1044

THE LITERARY DIGEST

May 18, 1912:

whole world. As it begins to find itself, here and there, it thrusts aside all feudal concessionsprofit-sharing, welfare work, shorter hours, the very best of conditionseverything which has not come of its own effort. The conditions of employment in a trade-agreement worked out democratically around a table by employer and men will stand. None other will. The sweep of the thing is irresistible, world-wide, growing every day. The old vertical lines of social divisionby income, profession, familyare gone. The new line is horizontal. Above it are all those who live by dividends, and below it are all those who live by labor. Already it is more than a lineit is a crack, a cleavage. And I tell you that, unless that cleavage is bridged in the next ten years, it never will be bridged in our time. You must have either trade-agreements or socialism. If you dam up the democratic movement it will break out in strange ways, and perhaps attack not only interest and rents and profits, but some of the greatest things of our civilization."

A DEMOCRATIC CATHEDRAL

HERE IS LITTLE of the medieval idea of a cathedral in the Protestant Episcopal parish church in Boston that the Massachusetts diocese has just chosen as ftp episcopal seat for the next quarter-century. The sacrifice of "the impression made on the imagination" is especially marked when this edifice is viewed in comparison with the imposing ones of Washington and New York. Whatever may be said in favor of an overtowering structure that by its size has been supposed to shadow PARIS REQUIEM FOR THE forth the omnipotence of God, " TITANIC "It was a scene it is seldom, as The Churchman those present probably will (New York) points out, that, never forget when the solemn "with large sums available, has refrain of "Nearer, my God, to the thought of efficiency in adThee" filled the great hall of ministration been so consciously the Trocadero, in Paris, mingled controlling as in the decision A CATHEDRAL FOH EFFICIENCY. with the sobs of those gathered just reached in Massachusetts.'' Boston, for twenty-flve years at least, has decided to let St. to remember the victims of Paul's Church serve it for cathedral purposes. The property held in trust by the Titanic disaster. The this diocese for cathedral purmeeting is eloquently deposes has increased to over a million dollars, but Bishop Law- scribed in La LiherU (Paris). The English choir of Leeds, rence pointed out, in his recent convention address, that this Yorkshire, led by Felix Weingartner, and accompanied by the surn, now inadequate for a suitable new structure, would neces- Calonne orchestra, sang the Berlioz "Requiem." But, adds sarily be slowly augmented. Meantime the people ought to this writer: learn by experience "what a cathedral is and stands for." In "The Requiem of Berlioz, in spite of its beauties, had less the Protestant Episcopal Church papers Bishop Lawrence's words are quoted showing how he turned the thought and effect upon its hearers than the simple hymn chanted at the beginning of the service by -the English choristers. Two hunenthusiasm of the diocese to the immediate future: dred and fifty voices of men and women thundered forth the hymn 'Nearer, my God, to Thee,' which the unfortunate ship"First, as to the site. It is the very center and heart of the wrecked victims of the Titanic sang at the hour of death in the diocese. Next year there will'pass through the Park Street midst of the ocean. This Anglican hymn resembles our Cathsubway station some fifty millions of people, of whom millions olic hymns. It is broad in meaning and is inspired. It breathes "emerge at the doors of St. Paul's. There must be added to the spirit of profound faith. When we heard it yesterday it these the many thousands that enter the city by other means seemed to us sublime. When the first notes of this hymn were and pass along Tremont Street. Six millions more pass an- uttered the whole audience rose. The members of the Calonne nually a block away at the Washington-Winter-Street subway orchestra did the same. Every face grew pale; the women, station. Or, to put it in another way, St. Paul's Cathedral is covering their faces with their hands, seemed to pray or weep; within an hour of the larger part of the members of the diocese, a kind of shudder passed through this crowd comjiosed, as it within two hours of practically all, and the center within a was, in a great measure, of religious skeptics. But in listening radius of fifty miles of a population of three millions. It is so . to this supreme appeal to the pity of God your imagination situated as to draw the least from the strength of the parishes, mingled with the air, with the night, with the infinite outside, and at the same time to send out to the parishes spiritual direc- and the terrible solitude of the gigantic ship stricken to death and laden with human beings doomed to die. The hymn arose tion and enthusiasm. "The question arises. Is not the church too small and cramped ardent and serious, 'Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee, in its lot to answer the purposes of a cathedral? It must be Nearer to Thee.' Doubtless among the men and iromen who granted that the area and church are much smaller than we wish. , listened to it more than one of them felt that this faith which There wiU be no opportunity for great functions, immense con- ^ they had neglected, forgotten, or denied, for a few moments regregations, and services impressive by their magnificence. That gained its power over them, recovered all its empire in the most is a loss; for such services do impress and uplift. They are, how- frivolous hearts, in the most emancipated minds."Translation ever, only occasional in a great cathedral; and at other times made for T H E LITBRAHY DIGEST.

the nave is often sparsely filled and cheerless in its vacancy. St, Paid's Church, however, is capable of such changes and enlargements as will add surprizingly to its seating-capacity, its dignity, and ease of access. The present crossing of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, which is, of course, only the beginning of the cathedral, seats now but fifteen hundred; St. Paul's may be made to seat more than eleven humired. "The suggestive point is here, however: St. Paul'si is so situated as to be in the center of the whole people seven days in the week. On week-days and on every hour of the 'v^eek-days, as often as the people show that they want it, St. Paul's doors, always open, will be open for services. Every member of the diocese coming to Boston for an hour or a week will have a place of worship that is his own; and the people of the v^hole city, aye, of eastern Massachusetts, without regard to social station, place of residence, race, or creed, will have a churcli which is theirs. It will be a people's church. Within it will be celebrated the regular services of the church in all their dignity and beauty; within it, also, will be such varied services, addresses, lectures, and music as will inspire, educate, comfort, and uplift the people. "Thus administered, I believe.that its total number of worshipers and its real spiritual force will be equal to th8,t of many great cathedrals. I believe, too, that this practical cathedral will appeal to the judgment and traditions of the people of Massachusetts; they will dis^ cover that a cathedral has other uses than as a storeroom for monuments or a noble piece of architecture from which the life has fled. For by the construction of rooms and offices we plan to make thti cathedral also a center of diocesan, charitable, and missionary administration."

PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED