lems, and make us realize the growing importance of city life and the momentous issues that are awaiting its development. "On several occasions within recent years, we have reviewed the characters of the rectors of this parish, Doctors Harwood, Montgomery and Brooks. After the very admirable portrayal of their personal characteristics and their large services to the Church which we had the privilege of listening to last Sunday, both from the rector of Grace Church and the Bishop of New York, it rather falls to my lot to describe what these men did for our parish than to repeat what already has been so fittingly spoken. We sometimes long for the good old times, and fancy that somehow they were better than our own; and yet I doubt if any devout and earnest Churchman would care to have lived in this diocese in the period immediately preceding the foundation of this parish. After the fierce and painful controversy concerning Bishop Onderdonk, the distracted diocese of New York had at last elected as Provisional Bishop the saintly Dr. Wainwright, and on November 22d, 1852, nine months after our incorporation, he was consecrated. He lived only two years, and one of our earliest parish records are resolutions of sympathy and loving respect of the Church of the Incarnation for his memory. In 1854 Dr. Horatio Potter succeeded him. There is no sign of this parish ever having a share in any militant party issues; but beginning its history with the peace of Dr. Wainwright's episcopate, the parish grew and prospered, and from that day to this has been untouched by controversies and free from all contentions." Having viewed the important events of parish life, as they have been more fully stated in the preceding pages, the preacher quoted the words of Dr. Brooks, "Let us build the spire as a declaration that we propose to stay here on this corner, and then with that purpose clearly fixed, let us provide for the uncertainties of the future by the gradual accumulation of an endowment fund. "And so we will enter into the future. We will go on making this House of God more and more beautiful, adding precious memorials, like the Constable Chapel which we hope to build this summer, and then with our new buildings in Thirty-first Street we will go forward to strengthen what we have, and gradually endow it, until in every part of the work, we will feel ourselves able to meet the exigencies of the future." Upon another occasion the rector said: "When we ask the question, 'What does the parish of the Incarnation stand for in the City of New York?' we desire an answer that strikes the note of Spiritual Power. We should lament the day, when the popular estimate should be that we were a fashionable church, or an exclusive church, or an inhospitable church, or a church that stood for some one narrow party, high or low, or broad; or a sensational church, or an institutional church; but we most earnestly pray that, by all we do and all we are, we may be more and more respected and loved as a Church of earnest Christian people, where the pure word of God is preached, the sacraments of Christ reverently administered, and where all good works abound in the service of men for Jesus' sake." One of the most beautiful and useful of the many memorials which have been recently placed within the church is the morning Chapel of the Nativity, which was given by his family, in memory of Mr. James M. Constable. This chapel occupies the north transept of the church, a sufficient number of pews having been removed to provide room for the nave, and a chancel was constructed by making an opening in the east wall, to the depth of ten feet. The architect was Mr. Henry Vaughan. The altar of carved stone rests upon four pillars. Above the re-table is a white stone reredos richly ornamented; and in its center entablature, in high relief, is a representation of the Last Supper. The gallery above the pews in the transept was not removed, and it serves as the ceiling of the chapel. Its front is enriched by carved wood work, and by five statues each under a canopy. Stained glass of artistic merit replaced the windows formerly in the transept. The designs in them illustrate the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary, the Annunciation to the shepherds, the Adoration of the shepherds, and the Revelation to the world of the wonderful birth. A bronze tablet bears the inscription: To the Glory of God and in loving memory of 1812-1900. This chapel is erected by his children. "The path of the just is as the shining light, that This Chapel of the Nativity was formally dedicated by the rector, on All Saints' Day, 1903, and since that time has been in constant use for the early celebration of the Lord's Supper each Sunday, and for week-day prayers and ceremonies, where attendance is expected to be limited. The seating capacity of the chapel is about thirty. When informed of the intention of the family to make this beautiful gift to the church, the vestry expressed their sincere gratification, and most cordially received the |