that the towering business houses
that may soon surround it will not domi-
nate their work:
I'm his address Bishop Greer said:
In deciding to build among the great and
! stately structures OF the city beautiful
/ church albeit costly. YOU have decided
very well know tnat in the opinion OF
| some such expenditure NAY be eXtraNd-
! gent ard wasteful | do not share I'm thdt
! In This commercial age. when tho strong
/ tendeL-y seems 10 be toward the materid
! zng Of standards OF life ana connuct !,
seems dc sjrous eXpedent and right tndt
among the great. towering structures
built for business and for family use ana
comfort there should stand another anions
! them emphasizing another ana ocN'''
! tendency. ~ .,,,
! believe. as sagacious Englishman put
| it, that il is ever q fateful sign OF art de-
caying into luxury and religion into con,
! tempt when men permit the House or Goo
! to be meaner than their own or when theS
allow TO their domestic pleasures what they
! 90 not allow to their collective worship.
/ Here your stately church viii stand
among the people and ministerlng 10 tht
| people and it's outside presence VIII teacL
! to the people of this city that man does no.
/ live by bread alone, but by every word tha'
| proceedeth out Of the mouth OF God.
! Bishop Greer also said that building on
/ the site OF the old church, which was de
stroyed by fire six years ago, was Wise
move, as Fifth avenue, though it might
become commercial in time, would always
remain one of the city's great and throHged
| thoroughfares. He added:
II is one of the most strategic and COM
mandlng situations I'm the city, not only
where people can and Will come. but Where
| YOU can reach out all oTer the city WIN
| your beneficent activities.