Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-02-09

Elmes, whose great achievement, St
Georges hall, is one of the noblest
buildings of it's kind in the world. That
Mr. Scott's work may have similar
distinction is 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 the work
upon his own shoulders.
The style of architecture which Mr..
Scott chose is Gothic. But, as he him.
self said, he is not a rabid Goth, and
in his hands the style is freely and
broadly handled. His original dream
was Of quite another style, but he had
no time to allow his ideas to mature.
The two transeptal towers of his first
idea are abandoned, and instead there
is to be a great central tower, with q
height of 2S0 feet, or 20 feet higher
than the town towers. 1t is said that
the structure will be the broadcast
Gothic tower in existence. One of the
effects of the alteration of the design
will be to provide a nave space ca,
pable of seating $500 wcrshipers The
change, in so far as It achieves this,
is quite in accord with the wishes Of
the diocese; and as for the central
tower, it is pretty evident that the idea
was in Mr.. SCOTS mind from the first
He has indeed said as much, but not
till recently did he see his way to
carry his conception into practical eff.
feet.
Both as regards interior and exte-
rior the change Of plan will be more
or less revolutionary, but far from de-
tracing from the impressiveness OF
the church it should enhance it. The
dimensions Of the building alone will
make it one Of the greatest in Europe
The total external length, including
the Lady chapel. is Gil feet, and the
superficial area of the cathedral build
ings will be 1910 square feet. In.
deed, comparison OF the dimensions
with those of other cathedrals in this
country shows that the Liverpool one
is In most respects the largest of them
With the actual work of building
progress is now rapid. The Lady
chapel is already open and regularly
in use, fact that is making the idea
OF cathedral seem more and more Of
reality to Liverpool
To sum up it is In no ignoble spirit
that Liverpool is going about this gi-
gantic work. The city on the Mersey
is an inspiring place, and it's enter
prises have often been large and i'm
posing. Il has been said that this is
not inconsistent with curious little
ness Of spirit, and perhaps one would
not care to dispute the suggestion.
But, though the pride in big undertake
ings which is a mere narrow material
ism may exist and sometimes may
even actually be fostered. one detects
in most Of the great schemes to which
Liverpool has recently devoted itself |
as a community a finer feeling and an |
increasing consciousness OF the spirit
ual value of things. II is a great en-
terprise. quite big enough to excite tho |
emotions of the megaiomaniac. But 4
one perceives a real desire that the
may exert a benefcent In
auence upon the whole life of the
place, and 1t is the hope OF church |
Of others as well-that
he cathedral may be a center OF quiet
and contemplation, and that In time
he effect of it will be raising OF the
one of the communal life In a variety
If ways. J. MAGICIAN.