The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-09-09

In the Old Synod Hall.
But to write Of Cathedral without
GIVING some particular Mention of the
building in which each house viii
hoId It's session would be TO leave out
one OF the most interesting features
or the story The House of sho
Will meet in the Old Synod Hall. This
Is al interesting old building which
mas stood for years on Washington
Heights 1t is Of colonial architecture
and from its entrance, marked by a
number Of massive doric columns
one can see the city of New York
stretching 20 h south for several
miles and then far out into the At
lantic ocean. This old building has
been the scene OF many important
church gatherings and with it are |
associated some Of the great events |
in the. history of the diocese Of New
York.
The House Of Deputies will meet in
a new building which was put UP es-
pecially for this convention. When
1T was decided that the 1913 conven-
ton should be held in New York.
Bishop Greer took the initiative with
a view to providing an adequate
building for the sessions of the house
Of deputies which is over five times
as large as the house Of bishops. The
late John P%ierpont Morgan and the
late William Bayard Cutting were
particularly interested in this plan.
At a meeting Of one of the sub
committees in November. 1911, it was
decided that the building Of a Synod
hall appropriate for gatherings Of this
klnd, adequate in every way. Inc OF
architectural proportions we'll worthy
OF the dignity Of zach occasions
? should be undertaken.
: William S. Hawk, a prominent New
York laynaan, was the first to offer a
cH1b
l the similar ones which immediately
followed it, were soon found to be
: unnecessary in view of the generous
r action of Mr.. MOI IAN who came for
: ward with a proposition to supply all
the funds necessary for the construc-
n ton of the building. This proposition
t was gratefully accepted. Afterwards,
r however, he acceded to Mr.. Cuttings
e request for the privilege OF paying
half Of the cost. 1t was estimated
that the building would cost about
3 $250.000 The plans were drawn and
g the contract let, but fro milne to time
the Origina plans were elaborated
upon until the nal cost was estimat-
y ed at much more h the original fig
4 ure, including the organ and the fur
niture. One of the most striking feat
ures of the building will be the high
, 1y decorated ceiling, reminding one
OF ancient European halls such as
that of Perugia, where great conclaves
were gathered. The Building will be
ready when the convention meets
Since the construction vas started
N both Mr.. Cutting and Mr.. Morgan
o have died, but their estates have TAX
" en- over the obligation and the money
has been forthcoming whenever
needed.
The convention is divided into tive
i houses, a having veto power ovel
n the actions Of the other. The first O.
- these is the house OF bishops, which
!, is presided over by the senior bishop
Of the church or by a chairman elect
70 ed for the purpose. There are III
70 members OF this body. The othe
body is the house OF deputies, com
posed of 3O5 clergymen and a Ik'
number Of laymen. who represen
their respective dioceses. hi housa
gyman, who is elected at the begin
:. ming Of the convention. He continue
I'm office until his successor - -e1ecte'
at the next triennial convention.
From Small Beginning.
The first general convention of tn
th church in America met in Philadel
ia phia on September p. 1885. Tn
initial step for this convention wa
taken in May, 1884. while the ReveI
mt end Doctor William Seabury, OF Con
necticut, who was the first Amer
~ can bishop. vas abroad being conse
Grated by the nOn-JuI1nG otSnOPS {
n the Episcopal church In Scotland.
A little company OF clergyman ms
III at New Brunswick, N. j., as men
Ip beers OF the corporation for the Relic
a. OF Widows and Orphans Of the cIerg.
., This corporation then was the onl
its genera fnsotu'tun VI ~ S vNn. !
Id Jersey and Pennsylvania. They agree
r. 70 call a meeting OF representative
10 Of all the churches to be held in Ne
- York the following October.
At this New York meeting eigl
ain oueo 49, pcHnSU CS1o
- parishes and not state organization
and for this reason il was deem<
that the gathering had no authori
to l~egislate. However, these del
gates did call upon the state CONVEX
~ HOn to send delegates to the Philade
phia convention. Most of the men
beFs OF this Philadelphia c~Onventt