New-York tribune., 1913-07-26

The new Synod Hall, costing $3.50 O00. Is
practically completed. 1t stands at the
| corner Of Amsterdam avenue and Cathed-
raj Parkway. and is part of the equip
ment Of the Cathedral OF St. John the
Divine and the Episcopal Diocese Of New
| York. Only the finishing work is now pro-
ceeding, including the installing of the
| organ, putting the speakers platform III
place. and filing I'm the seats. No other
Episcopal diocese. and ii is believed no
other religious body i'm America, affords
such hall for it's meetings.
The late j. Pierpont Morgan. long chair
man of the committee on place of meet
ing OF the Episcopal General Convention.
bided his time TO bring tnat convention
TO his home city When finally he did so
he made the gift of hall for its lower
body the house oi deputies. to meet IN
The late W. Bayard Cutting. New YORK
deputy. almost as long I'm continuous SER
vice as Mr. Morgan, asked TO share the
cost of the Synod Hall with him. The
request was granted and the two men
gave the bulk Of the money for the spien-
did structure. Others have also given
considerable sums, so tnat II really rep
resents the church I'm the whole diocese.
After the convention Is over tho diocesan
convention and other meetings Will here
after be held there. The old Synod Hail.
once an orphan asylum. will be used for
sittings Of the House Of Bishops during
the convention IN October and then torn
down 10 make room for the south Cathed-
raj transept.
The new hall is Gothic within and with
out The main entrance is at the west
hut there are other entrances on the
north and east over tho west or main
door are carvings showing the Great Com
mission. the labors Of men, the arts and
sciences and the departure Of mission
aries Large figures Of some Of the
worlds lay promoters OF Christian civili-
zation m the inches oI the west front.
4 central position is that OF the figure Of
George Washington. other figures are
Charlemagnc. Constantine, Alfred the
Great and Gustayus Adolphus. The ma
terial of the hall IS West Virginia sand
stone. gray with pink tinges. and unlike
any other stone used I'm any of the ca
thcdral group. Indeed. each building Of
the group is constructed OF different stone
and shows a distinct style Of architecture.
The new hall is square I'm its outlines
and suggests the interior OF London s
Parliament buildings In some ways.
narrow gallery extends on all four sides,
and there are raised seats around the
sides on the main floor The speakers
platform will be- on the north side the
long way of the hall. and not at either
end The ceiling ~ open frame work Is
cIaboratcIy painted and decorated. The
main color is brown. but there arc in
Vulnerable shields bearing heraldic de-
vices Almost every color is presented In
some confusion Some who have seen
IL like IL. others do not II is sure 10
attract notice at any rate. The windows.
early English suggest strongly some Of
the Tudor glass Of rural England. Tho
organ. a skinner make. is I'm the top gal
lery at the extreme c-stcrn end. At the
same end. ON three floors arc three COM
mittce rooms 10 the floor, or nine in all.
and In the basement is banquet hall.
with large kitchen and serving room. The
opening service OF the House OF Deputies.
on October {. will be the formal dcdica-
ton Of tho hall. The seating capacity is
s00 on the main foor and DO I'm the gal
lcries. possibly io)