Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-09-17


of Westminster, says in part:
During the past 80 years over 100000 has
been expended upon the fabric. This large sum
has been obtained partly through the temporary
suppression Of one of the Abbey canonries and the
use OF the income for the fabric partly through
subsidies supplied from time to time by the &c
cesiastical commissioners in answer to urgent and
Riteous appeals AT the present moment we are
indebted TO the extent of several thousands of
pounds in respect of moneys borrowed from the
ecclesiastical commission for essential repairs.
"Now, however. we are faced with a desperate
state Of things. The sum of money which more
than 80 years ago was fixed for the maintenance
Of the fabric and for the services of the Abbey has
become utterly inadequate for these purposes The
Immense rise In the cost of materials and in the
wages of the staff together with the greatly in
creased standard of efficiency demanded In the last
half century from every branch of service to
church and nation has brought us to the verge of
bankruptcy. 1t has even been necessary, while
fabric repairs have nnavoidably been postponed to
divert to the absolutely essential duty of keeping
mp the services and worship Of the Abbey the In
adequate sum of money which had been ear
marked for keeping the fabric in repair.
I'VE are no longer able to pay our way.
"At the same time there is urgent need for
81. The repair of the two great western towers.
Y. The PREPARATION Of the external stonework
Of Henry Wis chapel.
nS. The renovation of a large portion OF the
parapet running round the roof.
"a. The repair Of the clerestores and flying
buttresses.
.sThere Is besides continual large outlay re-
quired by the maintenance In proper repair Of
81. The much decayed cloisters and
y. The ancient dwellings which, at the present
scale Of prices, not be kept In suitable struct-
ural repair tas has hitherto been required) at the
private cost OF the officials who the temporary
occupants .
"But the Abbey must not be allowed to suffer.
of ho olo
Westminster Abbey. They viii not tolerate the
thought that its structural condition should suffer
through lack OF adequate funds. They Will expect
me to take them into my confidence, as now do.
Il know well, after residence for over nine
years In this place, and I know well from the ex-
traOrdinary experiences In the Abbey during the
years Of the Great War, how dear is this church
to the people of this country to our brothers and
sisters in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South
Africa, and India; and, in a peculiar degree to
our brothers and sisters OF the great Republic of
America. 49,
Il ask for the sum of a25o,0O0. OF this. the
sum of 100000 is required for structural repairs
In the immediate future"
The safety OF the Abbey and Its relics was of
great concern to the dean during the period OF air
raids during the war. OF this he writes in the
London Times:
"When the war broke out It was hardly be-
Eeyed that London likely to be assailed from
the air. But as time went on the menace became
evident. The counsels OF those who at Arst had
said. oh, there is no practical danger; they will
n9veR get as far as London, and If they do, you
can safely take the risk OF not being HIT could
mot possibly be followed by those on whom the
chief responsibility rested. We decided to do all
that was possible for the protection OF the chief
treasures Of the abbey and to give assurance to
the public that nothing had been neglected
Needless to say. many interesting and fantas-
ne suggestions reached me- displaying more SYM
pathy with the security Of the building than prac-
deal knowledge Of the cost or of the feasibility
az the recommendations. What we did may be
grouped under three heads--(11 The removal Of
treasures 70 safe place; ~ The protection of
eeffain conspicuous monuments and (3) The sub
sitution Of wood for glass in four of our most an
eient stained glass windows.
.fh Tie following objects were removed 20