Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-07
CORNER STONE LAYING
Ceremony on Site Of Church
of Holy Comforter
TOMORROW AFTERNOON
FATHER JOSEPH I. INQUIRIES
SUCCESSFUL LABoRs.
New Church Located at 18th and
! East Capitol Streets How
Money Was Raised.
TOMORROW AFTERNOON

Ihe corner stone OF the new Church OF
the Holy Comforter. Rev. Joseph 1. Ma
guire. rector, will be laid tomorrow after
noon at O'Clock by Rev. James F. Mackin,
pastor of ST. Paul's Roman Catholic
Church The church site is at 14th aud
East Capitol streets. The delegation OF the
latter the officiating minister at the
corner stone laying has been made by Car
dfnal Gibbons.
Few churches Of Washington have had q
more rapid rise, 1t is said. than that OF the
little congregation of the Church of the
Holy Comforter. 1t was just about a year
ago that. announcement was made that
Cardinal Gibbons had authorized the estab-
lishment Of new parish in this city for
the benefit of the people of the Roman
Catholic faith who live in the eastern sec
ton of the city. When the boundaries of
the new parish were determined upon they
included the territory east of 18th street.
taking in part of St Peters and st. Jo-
seph's parishes.
Rev. Father Mcguire was summoned to
Baltimore by the cardinal and told OF his
selection as pastor of the church, and d.
rectly steps were taken to o9nsummate the
deal whereby the present property was Sc
cured.
The action of the cardinal was matter
of particular interest to the Roman Catho-
lies living in that section of the city which
has been steadily building up even since
the opening of the first little church struc-
ture In November last. That the Church
of the Holy Comforter has made such won
derful strides in a comparatively short
period in the lifetime of churches is said
to be mainly due to the personality of the
rector. Prior to opening this church he
had lived in this city short while, en-
gagged in charitable and prison work, and
had endeared himself to many people, ir-
respective of religious tendencies While
engaged In this work he has come in con-
tact with other workers along these lines
and has a host of friends. Starting in I'M
der the happy auspices of an intimacy with
his flock, Father Mcguire has achieved
splendid results in the congregation.
In addition to fulfilling the regular church
requirements it has been the desire of the
cardinal that the Church of the Holy Com
forter shall be the headquarters of the st.
Vincent de Paul Society, and that when an
assistant is appointed, as is now anticipat-
ed, he shall look after work in prisons and
correctional institutions In a word. the
new church is looked upon a sort or
mission church. and the pastor and his as
agencies
The Old Structure.
The structure that has been in use was
at the southwest corner of East Capitol and
14th streets. diagonally across from the car
barn of the Washington Traction Company.
The building was 36x40 feet in dimensions
and had an 1S-foot ceiling.
It was the original intention to use it for
a bar room, but it was impossible for the
lessee of the premises to get license, and
then a pool room was opened This gave
way to the church. AS was expected in the
beginning the church soon proved too small
for the needs of the pastor. The first mass
in the original edifice was said on Novem-
Der 13, 1904, by Rev. Valentine Schmitt,
pastor of st. Joseph's Roman Catholic
Church
AS the need of a newer and larger church
building became more apparent to Father
Mcguire, plans were accordingly laid for
procuring funds necessary for such large
undertaking. One of the most important
efforts in the financial line was the holding
of fair from May 1 to 10 last, In Odd
Fellows Hall, when 1t was estimated that
nearly ST 800 was netted Plans were made
at once for the building now under con-
struction, and B. Stanley Simmons proved
the successful architect. Building opera
tions were begun August 80, and 1t is ex-
pected the structure will be completed by
December 1. The church, which will have
a seating capacity of about $50, will be in
the Spanish mission style, and the ma
terial used will be pebble-dashed brick.
The roofing will be red tile and the cornice
work of verne antique The new structure
will have a frontage on East Capitol street
of fifty-six feet and depth on 18th street
southeast of 1876 feet. At the south end of
the lot will be built the parsonage, in the
same style the church proper, with three
stories and cellar. AS yet the interior ar
rangements, affairs, chancels, etc, have not
been determined upon. The sanctuary will
be entirely free, however, of pillars. as
the truss spanning the ceiling Is expected
to be of sufficient strength to hold the build
ing without any pillars.
While the ceremony of the corner stone
laying will be of private character, it is
expected that large number of parishion-
ers and friends of the new church will be
present.
The dedication of the new church will not
take place until some time in the early
spring but shortly after the completion
of the Improvements a two weeks mission
will be given by the Pauist Fathers, as
was the program when the original struct-
ure was ready for occupancy by the con-
gregation.