a study of religious institutions. Among the most interesting
in Europe, that we visited, are Wesley's Chapel, Westminster Abbey, St.
Paul's Cathedral, and Notre Dame. The Church of Notre Dame, situated
in the heart of Paris on the bank of the Seine, was founded 1163 on the
site of a church of the fourth century. The building has been altered a
number of times. In 1793 it was converted into a temple of reason.
The statue of the Virgin Mary was replaced by one of Liberty. Busts of
Robespierre, Voltaire, and Rosseau were erected. This church was closed
to worship 1794, but was reopened by Napoleon 1802. It was desecrated by
the Communards 1811, when the building was used as a military depot. The
large nave, 417 feet long, 156 feet wide, and 110 feet high, is the
most interesting portion of this massive structure. The vaulting of this
great nave is supported by seventy-five huge pillars. The pulpit is a
masterpiece of modern wood-carving. The choir and sanctuary are set off
by costly railings, and are beautifully adorned by reliefs in wood and
stone. The organ, with 6,000 pipes, is one of the finest in Europe. "The
choir has a reputation for plain song." On a small elevation, in the
center of London, stand the Cathedral of St. Paul's, the most prominent
building in the city. From remains found here it is believed that a
Christian Church occupied this spot in the times of the Romans, and that
it was rebuilt by King Ethelbert, 610 A.D. Three hundred years later
this building was burned, but soon it was rebuilt. Again it was
destroyed by fire, 1087, and a new edifice begun which was 200 years in
completion. This church, old St. Paul's, was 590 feet long, and had
a leaden-covered, timber spire, 460 feet high. In 1445 this spire was
injured by lightning, and in 1561 the building was again burned.
Says Mr. Baedeker, whose guidebook is indispensable in the hands of a
traveler, "Near the cathedral stood the celebrated Cross of St. Paul,
where sermons were preached, papal bulls promulgated, heretics made to
recant, and witches to confess, and where the pope's condemnation of
Luther was proclaimed in the presence of Woolsey." Here is the burial
place of a long list of noted persons. Here occurred Wyckiff's citation
for heresy, 1337; and here Tyndale's New Testament was burned, 1527. It
was opened for divine services, 1697, and was completed after thirteen
years of steady work, at a cost of three and a half millions of dollars.
This su