A Guide to the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in the City of New York
9781465672803
213 pages
Library of Alexandria
Overview
This Guide to the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine purposely departs from the conventional guide book in several respects. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is not centuries old like those in Europe, but is in the building; and it has seemed appropriate in the first place to express something of its Spirit before describing the details of its Fabric. In the next place, the great majority of visitors to the Cathedral are strangers, people of other denominations, and, on account of its proximity to one of the leading American universities, students. For this reason, an effort has been made to avoid technical terms as far as possible; to explain the significance of much symbolism not generally understood; and to insert Bible references freely for the benefit of those who wish to study further the meaning of the scenes and objects described. Lest some of the explanations—as, for instance, that in regard to the probable date of the completion of the Cathedral—be deemed superfluous, it may be said that this, as well as nearly every other statement in the following pages, is an answer to some question asked among the thousand and one interrogations which manifest popular interest in the Cathedral’s growth. In response to more than one request, “some of those little things that one would tell informally in explaining the Cathedral to a friend” have been included. Among these are the incident of the blind woman who “saw” the Cathedral, which possesses a touching human interest; and the story of the Dove of Peace, in which may be seen the beginning of the traditional lore that will grow up around the Cathedral as the years roll on. For their valuable cooperation in the preparation of the Guide, grateful acknowledgment is made to the Very Rev. Howard C. Robbins, D.D., Dean of the Cathedral, and to the Rev. George F. Nelson, D.D., and the Rev. Robert Ellis Jones. D.D., Canons. Many thanks for courtesies and accommodations in photographing and studying the Cathedral are also due to Mr. Thomas Meatyard, the Verger.
