DOI issue:
Nr. 333 (February 1925)
DOI article:Hervey, Antoinette B.: Cathedral of St. John the Divine
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19984#0153
mceRnACionAL
thirty-eight feet high and weigh-
ing ninety tons and the upper
seventeen feet high and weigh-
ing forty tons, there was much
anxiety among the Cathedral
authorities as to how the upper
part could possibly be put in
position. What was their sur-
prise when the contractor sent
his wife to superintend the plac-
ing. Calm and self-possessed,
knowing each step, she had
everything arranged with men
and derricks in position. Then
she mounted a platform, waved
her hand and the mighty stone
columns moved into their ap-
pointed places as if they, like
the hand, were under the imme-
diate control of her will. We
felt then, as we do now, that
sending a woman for such a
work was prophetic of the day
when the great Episcopal church
will give the women an equal
chance in its upbuilding. When
the cornerstone was laid, Bishop
Doane had said, "Women
should be seen and not heard in
the churches." That was a very
advanced position for the bishop
to take, for in the early churches
women were not even seen—
they were required to sit behind
a curtain.
For a time the Chapel of St.
Saviour remained rather apart spring chapels of the cathedral of st. john the divine
from the choir, connected with
it only by the Maine granite columns which stood m light and on either side of the fine arch were
like trunks of huge blasted trees. panels, one very dark and one very light—a
After studying photography with Mr. Clarence pleasing pattern. The next day about that hour
H. White I went to work with keen enthusiasm on found me there with my camera,
the inside of the Cathedral. On the inside as w ell Each chapel has its own charm and I have
as the outside color and light are ever varying and found that the one in which I am working always
to know the Cathedral one must go at all hours seems for the time the most interesting for photog-
and in all lights. The Chapel of St. Ansgarius, for raphy and the most conducive to devotion. St.
example, is best seen in the light of early morning Saviour with its magnificent window and exqui-
when Adam and Eve, instead of being driven out, sitely wrought altar has the advantage of always
seem slyly to step out of the Garden of Eden; but having a good light which is sometimes so glowing
late afternoon is the time to see and love the that we feel ourselves a part of the representation
Chapel of St. James. of the transfiguration which forms the center of
After studying the Chapel of St. James for the window,
years one night at a five o'clock service, I saw for A more militant spirit is developed by the
the first time a diagonal shadow creeping across Chapel of St. Columbia where we may study the
the limestone reredos. Part of the canopies with life of the saint, a real human being like ourselves,
the adoring angels were in shadow and part were We get the same impression of reality from the
february 1925
four thirteen
thirty-eight feet high and weigh-
ing ninety tons and the upper
seventeen feet high and weigh-
ing forty tons, there was much
anxiety among the Cathedral
authorities as to how the upper
part could possibly be put in
position. What was their sur-
prise when the contractor sent
his wife to superintend the plac-
ing. Calm and self-possessed,
knowing each step, she had
everything arranged with men
and derricks in position. Then
she mounted a platform, waved
her hand and the mighty stone
columns moved into their ap-
pointed places as if they, like
the hand, were under the imme-
diate control of her will. We
felt then, as we do now, that
sending a woman for such a
work was prophetic of the day
when the great Episcopal church
will give the women an equal
chance in its upbuilding. When
the cornerstone was laid, Bishop
Doane had said, "Women
should be seen and not heard in
the churches." That was a very
advanced position for the bishop
to take, for in the early churches
women were not even seen—
they were required to sit behind
a curtain.
For a time the Chapel of St.
Saviour remained rather apart spring chapels of the cathedral of st. john the divine
from the choir, connected with
it only by the Maine granite columns which stood m light and on either side of the fine arch were
like trunks of huge blasted trees. panels, one very dark and one very light—a
After studying photography with Mr. Clarence pleasing pattern. The next day about that hour
H. White I went to work with keen enthusiasm on found me there with my camera,
the inside of the Cathedral. On the inside as w ell Each chapel has its own charm and I have
as the outside color and light are ever varying and found that the one in which I am working always
to know the Cathedral one must go at all hours seems for the time the most interesting for photog-
and in all lights. The Chapel of St. Ansgarius, for raphy and the most conducive to devotion. St.
example, is best seen in the light of early morning Saviour with its magnificent window and exqui-
when Adam and Eve, instead of being driven out, sitely wrought altar has the advantage of always
seem slyly to step out of the Garden of Eden; but having a good light which is sometimes so glowing
late afternoon is the time to see and love the that we feel ourselves a part of the representation
Chapel of St. James. of the transfiguration which forms the center of
After studying the Chapel of St. James for the window,
years one night at a five o'clock service, I saw for A more militant spirit is developed by the
the first time a diagonal shadow creeping across Chapel of St. Columbia where we may study the
the limestone reredos. Part of the canopies with life of the saint, a real human being like ourselves,
the adoring angels were in shadow and part were We get the same impression of reality from the
february 1925
four thirteen