Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-24
CHURCH DIAMOND JUBILEE
How the Event is to Be Celebrated at St.
Peters.
Handsome Decorations and Affairs
for the Sanctuary, Which viii he
COnsecrated Next Month.


to celebrate the diamond jubilee of st.
Peters Catholic Church, corner Of I'd and
C streets southeast. and of which the
Rev. Father James O'Brien is pastor. 1t
was decided some time ago that the me
MORALS of the seventy-f1fth year of the
church should take the form of decorations
to the sanctuary. Two of these decorations
in the shape Of side affairs are already in
place; one Is the gift of Mrs. Andrew
Leonard and is in memory of her hus-
band; the other has been furnished by the
church and resembles to a large extent the
former altar.
Mrs. Leonard has also given statue OF
the Immao ulate Conception. 1t Is of the
finest italian Statuary marble and was
made in Italy. The figure Is five feet In
height and rests on a crescent, beneath
which Is the serpent with an apple In its
mouth. The robe is ornamented with
flowers skiilfully carved and the marble IS
50 delicate that when lighted candle
is placed behind the veil covering of the
head the light shines through. This statue
is over the altar to the Blessed Virgin.
The affairs are of Carrarl marble with
decorations of sienna columns ana bronze
tabernacle dccrs. The dimensions OF each
altar are as follows: From the base to the
top of the statue, II feet; to the top OF
the reredos, feet and width of the table,
8 feet inches. The table rests on -FOUR
yellow sienna columns with white marble
capitals. In the center of the reredoS are
the tabernaces with bronze doors. On the
right and left Of the tabernacle are arc mes,
resting on carved columns of white marble.
The Main Altar.
The principal addition to the sanctuary
will, however be the main altar, which Is
now being made in Italy. 1t was expected
that this altar would be erected by De-
cember l, but it is probable now that II
will be complete not much before CHRIST
mas The sculptor who has charge OF the
work Is V. A. Fusigna, and from the al
yanced sketches which have been MADE IL
is thought the rev work will be compared
favorably with anything Of the KIND III
this city. Its main portion will be OF inonu-
mental marble, but the dec orations Will
consist of onyx and bronze. The table OF
the affairs will be supported by four col
umns dividing the front into three paheis'
all carved in demi-relievo.
The center panel will be mathematical OF
the revealed word OF God, huica.ea ny
the lamb Of the sacrifice surrounded by a
nimpus and other einblems One OF the
side panels will have sculptureu cross'
anchor and crown, embeiiished WIN pas
sion flowers containing amidst the 1ohiS
a dove The other panel will show the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, surrOundeh by pui
white roses resting amid which are Iwo
doves Just below the edge OF the tapie
will be frieZe- e
The tabernacle door will be made OF
handsomely decorated bronze. All the
bronze used in the construction OF the aitaE
will he so treated that 1t Will retain us
lusteS for a long time. FROM the pase VI
the altar to the top of the cross over tne
main pinnacle will be 81 feet; extreme Wia.i'
of the altar will be II feet. while the widtn
of the mensa will be Il feet ttlSlns apoHe
the tabernacle from the center VIII De an
open pinnacle. surmounted by spiehuiu
dome of bronze. The architect has mace
this dome and the decorations hammered
into it one of the most striking features or
the altar 1t will be supported by column
of bronze and inside of it will be a statue
of ST. Peter carved cut of white Carrara
marble.
tween il and the base of the pinnacle. IS to
be a crucifix let into niche. To the right
and left of the main pinnacle there Will be
a side pinnacle, one on each side. some
what similar to the main one, though, OIL
course. slightly smaller. They Will also con,
tain statues of the adoring angels, instead
of ST. Peter. The reredos will rise between
the columns to a height of II feet. The
front of it is to be embellished by six pill
lars of onyx. with richly carved capitals
and bases. The altar will be reached by
three steps of onyx. The style of the ar
chitecture is Byzantine. The cost Of the
side affairs, the main altar. and the statues
will reach we'll up into the thousands. and.
all in all. will be probably one of the finest
pieces of work in Washington.
One of the features Of the diamond jubilee
celebration is to be the conservation of
these affairs. 1t is expected that this cele-
bration will take place some time during
the Christmas holidays. The original st.
Peters Church was first dedicated in 1921.
It was erected on ground presented by
Daniel Carroll of Duddington. The old
church was torn down in 1880. and the
present edifice of white marble was dedi-
Gated in November of 1890.