Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-01-24

/M C/d1aEL1t<a <JtIS9 =
- the many splendid enter
prises now being worked Out
in this country, none is more
~ interesting than that to which
Liverpool has set it's hand
Only recently a rather dramatic turn
was given to the progress of this great
undertaking by the announcement OF
far-reaching change Of plan. The
original design Of Mr.. Gilbert Scott
had two towers, but for various rea
sons that plan has been abandoned
and the building will be crowned by a
single tower, as shown in our artists
drawing. So remarkable change OF
plan must be very rare in the case
ct an undertaking Of such dimensions
1t has been pointed out that st. Paul's
cathedral, as completed, was not in
the least like the design which Wren
submitted to Charles H., but in that
case probably the first drawing was
never intended to be taken seriously
If one looked for other features, be
sides this alteration of design, which
distinguish the Liverpool undertaking
one might find them not only in the
dimensions of the building, which are
In some respects unprecedented for
this country, but also in the fact that,
setting aside St. Paul's, this is the
second cathedral the Church of Eng
land has built since the Reformation.
The only other has been that of Truro.
The building of a cathedral is not a
new idea in Liverpool. 1t is, in fact.
nearly as old as the diocese-which is
Itself not very old. The see was es-
tablished in 1873, and in 1881 the first
proposal to erect a cathedral was
mooted. A site was actually selected,
but the diocese was not yet equal to
the undertaking. Well for it perhaps
that it was not; for one cannot imag-
Inc the mood Of those days rising ade-
quately to the occasion. The truth is
no doubt that the religious feeling of
the diocese had not yet been sufficient.
ly organized and concentrated. There
was, in fact, plenty of other work to
be done, all of it urgent and, in a
sense, preparatory to the task that is
now being taken in hand with such
courage and devotion.
It was not until the present bishop,
DR.. Cnavasse, came upon the scene
that the building of a cathedral on a
really great scale was determinedly
undertaken. The way had largely been
made clear for it, but the manner in
which the matter was advocated by
Dr. Chavasse was an immediate inspi.
ration. He fired the torch that was
waiting to be lit. In a very short
while promises of 100000 were
forthcoming, and this soon mounted
up to 4325,00O. The very necessary
work of raising the funds was chiefly
n the hands of that broad-minded
ozance Of commerce. Sir William B.
Forwood.
The selected eminence upon which
he cathedral is being built is a sin.
yularly suitable one, worthy in every
sense of the most noble structure. The
lite Is st. James mount in the south.
ern portion Of the city. It is the
crest of one Of the sandstone ridges
on the slopes of which Liverpool has
raised itself. It is a finely command
ing situation. The sides of the mount
are tree-clad: on the eastern side is
the quiet st. James cemetery. Turn
ing to the west one overlooks, from
St. James mount the great panorama
Of Liverpool's wonderful trade. The
docks and the Mersey lie below: the
ocean stretches beyond. ACROSS the
river are Birkenhead and Wallasey,
the bedroom of Liverpool" with the
hills of Wales bordering the dim dis
tance.
One Of the striking facts in the
story of this cathedral is the discovery
Of Mr.. Gilbert Scott, the architect, who
at the age-the tender age, one almost
says--of twenty-five was singled out
for the excellence Of his design. Liv-
erpool has good reason to treasure the
memory of another young architect.
Elmes, whose great achievement, st.
Georges hall, is one Of the noblest
buildings of its kind In the world. That
Mr.. SCOTS work may have q similar
distinction il the earnest wish and
also the confident expectation OF Liv-
erpool. At FIRST he was associated
with the late Mr.. g. F. Bodley. r. A.:
but Mr.. Scott has had all tho work
upon his own shoulders.
The style OF architecture which Mr..
Scott chose q Gothic. But, 40 he him
self said. he 70 not q rabid Goth, and
in his hands the style Il freely and
broadly handled. His original dream
was Of quite smother style. but no had
20 time 70 anov' ~ idsss9 20 natsrs.