The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-27


OF pasteboard an exquisite
~ miniature model of a section Of
the nave of the Cathedral of St.
John the Divine, as has already been
recorded in THE sun. To New Workers
as well as to the country at large this
model is of great interest, for 1t gives
a better idea than a drawing could
afford Of what the completed structure
will be like.
1t was not long ago hat Bishop
Greer, at a meeting of the Cathedral
League, said of the structure: 1T
will have a very important function
In the social salvation of this Ameri-
can republic and will be one of the
most important factors to conserve
Dur national life and promote the Sc
curity OF our American civilization
Some of those who have seen the
model add that the Cathedral Of st.
John the Divine Upon Morningslde
Heights will besides be a notable
achievement of Gothic architecture.
The model is now TO be seen in the
New York Office of Cram x Ferguson
and the public generally are invited TO
examine II; first. that they may see
the outcome of some years of studious
planning, and, il sufficiently informed
in the art, may offer suggestions or
criticism. The aim Of the architects
Is TO achieve as nearly as possible
perfection of design and fabric, and
they realize that the contributions of
others may aid to this end. Again
they feel that the church people cf
the entire nation should concern
themselves in this project.
1t is not necessary to so into the
details of the history Of this under
taking. Its evolution has already COW
cred a period Of quite a quarter of a
century, and in that interval, by a
curious turn OF events, has duplicated
in a way tn story Of hundreds OF
years. Those familiar with the orig
inal plans prepared by Helms & La
Fargo, the winners OF the first compe-
tltion. viii recall that the design was
essentially Eomanesque, in this re-
peating in principle the architecture
narrative OF the early Christian
church.
The ~Romanesque style called foi
peculiarly sturdy walls. These were
necessarily very massive in order tha'
they might sustain the overload of &
stone roof. The carly designers knew
of no other way TO secure the needtu
measure Of stability.
In the Middle Ages the church o.
Gothic design was born and ther
m-ass'veacss OF fabric was put asld'
for a far more skilful substitute in IN,
form Of true engineering. Left to hi!
own resources, probably some monl
conceived the idea Of a series Of pier
capable OF sustaining the columns
bearing the thrust Of the stone archo!
carrying the roof. This made il pos
s!ble T. form the envelope of inter
posed masonry curtains of compare
lively light weight, and out of TIL
grew hat dclicacy Of line which mus
always remain a cause for admiration
There was another rcason for Tn
abandonment of the R~umancsquc AM
the development Of the Gothic style
Fire more than onC had wrecked tn
Romann-que Churches because of tn,
inllammahlc character Of the roofs o
the biggest Of them. Addition to exc
throuph structural grandeur had pu
q limit upon the load the main wall
could stand and wood hnd to take tn
place of stone IN the larEoS, churchc
Of this design.
The aim Of tho pioneers r. sponslbl
for the Gothic cdidCcs wa to climinat
the use Of wood and to insure the So
Curity Of the structure against fire w.
the adoption Of masonry arches abb
20 hold alNtt a vault Of stone. All q
this growth covered a period Of con
turIos, an. Set this architecture gul
has been spanuci IN the case of tn
Cathedral of ST. J-un the Divin
through the adoption Of the nav
planned by Mr.. Cram since he hccam
the consulting architect for the build
ing a fcw years ago.
When first this modification wa
proposed hy MIR. Cram there was
good deal Of Causti" continent, bccaiig
IL looked ~ II the years OF labor an
the pond rouS stone WORK already :
= place would have 10 hc sacrificed. Jr
deed that was the way It appeared
the hasty critic. 1t ts now evider