Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-23
CHURCH Bull DIN GS
Structures Benefited During
Recent Years.
FATHER MARR'S PLANS
WILL REMODEL CHURCH OF I'M
MACULATE CONCEPTION
To Make It Thoroughly in Keeping
With Needs of His Grow
ing Parish.
FATHER MARR'S PLANS

Washington has in the last few years
| made splendid strides toward increasing
! the number of its places of divine worship.
and ii is alike a pleasure TO note that the
architectural feature has been looked 10
with good results. Offhand. might
call to mind such model structures as St
Thomas Protestant Episcopal Church, on
18th street northwest; the Swedenborgian
Church, on 10th street, or the more recent
Gothic structures erected in connection
with st. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church.
In consonance with tendency to the
betterment of church architecture, Rev.
Father j. D. MARI, pastor of the lmmacu-
late Conception Roman Catholic Church, at
Sth and streets northwest, has decided on
improvements for his edifce such as Will
radically change it into one of the most
imposing houses of worship in Washing
ton. Plans for remodeling the exterior of
the church have been completed and the
contract awarded James M. Dunn, who
will have charge of the work, stated yes
terday that work on the church would not
be started before the middle of May, as
some of the building material has to be
specially manufactured, thereby entaiing
the delay.
Father MARI proposes to give the church
the finishing touches it has always lacked,
and with these and the other improvements
contemplated the cost will aggregate slo,-
900. The changes to be made include the
completion of the tower of the church,
which will, when finished, rise majestically
to a height of lis feet surmounted by
large golden cross. The tower will be built
of pressed brick and brown stone. Pinnacles
of galvanized iron now surround the build
ing. and these will be removed and stone
caps put on instead. Buttresses are to be
more properly extended and given a more
substantial treatment. The front of the
church will bear entirely new appear
ance. New entrances are to be erected,
consisting of massive doors, which will be
approached by platform steps extending
far out as the eXigencies of the building
line will permit.
The iron fence surrounding the church on
both streets will be removed. and it is an
ticipated by the pastor to install grano-
lithic walk with an oval effect coping
about the grass plot.
Paint and cleansing appliances will be
generously employed on the structure, and
it is expected that when the church is an
nounced as completed by the builder it's
exterior will possess many wholesome
architectural attributes.
The Immaculate Conception Roman
Catholic Church is one of the best known
of the houses of worship of that denomi-
nation here. In 1866 the Rev. p. F. Nc
Carthy one of the most beloved of the de-
ceased Catholic clergy of Washington, laid
the foundations of the parish At the time
Father Mccarthy was assistant to Rev.
Father j. A. Walter, pastor of st. Patrick's
Church, and he had been designated by
the archbishop of Baltimore to plant the
seed of parish, which he had the pleasure
of seeing grow to large and solidified pro-
portions He was highly esteemed among
his parishioners. and after his death in
october, 1882. the congregation erected
blet to his memory in the church.
The first church structure erected by
Father Mccarthy was the present boys
school on the east side of the church. the
cornerstone for which was laid on Sunday,
October 80. 1864. Rev j. A. Walter offici-
ated, assisted by Father P. F. Mccarthy
and Rev. F. E. Boyle, pastor of st. Peters
Church.
Ten years later the congregation had out
grown it's quarters and the present struc-
ture was begun and completed in 1874. At
the dedication the officiating minister was
Archbishop James Roosevelt Bailey of the
Baltimore diocese, who was the predecessor
in that see of Cardinal Gibbons.
On the death of Father Mccarthy, in 1882,
his successor was found in Rev. S. F. Ryan.
The latter administered the pastoral duties
for eleven years, evidencng many virtues
that endeared him to old and young alike
of his congregation. During his passionate
the Immaculate Conception Church was for
tunate in securing several deservedly pop
ular assistants, among whom were Rev.
John Glaab, who prior to his death was
pastor of St. Mary's Roman Catholic
Church. on 9Th street northwest, and Rev.
Father Fletcher, a divine whose eloquence
and distinctive capability executive
probably prompted Cardinal Gibbons to Sc
lect him for an important position at st.
Patrick's Cathedral in Baltimore
On May %, 1903, Father Ryan died, after
a protracted illness, and on the first day
of the following June Rev. J. D. Mari was
designated by the cardinal pastor. Fa-
Their MARI is no stranger to the parishoners
of the Immaculate Conception He was
born and reared in the parish and his peo-
pie have always resided in the vicinity. AS
a priest Father Mari is said to possess
many ennobling characteristics of mind
and heart and in business matters makes
him desirable as the administrator of a
charge. Rev. A. Beavan is the assistant
pastor.