The Hierarchy of Churches and the Easter Parade

This chapter of the podcast discusses the importance and hierarchy of churches during the Gilded Age in New York City and Philadelphia. It highlights St. Thomas's Church, Trinity Church, Grace Church, and St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the social significance of attending these churches. The chapter also mentions the practice of renting pews and the competition among families for the best seats. The mood shifts to a somber tone in Philadelphia as the characters attend Easter service in the Spring family, reflecting on the Scarlet fever outbreak and its devastating effects on children. The chapter concludes with the introduction of a new character, Reverend Luke Forte, who mentions that he will be conducting his first wedding.