The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-06
PLANS CATHEDRAL
AT The CAPITAL
JUSTICE HARLAN's IDEA COMING
BEFORE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Presbyterians Are Urged to Build
Great National Edifce in Washing
ton, Which Shall Properly Represent
the Dignity Of the Communio
Leading Members of Denomination
Approve the Suggestion.

The erection Of Presbyterian cathe-
dral at the national capital, which by
it's magnifcence and beauty would at
tract national attention and which shall
fifty represent the prominence, wealth
and power of this denomination, will
be discussed at the next annual meet
ing of the Presbyterian general assem-
bly,, which will occur on May lS at
Winona Lake, Ind.
Associate Justice John M. Harlan Of
the United States supreme court has
for several years been urging to have
this matter given due consideration at
the hands of the general assembly. He
has always been of the opinion that
the Presbyterrians of this country
should follow the example Of the Cath
olics, Methodists and Episcopalians and
establish in Washington a church be-
fitting a great denomination.
Some two months ago Justice Harlan
sent circular letter to the leading
ministers and laymen of the church
thruout the country, giving his ideas
regarding the needs of the Presby-
terrain church at the nations capital
ence to the proposition. There have
been few words of dissent, but on
the whole the proposal has been well
received.
"Thirty-seven years residence in
this city has brought me to the con-
clusion that the time has come when
the Presbyterian church as a whole
ought to establish in Washington a
church which would represent our de-
a more impressive and effective way
than could possibly be done by the or,
binary parish church, says the JUS
tice in the beginning Of his letter. In
| outlining his plans as to where and hoW
the cathedral should be erected, hi
writes:
"There should be on some command
ing site near the real center of the life
of the capital large and impressive
nobly suggestive of the best periods
of our church-in fact, Presbyterian
minster-that would be the strikin!
architectural symbol Of our great com
munion, able to command the attention
of this unique city, filed with peopl
from all over our country and from tn
/ other nations of the world.
ATTACHED to or connected with tn
church should be a workbuilding an
the most practical and effective forr
of modern church work. Adjoining tn
church there should also be a fttin
mansion for it's chief minister, and flo
the work I have in mind there Shout
be staff Of assistant ministers an
lay workers, and, in addition, a sma
clergy house, in which those assistant
could live.'
In concluding his letter Justice Hal
Ian says: "The strange Importance Q
Washington is being recognized b
other churches. Our Episcopalia
brethren are farsighted enough to Sc
this, and they are already carrying OF
the plans for a great cathedral he1
as the rallying point of their church g
the capital. The Methodists entertai
hopes of a great university in Was]
ington, and what the Roman CATHOLIC
have done and are planning to do
the same connection is we'll Known
In speaking of the subject a fe
days ago Justice Harlan stated thu
q he had received about $50 replies
7 his communication. He has heard fro
q some of the most prominent members
the Presbyterian church, and has bee
greatly encouraged by the cordial sy:
pathy with which the movement HI
Il been received. Among those who ha'
& assured the associate justice of tie
q heatry support and approval Of the n
tional church suggestion are Secretal
4 of Agriculture James M. Wilson, I
q Patton of Princeton university, Rev. +
& Warfeld of Princeton seminary, Re
q DR.. Henry Van Dyke, DR.. Shaw Of CT
s cago and many men of like prominenc