Cathedral

the chief church of the diocese, the church in which the bishop has his chair or seat. From the fact that the bishop's church is likely to be a wealthy church, we have become accustomed to expect a grand building. As a matter of fact, a cathedral may be a lonely hut in a remote missionary field. Moreover, the bishop's cathedra or chair may be removed from one church to another, or from one town to another, just as a king may change his capital. So far as this article goes, it may be regarded merely as a description of the important and dignified church buildings for which western Christianity has been noted.

The early cathedral differed little from the oblong, rectangular Roman basilica or hall of justice. The famous Cathedral of Worms is considered an excellent example of a church half way between the early basilica and the later styles. One of the earliest and the most significant changes was the alteration of the ground plan by giving it the form of a cross, symbolical of the Christian religion. This was effected by building a second rectangle or transept across the first.

The ground plan of a typical cathedral has, first of all, the shape of a cross. The parts may be of varying length and width, but the cross is the controlling idea. The Cathedral of St. Mark at Venice is nearly square. Others have a long nave and short transepts, but the cross is still the predominant feature. At the head of the cross is the choir. It projected eastward not only toward the rising sun, but, in western Europe, toward the sepulcher of Christ. This gave rise to the terms east, west, north, and south as used by architects. The west portal is opposite the choir, and the north and south transepts are on the left hand and on the right hand respectively, as one walks through the nave from the west portal toward the choir. The roof of the nave was usually much higher than the aisles, giving opportunity for a clerestory and windows, and creating the impression of vast spaciousness. Galleries ran around the nave above the aisles, increasing the seating capacity of the edifice. In many churches, at least, the north aisle was set apart for men and the south for women.

In the old basilica the nave was sometimes left uncovered, but the Christians put on a roof. Towers were built to carry chimes of bells, and spires were added, pointing heavenward. The round arch of the Romans grew into the high arch of the Normans, and the latter into the pointed arch. From an architectural point of view, the most celebrated cathedrals are of the pointed style, known popularly as Gothic. The French, English, and Germans,--the Roman Catholics everywhere,--excelled in the construction of these churches.

The earlier cathedrals were decorated in paint and stucco. Christ wearing his crown of thorns, or bearing his cross, was a central thought. Favorite symbols were the lamb, emblematical of Christ; the dove, symbol of the Holy Ghost and of mildness and gentleness; the heart, symbol of Christian longing; the peacock, bird of immortality; the phoenix, sign of the resurrection; the olive leaf, used as the sign of peace; the palm leaf as the reward of martyrdom; and the anchor and lyre as emblems of Christian confidence and joy. The Old Testament was drawn upon for scenes illustrative of the Bible story of Adam and Eve, Cain, Abel, and Abraham, Noah and the ark, Daniel in the den of lions, and Jonah swallowed by a whale.

Later the carver executed wonders in wood, and later still the sculptor's art created decorations in stone. The older cathedrals, with solid round arches and painted wall decorations, have an air of solidity and repose. The great pointed cathedral is instinct with life and yearning and aspiration. Though built of stone, from foundation to the topmost point of spire and pinnacle, it rises into the air with energetic lightness and the grace of frost work. The spires, rib-like walls, flying buttresses, sculptured portals, pillars forest-like aisles, galleries, stained glass, rich altars, and intense reverent atmosphere of a pointed cathedral produce an effect that is not approached by any other form of architecture.

The most celebrated American cathedrals are those of Baltimore, New York, Mexico, and Montreal. The Protestant Episcopal diocese of New York is erecting an edifice designed to be the most ambitious structure of the sort in the New World. It is to cost $10,000,000 and to be fourth in size among the world's sanctuaries. The general style is romanesque. It depends for effect on a large vaulted and domed central area rather than on long pillared vistas.

Notice of various cathedrals may be found under the names of various towns as GLASGOW; YORK; DURHAM; LINCOLN; SALISBURY; ELY; AMIENS; RHEIMS; ROUEN; CHARTRES; COLOGNE; WORMS; STRASBURG; FREIBURG; NUREMBERG; MUNICH; DANTZIC; ANTWERP; VIENNA; MILAN; PISA; FLORENCE; VENICE; SIENA. See also BASILICA; ARCHITECTURE; ST. PETER'S; ST. PAUL'S; TEMPLE; WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

The Gothic church plainly originated in a rude adaptation of the forest trees with all their boughs to a festal or solemn arcade, as the bands about the cleft pillars still indicate the green withes that tied them. No one can walk in a road cut through pine woods, without being struck with the architectural appearance of the grove, especially in winter, when the barrenness of all other trees shows the low arch of the Saxons. In the woods in a winter afternoon one will see as readily the origin of the stained glass window, with which the Gothic cathedrals are adorned, in the colors of the western sky seen through the bare and crossing branches of the forest.--Emerson.