Rt. Rev. Wm. Quarter 47 



the vestries are now. — There were neither columns, 

 nor steps, nor doors, (except temporary ones made 

 of rough boards;) and worse than all, even that 

 much of a church was burdened with about three 

 thousand dollars of debt. Add to this, that on the 

 adjoining lot, where the Convent of Mercy now 

 stands, the whole purchase-money, about 1000 

 dollars, was unpaid, as also four hundred dollars on 

 the grave-yard. Thus there was near five thousand 

 dollars debt contracted by his predecessors, and 

 some of this debt bearing interest at from 10 to 12 

 per cent.," was left as a legacy to the new Bishop of 

 Chicago! With an unfinished church, and a poor 

 congregation, and such a debt, what a prospect had 

 he! Dark and dreary enough it must have been, 

 but there was before him a bright star, beckoning 

 him and alluring him onward; and with his eye 

 steadily fixed on that hope-star, he faltered not. 



Such was the condition of the church of Chicago, 

 when Bishop Quarter took possession of his see. 

 How different was the state of affairs, that day on 

 which he stood for the last time in the pulpit of his 

 beautiful church, when the mellow tones of the 

 magnificent organ were re-echoed by the lofty domes 

 and the spacious aisles, filling all the hearts that 

 came there to treasure up his burning words with 

 hopes of the enjoyment of heavenlier strains, when 

 the choirs above will take up the chant, intoned 

 below, and continue it forever around the throne of 

 the Invisible. 



