Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-21
which are derived the people of the

The seating capacity is 800 in pews
and $500 by the addition of removable
chairs: The outside dimensions are:
Length. 274 feet: width of transepts, PA
feet; width of main facade. 40 feet:
width of dome. TO feet; height of facade,
1870 feet; height of towers $50 feet and
height OF cross over the dome. go feet.
Under the towers are the entrances
to the crypt, located beneath the front
porch OF the church, where there will be
an important chapel or lower church. and
two large rooms for the meetings of So
cieties or catechsm classes
Between the facade and Summit ave-
nue. the grounds, 40 feet in depth. have
been treated as monumental approaches.
ramps and walks having been studied
with regard to easy access to the church
and an artistic setting to the whole edi-
flee.
1T will be two years or more however.
before the beautiful temple will be ready
for dedication. The archbishop lends the
inspiration of his presence to the work
men every day. He lives on Portland
avenue. which runs parallel with Sum-
nit avenue. near the outskirts of the
city. and never goes downtown without
passing the blessed place to admire the
building. which to him is as beautiful as
the Temple of Solomon to the tribe of
Judah and the Mosque of Omar to the
Mohammedan.'
Pro-Cathedral Design.
The pro-cathedral at Minneapolis is
very different in design. proportion and
decoration. The grounds surrounding it
are much larger than those in St. Paul.
and occupy the highest point in the city
an angle just off Hennepin avenue, where
1t leaves the business section and enters
the residence section. The situation cor
responds IN that respect TO the site
chosen for the cathedral in St. Paul.
Mr.. Masqueray tells me that in the de-
sign for the pro-cathedral he followed the
general lines of the cathedrals of Abb
and CahOre, France, which he believes to
be the finest examples of grandeur and
simplicity. as well as completely adapted
to modern religious conditions in the
United States.
The general dimensions Of the pro-ca-
thedral are one hundred and forty feet
wide by two hundred and seventyfour in
length. The main nave is one hundred
wide. which is larger than that of any
other church in the world except st.
Peters, at Rome. and one at Corona,
Spain. The nave of st. Peters is eighty
feet wide. that of the cathedral at Corona
ninety feet: that of the cathedral at
Abb France. sixty-five feet. and sixty
feet is the conventional width throughout
Christendom. The proportions of the
nave will permit an unobstructed view of
the sanctuary from every pew in the
bays, the lower part of which is occupied
by two arches opening into the ambula-
tory. which leads to the apse, where is
to be the chapel Of the Blessed Virgin of
the Immaculate Conception, to whom the
pro-cathedral Is dedicated.
The piers at the corner of the sanctuary
carry four large arches, which support q
dome rising directly above the altar to a
height of one hundred and fifty feet. Over
the large entrance Vestibule is the organ,
a NJ
mOdate a choir of two hundred. In the
facade over the porch is a rose window
framed by two bell towers rising to a
height of one hundred and thirty feet A
similar rose window appears on each side
of the sanctuary, above which is the
dome. surmounted by a statue of the
Blessed Virgin.
Outside Is Ornamented.
The outside of the building is quite or
nate. but follows the same architectural
expressions of the interior, and shows
plainly the main divisions of the struc-
ture-entrance. nave and sanctuary.
The pro-cathedral will accommodate
twenty-five hundred worshipers without
crowding.
The material is white Vermont granite
which adapts itself perfectly to the de-
sign, and permits of decoration.
The st. Paul Cathedral is built of Min
neSota granite, which is composed Of
crystals of pure white stone speckled will
black. which gives 1t a grayish color
There are few such buildings in the
United States. and few, indeed, of modern
construction in all the world.
The ST. Paul Cathedral will cost 81 $50,
600 without furniture, of which 81 300, COX
has been subscribed. and $752, coo has al.
ready been paid in, and also paid out te
the contractors.
The Minneapolis Cathedral will cost
$3.50. COO, of which 100000 has been sub.
scribed and 100000 has been paid in and
paid out.
The Minnea polls Cathedral is under
roof and is fully two-thirds completed
1t will doubtless be finished for dedica-
ton within two years.
The ST. Paul Cathedral is about hall
done. The main walls are in place. anl
the contractor will begin on the dome ir
a short time.