Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-23
A NOTABLE GIFT.
The Endowment of Proposed Cathedral of
the Episcopal Church I'm Washington. ~

Inc EnuoWment OF q Proposed Sotneofei u
the Episcopal Church in Washington. -.
To the Editor OF The Evening Star: II y
A lady, a communicate Of st. Johns Church,
has recently decided to the American Security
and Trust Company Of Washington, ID. C.. a
valuable tract of land in this city in trust the
income from said property to be devoted to
the support Of a cathedral foundation hereaf-
ter to be created by the Episcopal church in
the District of Columbia. Inasmuch as a cathe-
dral board of trustees has not yet been ineorpor-
ated. and il will take some time to accomplish
this, the owner of this property has, as above
stated. decided the land TO the American
Security and Trust Company, in trust,
with the stipulation that the income Of
the property shall be administered for
the purposes of the cathedral by the following
persons, to wit: The bishop of the diocese ex
officio, the rector of st. Johns Church and the
wardens Of ST. Johns Church ex ofheio- The
project for the cathedral Of the Episcopal
church has been for some time broached in
Washington and has had Bishop Paret's
hearty approval The, munifeent dona-
ton Of the lady seeSe., sstaaea to'
the grateful acceptance Of which has been al
ready signifed by Bishop Parrt, will now GER
tainly promote the speedy realization OF the
cathedral idea. 1t will also be the beginning OF
the endowment fund, which will require mere
after to be largely increased by other dohations
until it reaches some such sum as the frotest-
ant Episcopal endowment fund OIL the diocese
of Long Island.
Including the recent gift OF S50O,OOO by MI.
Hilton the Long Island cathedral endowment
fund now amounts to about S2,6OO,OOO. IL Is
rumored that fine gift of land for the Epis-
copal cathedral in this city will shortly be
forthcoming. and, in that case, as partial en-
endowment for the future cathedral Is
already secured all that hereafter will be
necessary is further gifts of money to
build the cathedral and increase the endow-
ment Meanwhile, from the start there VIII Dc
a sufiicient sum to put the project on hrm
basis so that there will be no danger OF spend
inc ali the money in land and building and hav-
inc nothing left wherewith TO support Tue
necessary staff of clergy and lay WORKERS.
There is probably no city IN the country
where a great free church, oeautlIui IN its
architecture and well equipped IN al lns az
pointments, Is more needed than IN WASH
ington: none certainly where such a founda-
tion will be more influential Coming from
all parts of the country 10 washington Tor
purposes of temporary residence IN connec-
lion with the government or otner"ise, tnere
il a large number of persons who live here
from wear to wear without definite religious
convictions and with no eeclesiast1cal attach-
meut. Such persons would be peculiarly
alive to the influence OF the cathedral
and peculiarly likely to desire to wor-
shin within its walls. There viii be great
field here for the ablest preachers and teach
ers that the Episcopal church can produce,
and there can be little doubt that this oppor-
tunity will be seized to convince our natlon
that the prestige OF organized Christianity, the
beauty of diSnihed ritual, ana the power OF
high thinking and plain living are not confined
10 the Eoman Catholic church. Pres
byterians. Methodists and members OF
MANY other religious bodies outside of
the Episcopal church have joined In
approving the plan OF great Protestant
cathedral for New York city and have given
their means to assist in its construction SINH
lar reasons are likely to induce similar support
for the proposed cathedral OF the Protestant
Episcopal church in the District OF Columbia
II is sometimes supposed that all that Is nee
essary to q cathedral IL grand church puiid-
ing This is very far from the fact. Around
the cathedral will cluster schools and other in
s.itutions. together with houses for the cathe-
Cral staff and this cathedral staff Will not only
be occupied in supplying the requirements OF
the cathedral itself, but viii also be able to
minister. under the bishops direction, to the
many needy parishes and mission stations
where their service will be required. The diocese
of MARYLAND more perhaps than most d1oce5es
in this country, presents q held where the
services OF a band of clergy who receive their
support from IA cathedral foundation could be
utilized to advantage IN missionary Work
throughout the adjacent country Besides this,
Washington ought TO provide great free
church for its large shifting population. And
such a church cannot be adequately carried on
without large endowments, such as the cathe-
dral foundation will furnish.
The present value OF the aforementioned
gift for the cathedral endowment is estimated
at $50. 600 the prospective value OF IT VIII be
many times that sum.