Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-14
OUTDOOR SERVICES.
The Impressive Gatherings on Site OF
Episcopal Cathedral.


This is the third summer that open air
services, as they are called, have been held
every Sunday afternoon on the spot where
Is to be located the Episcopal Cathedral of
St. Peter and st. Paul on the Tenleytown
road. The first one was held on Ascension
day in 1901, and the idea originated with
Bishop Satterlee. Certainly no more suita-
BILE or harmonious spot could be chosen for
religious exercises. Chiefly SO because 1t Is
out of doors. There is a broad opening
shut in by trees of goodly growth that
seem to make the walls of an auditorium,
with the sky for a roof. No matter how
lofty may be the ceiling that ultimately
shuts in the view above or how deliberately
it may be decorated and adorned, it can
never equal the blue sky of Washington.
such as was that of yesterday, which
looked down upon thousand or so of wor-
shippers One in attendance there then, or
at any one of the services, taking in the
whole situation, could not fail to be inn
pressed with the notion that the hymns OF
praise and the prayers, the exhortatfon and
the music winged their way right straight
up to heaven, without being tmpeded by
material Instructions like wood or stone or
iron.
The services are very impressive. They
open with some selection by section of the
Marine Band, under the leadership of Wal
ter L. Smith. These have all the character.
harmony and strength of organ music A
few bars give notification from the little
Church Of st. Adams, near at hand that
the services are about to begin, and long
procession led by the band. all vested of
choir boys. with the clergy in the rear, APP
pears, and with music and singing marches
upon the green sward through the aisle
left open by this audience to the neighbor-
hood of the peace cross, where chairs are
placed for them and where a temporary
pulpit stands raised to a proper height.
At the conclusion Of the services the recess
sional is sung and played while the singers
and musicians march back to the church.
Every Sunday afternoon, all this summer,
services have been held on the grounds,
with only three exceptions. when. on ac-
count Of the weather, they were transferred
to the little church. That is an fllustra-
ton of the weather that Is given to us up
here in Washington. The attendance has
averaged about five hundred at each service.
The average would have been greater. had
the street railway facilities been better.
The services have been in charge Of the
Rev. Charles C. Pierce, D. D., chaplain in
the United States army. now attached to
the I'd Cavalry at Fort Myer, assisted by
the Rev. G. C. Bratenahl. rector Of st. AL
bans.
Dr. Pierce breaches every Sunday. having
been relieved In that duty only twice this
and yesterday by the Rev. DR.. Williams OF
Trinity Church, the archdeacon OF the do
cese Of Washington.
1t may be that in a century or SO. when
the proposed cathedral lifts its massive
walls into the air. when it's grandeur is
completed. and its spires and peaks, towers
and ROOFS look toward the great city lying
at its feet where 1t is to look forever. 1t
may be that these open air services Will be-
come tradition or legend that will cling
to the spot, as somewhat similar traditions
cling about the centuries OLD catnedrais IN
Europe.