Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-19
THE EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL.
What Bishop Paret Said Of the Enterprise in
His Address.

That portion Of Bishop Paret's address be-
fore the Episcopal convention yesterday relat-
ing to the cathedral enterprise is as follows:
The members of the convention have,
am sure, already learned that a movement has
been made toward the building Of a cathedral
at Washington. Contributions in pledges,
money and land have been already received to
the amount of nearly S250OOO. The valuable
site for it, generously offered and accepted,
has awakened some criticism. II we
were looking only to immediate present
use there might be room for ques-
ton. But it will be some years before q
cathedral at all approaching completeness can
be erected and by that time, am confident,
the site which has been accepted will be in a
central point for the city and the District and
easily and quickly accessible from any point.
THE SITE CONFIRMED.
The competent and careful committee of
business men with whom took counsel were
unanimous in their choice and approval. and
the whole matter has since been care
fully reconsidered in the light
OF counter suggestions. with the result
of unhesitating confirmation of the first
decision. At the present stage of the enterprise
it calls for no special action on the part OF the
convention. The formulation of plans
for organizing, for governing, for
making and the preparing OF
definite plans for building must rest until the
time when we may have assurance OF SUFFICIENT
strength to begin positive work, and committees
of competent clergvmen and E,vmen are quietly
studying these things. All | ask now is that
the diocesan relations of the matter should not
be forgotten. 1t is not merely, il is not chiefly
the duty and the interest of the city of WASH
ington.
ITS DIOCESAN RELATION.
1t is to have diocesan relations. to do a work
for the diocese and grand work. and the whole
diocese will have place and part and
influence in it. II Is to do a grand
work for the church in our whole nation and
for the nation itself. The wisdom and power
with which other religious bodies are plant
ing great institutions at the national capital
ought to stimulate not only the resi-
dents of the city. but all who
love the church and who love our land to the
noblest efforts. II there are or have been preju-
dices against cathedrals ! am confident they
will pass away with careful and unprejudiced
reading and study. They have been among
the gfandest powers for Christ III times past.
They have been in England in times later. in
some respects, mismanaged and inefficient.
Bnt even there they are made once
more a power for good. witness st.
Paurs Cathedral in London. thronged every
Sunday by poor a. well as rich. and having this
recent Easter 10000 worshipers from every
class at its various services.
The evils We may correct: taught by expert
ence We may avoid some dangers. Certainly
grand church grandly supported. with its con-
slant round of worthy worship, open to poor
and rich alike. with a body of competent and
active clergy at work, must be blessing.
INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING AND MERCY.
Add to this thoughts Of the institutions Of
learning and mercy which will cluster around
it and be associated with it. each helping the
other. We may see the beginning. But great
institutions take generations for growing.
For myself am too near my three score and
ten to hope to see much Of it. l am content to
do the part of mere beginning what Gods
Providence through church woman generous
gift of living faith was put upon me. had
thought to explain the cathedral idea more fully,
but / could but repeat in other words
what has been effectively done by others.
wish that every clergyman and every lay
man would read and ponder the weighty
words of Bishop Potter of New York
in The Forum for May. and those OF
the Rev. DIR. Huntington in the Churchmon of
May 7, and I plead for sympathy, encourage
ment and help. not for myself. but for grand
effort to further the cause of our Lord"