Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-22
Prof. Frank n. Bigelow.

Prof Frank II. Bigelow.
bans; Rev. DR.. Harding. rector of st.
Pauls, and Archdeacon Williams. The
| music is to be rendered by an augmented
choir and Bishop Satterlee will preach
the sermon. DR. Harding will be the
marshal Invitations have been extend
ed to the clergy of the diocese. and 1t
| is expected that the cathedral close will
be the scone of one of the largest gather
| ings in it's history.
The sundial is thought to be one of
the most complete and informing char
acter. The bronze sundial and shadow
calendar is set upon block of Indiana
limestone, which is in the form of an
altar. This block of stone is approached on
all sides by three granite steps.
Inscription in Latin.
On the bevel edge of the block of stone
is an inscription in Latin, carved in Gothic
letters as is all the other, Transit umbra,
lux parmanet which in English signifies
1.-The shadow passes, light remains" On
three sides of the beveled edge is carved
From the rising of the sun, even to the
going down of the same. my name shall be
great among the nations, and in every place
incense shall be offered unto my name"
In the panels set in the sides of the stone
Is the coat of arms of the diocese. the
names OF Mrs. James mother and other
members of the family, in whose memory
the gift to the cathedral is made and the
following inscription: This landmark is set
up in the cathedral close in memoriam on
Ascension day, A. ID. 1906. IN the eleventh
year of the episcopate of the first bishop of
Washington"
The sundia1 to be dedicated next Thurs
day is the work of Prof. Frank II. Bigelow
of this city astronomer and meteorologist,
and John J. Early. a local sculptor Prof.
Bigelow Is an ardent churchman. and Is
one of the assistant clergymen at ST. Johns
Church, and it is only owing to throat
affection, it is said, that he does not de-
vote his entire time to the ministry. Prof.
Bigelow brought to his work In connection
with the sundial a praiseworthy zeal He
holds degrees from number of leading
universities of the country. including Har-
ward. Cornell and George Washington. and
occupies the chair of solar physics at the
latter institution Prof. Bigelow is the au-
thor of numerous scientific papers and re-
ports, and was one of the commission sent
by the United States government TO view
and report on the eclipse in the Mediter-
rauean.
Serves Three Useful Purposes.
Speaking of the sundial and shadow cal
endar, DR.. Bigelow said:
.It was suggested by Bishop Satterlee
that the top of the monument should be
so arranged as to serve at the same time
three useful purposes. The first is to
the second to record the main festivals
of the Christian year by the shadow from
an upright cross. and the third to serve
the holy communion. as is BETTING rev.
erent services under the canopy of. heaven.
The dial and the calendar scheme were
united by a PROSTATE cross covering the
entire tablet In the center of the long
arm Of this cross rises a small cross. the
top of whose short arm is exactly fifteen
inches high above the surface of the plate.
The point where the two arms of the pros
trate cross meet Is also the center Of a large
sun dial the gnomon beginning at this CEN
ter and rising at an angle of 3S' So. The
hours are marked on large circular ring.
and the inner part Is filled with conven-
tional rays to represent the radiance
streaming from the cross from day to day.
Tho unoccupied portion of the hour cir
sun is not shining. is filled with the table
of corrections needed to turn the apparent
time of the sun into the mean time indi-
Gated by good clock set to local time.
AS the Washington clocks are usually set
to the 18th meridian time. 1t Is also nee
essary to add eight minutes to the sun
dial mean time to produce the watch time
In common used. Hence. noting the hour
and minute by the shadow on the dial
one must add the correction found in the
little table on the dial. for plus sign
adding and for a minus sign subtracting
the amount, ard finally eight minutes must
be added to give the 18th meridian watch
time. To find the time OF the sun crossing
the meridian at apparent noon. subtract
eight minutes. from your watch and ap-
ply the dial correction with the opposite
sign. and at that minute the dial ought
1 to be casting no shadow.
In order to secure the exact position Of
the central line OF the dial and cross on the
side Of the Cathedral hill It was necessary
/ to transfer the astronomical meridian of the
United States naval observatory by suitable
transit Measurements This was done by
sion OF Admiral Walker. United States navy.
the superintendent OF the naval observatory
and myself. A long sight line was taken
from the observatory grounds to the Peace
+ fSrfop md ~ H5YffafIa f77pU lay
/ aid south line was transferred to = sc&the-a
dfel merfdt4n llne and ~ thu monument site.
4 The p16ridi9Tt line isssecured by stous posts