The New York herald., 1921-10-17
COLOR ORGAN PLAYS
in OLD St. MARKS
Symphony of Shifting
Lights Has Distracting
Effect in First Trial.
FUTURE SEEN FOR IDEA
Design Is to Harmonic
Moods Of the Preacher and
His Congregation.
SYMBOL OF NEW DAWN
Claude Bragdon, Architect,
Says Every Church Will
Have 1t Some Day.
SYMBOL OF NEW DAWN

Just a year ago those persons who
readily find cause to be shocked
gasped as they read the announce
ment that st. Mark's-in-the-B -Bouwerie
was soon to house the Little Lady of
the Dews,' statue in the nude, which
was installed at the tc5th anniversar,
OF the church. Last spring six bare
footed young women danced sym
bolically before the altar. Yesterday
in st. Marks. color organ was
played for the first time. 1t is be-
lieved, in any church.
The experiment made at st. Marks
during the vesper service was really
a modification of the color organ idea
which calls for dark room in which
shifting colors play a symphony at
one end. The observer centres his
attention upon the colors just as he
would upon harmonies in music. AT
ST. Marks the idea has been modified
into new scheme for church light
ing. in which there is a gentle flow
Of changing colors from above.
Although the idea is in an experimen-
tai stage. DR.. William N Guthrie, rector
Of the church. believes that eventually
the color organ may be used to harmon.
ize the moods Of the preacher and his
congregation. The changing flood oi
color will express exaltation. or peace. OF
whatever mood Is dominant as the
preacher expands his theme
Claude Bragdon. architect and theat-
rical lighting expert. who devised tbs
lighting effects in Walter Hampden's
Hamlet and Macbeth" devised the
new lighting Of st. Marks.
Twelve suspended lamps have been
placed In the side and rear aisles of the
church, and four larger ones shed their
light from high above the centre aisle.
The light in all of them Is diffused by
the indirect method. shining through the
b. Sc plate of the lamps. not through the
sides. These lamps are a sort OF mix
ing chamber, in which various colors
are blended. First one color IS dom.
inant then another. The lights can be
paled to the most delicate tints OF
flushed to briiliance. They are con-
trolled from, central switchboard
AS used yesterday. the lights had g
dis.racting effect rather than one sup.
Elementary to the service. The fndins
In and out Of gorgeous blues and scar.
let's. of lucent amber and OF green de.
| manded to be watched for itself alone.
Mr.. Bragdon. In talking about hi:
innovation at the close Of the service
| said that he had no idea Of offering
competition to Longacre square or the
| Follics. Nor" he continued. ARE we
| trying to provide pink prayers for pale
people All the sane believe tha,
we are only beginning to realize what
an art lighting can be in itself and what
its spiritual value IL.
ITO most OF US light is just something
to see by. but the time is coming wher
I medium like the color organ viii
be necessary to give expression to the
new spiritual light which is dawning or
the world. Music expresses great ap.
peal, but only light will be adequate L
express this new life Of the spirit.
| look forward 70 the day when every
church will have a light organ. Music
has limitations, but light links US to tho
| furthest star"