The Washington times., 1894-08-19
Record of Christ's Life as Pictured in
Washington's Sanctuaries.
NOBLE EXAMPLES OF HIGH ART
Lines of Difference in Protestant and Catholic
Church Decoration-The Three Affairs at
St. Patrick's-The English Window at
Epiphany.

ture. as well as material growth of Washing
ton. more marked than in its improved
church architecture, with the accompanying
interior decorative effects, such as frescoes
or picture windows of stained glass back OF
or above affairs.
There are here found handsome new or re-
modelled old church buildings that would lose
nothing by comparison with much of the best
church architecture in older and larger cities,
while the decorative picture windows are both
numerous and beautiful, and in some in
stances specimens of the best work OF those
famous artists who produced them.
Among these stained glass picture windows
are several rare specimens of American art
that for beauty of design, strength and rich
ness of color-produced by new processes of
manufacture-are wonderfully fine
Drapery glass is an American invention OF
recent date, and effects which cannot be pro
duced by painting on glass according to the
old method are now obtained by placing lay
ers OF colored glass one over the other. one
of the best specimens of this ''drapery glass"
work is to be- seen IN the Z. II. Chaplin Me-
moral window-''Church of Our Father -
by Tiffany, which will be described later on.
Visiting churches on week day when the
thermometer is up into the nlnetles was a
happy thought, for in the large, high audience
rooms the air is always about ten degrees
colder than outside.
The Roman Catholic church door is always
open from mathis to vesper bells, and solitary
mourHers with heavy hearts, are always 10 be
found there on their knees before the altar OF
the blessed Virgin" while the Episcopal
ana some of the other Protestant churches are
open from a. IN. TO D p. N.
Those whose doors only SWING open at resSu-
lar services. and one other day, were open on
FRIDAYS which is ''sweeping day" in the
sanctuary as well as in the home.
The most of the old square, bare chapels
and meeting-houses OF Washington have been
replaced by stone structures OF pure eccle-
siastcal form of architecture. or are happy
combination of some one of the different
divisions of architecture in which classic
forms OF beauty are combined with modern
improvements as to utility for use OF the
church sociable or lecture.
CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT ART.
There is a distinct line of difference in this
respect between the architecture of the Cath
olic and Protestant churches.
The former in its finest structures like st.
Patrick's st. Peters, and st. Dominick's are
types of miniature cathedrals with a nave, size
aises and three altars. while the Church OF
the Covenant is good specimen of the mod
ern Protestant church. which has accommo-
dations under its quaint roof with combina-
tions of several styles OF architecture for both
Inc SDlElludl anu sONldl l4ttuS VI Allo NOAtLc-
CATION.
The Catholic and Episcopal churches and
Gunton Memorial church (Protestant) on
Fourteenth street are never opened except for
some regular church service, marriage, or
funeral
St Patrick's. on Tenth street, is one of the
handsomest. completest and purest types o:
church architecture in the city. 1t has solid
itv strength added to beauty of form. and is
the sacred place OF worship of some five
thousand souls who reside within the radius
OF its parish.
There are three altars-that within the
sanctuary. to the right ''the altar of the
Blessed Virgin and on the left The altar of
the Sacred Heart"
This church is adorned with twenty-five
memorial windows, all gifts of devoted COM
municants or former pastors. Twelve Of
these windows are the pictured ones over the
altar.
Those over the main altar are double
Gothic windows bearing six pictures of saints,
in which the deep blues, Yiolets, crimsons,
greens, and gold colors of the robes and vest
menis are most richly and harmonicusly
mingled.
In the sanctuary the first two windows on
the left OF the altar are plain. Then comes a
window on which are figured ''St. Vincent de
Paul" and Francis de Sales" Back of the
altar are ''St Ambrose" and ''St. Augustine;"
to the right Of the altar are ''St. John the
Evangelist and Mary Magdalene;" then
come two plain memorial windows, that is,
windows OF conventionalized patterns, col
ored. but without pictured designs.
To the left Of the altar OF the Blessed Vir-
gin is "St. Ann back of it an exquisite
picture of the Holy Mother. entitled The
Immaculate Conception lis beauty is well
calculated 10 inspire devotion.
The figure is clad III robe of deep blue,
and the sleeves OF the under robe are of clear
crimson The hands are crossed on the
n ba il 70 ba
left, and altogether the tout ensemble COM
poses picture OF rare delicacy and beauty.
ST. Joseph is pictured on the window to the
left OF this altar.
The central figure over the altar of the Sa-
cred Heart is the Christ. with the sacred en-
blem Of divine compassion exposed. The
benignant figure is draped in a seamless robe
of crimson.
St. Aloysius and St Agnes are pictured on
the side windows. st. Aloysius wears II robe
of purple and ST. Agnes is represented as a
nun.
THE WINDOWS OF EPIPHANY.
Epiphany Church, although one of the older
houses ofworship. has from time to time been
renovated in the interior to meet the demands |
of modern taste; and when the last remodel |
ing was done a rare and beautiful Epiphany |
window OF English manufacture was placed |
over the altar. 1t is probably one of the finest |
windows OF the KIND In the whole country. 1t !
tells the story of the first twelve days of the |
Saviours life. from the annunciation of his |
birth 10 the shepherds on the plains to the |
crowning event. the alteration of the Magi, |
who had seen his star in the east. Ii has a |
delicate blending OF colors, with great beauty |
and simplicity Of style.
There are three other picture memorial |
windows in Epiphany. one of the finest of |
them in the old choir loft in memory of the |
first pastor OF tine church, J. W. French, d. |
d. II is triple gothic window. very dark |
and rich in tone. The central panel depicts |
the Holy Family. over all of whom the light |
streams down from above.
The other two memorial windows are on |
the lett side wall: To DR.. Thomas J. French |
and wife; and opposite one to DR.. Samuel Il. /
Gresy.
Both windows depict scenes from the life of
our SAVIOUR. and the.blending of the colors in
the ToUes of the figures are harmonious of
crimson. purple, white, and green.
The Church OF Our Father, on Thirteenth
and L streets, has probably the finest Tiffany
window in the city. and is one of the best
specimens of American art, the colors of
the draperies being peculiarly deep and rich
in tone, consequently much admired.
This beautiful window is cut into four
panels the first and last bearing the inscrip-
tion. one: ''Other men have iabored;'' the
other; ''0ther men have entered into their
labors;" with the cross on the first and the