The Washington times., 1906-03-04
NEW CHURCH Of
HOLY CONF ORTER
Edifice Just Completed in
East Washington.
TO BE DEDICATED MARCH 10
Splendid Building in Mission Style Has
Been Erected Where Pool Room
Once Stood.

The Church of the Holy Comforter.
Just being completed. at the corner of
East Capitol and Fourteenth streets,
VIII be dedicated with appropriate cere-
monies conducted by Cardinal Gibbons
on March is. The new church is q strik-
ing illustration Of what can be accom-
plished by beloved and energetic pas
tor and a congregation willing to lend
a helping hand.
The church occupies a lot with a
frontage Of fifty-eight feet on East
Capitol street. by a depth OF 13S feet on
Fourteenth street. It was designed by
Architect 3. Stanley simmons, and Is
in the Spanish mission style, inspired by
the Mission House at San Diego, Cal,
IL has three entrances, two on East
Capitol street and one on Fourteenth
street leading to a spacious vestibule,
the choir loft being between the two en-
frances on East Capitol street. The
church is lighted by g broad window
fianked by wooden pilasters and finished
at the base with a beautiful baIcI ny,
slightly projecting the line of the front.
inches for Confessionals.
The lower portion Of the building to
the west, originally intended for Sunday
school purposes, has been made part
Of the church proper, and a suitable
room has been placed at the north end
for meetings OF the different societies.
At the opposite end inches are made in
the partition containing the confession
als at either side, the central niche being
occupied by the shrine.
Back OF this and Immediately adjoining
the sanctuary is the sacristy, which has
entrances from the church, the sanet-
uary, and then priests house. Adjoining
the sacristy at the extreme south end OF
the church is the sanctuary and altar
upon a raised platform with steps and
floor of terrazzo and mosaics.
Directly in line with the sanctuary on
the north end Of the church is the choir
loft elevated above the church floor, in
which is placed a magnificent organ in
the mission style. This instrument was
donated by Thomas F. Walsh. The pull
pit was donated by E. Francis Riggs.
The walls Of the church are treated
in rough cast plaster of a yelIowish
cast. the ceiling and trusses being of
mission oak exposed. The seatings and
other wood trimmings are treated like
wise, and the fixtures, eIectroliers, and
altar rail in verde antique
Inc Parish RectOTy-
The pastors house. which adjoins. and
IS practically a part of the church, is or
the extreme south end of the lot It is
entered from Fourteenth street, the frs
room being devoted to the uses OF a
reception room. Adjoining this is the
stair-haH, pastors office, dining room
and kitchen.
The second floor contains the pastors
study, pastors bedroom, bath, and TIVE
additional guest rooms, while the third
floor is to be used for the assistant pas
tors study, bedroom. and bath. and the
remaining rooms for domestiCs-
In the basement large front room
is used for choir rehearsals, sewine
societies, etc, and the remaining por
ton of the basement is devoted TO tn,
heating plant, laundry, and storage O
coal, The church and house are heate,
by the indirect steam system.
Formation of the Parish.
On October II. 1904. Cardinal Gibbon
authorized a new parish in the Distric
and appointed Rev. Joseph l. McGufr
TO organize it, and act as its first pas
tor. The present corner lot was pur
chased at once. At that time a small
building occupied as a poolroom stOo'
on the site, and in this building tn
first services were conducted.
The structure was formally cOnvertet
into a place Of worship on Novembe
Is, 1904, Rev. B. s. Schmitt pastor 0
St Joseph's Church, this city, sayinI
the first mass there.
From this time on the congregation
manifested great interest in the upbuild
ing of the parish. making it possible il
short space Of time to acquire add
tional land and begin the erection o
the present edifice on July l. 1905.
At present the church has a congrega
ton of about / 900 members, and has
welI-cOnducted Sunday school. attende
by 800 children. 1t also has a men
organization known as the Holy Nam
Society, numbering about 80 members
The boys society and a society for girl
are we'll organized, and other societie
are contemplated. among them the SO
ciety known as the Christ Child"
Held Successful Fair.
In order to obtain sufficient funds t
complete the building, a fair was he'll
from May ! TO May 10. 1905, and tn
same energetic spirit was manifesto
by the pastor and his parish. They wer
aided BY many other denominations tn
han being filed to its capacity ever
night. The church realized $4,000, an
with this amount the present structur
has been made possible.
Rev. Father Mcclure. who organize
the parish, who was born in Baltimor,
October O. 1862 and was graduated /
Calvert Hall College. He was in bus
ness for a number of years 81 Baltimor
before entering the seminary to stud
for the priesthood. While in BaItimoT
no was actively engaged IN the woT
of the young mems societies and wa
president of the special conference {
the st. Vincent de Paul Society and tn
United Catholic Literary Society
Sent Here as Chaplain.
After being admitted to the priesthoo
in 1899. his abilities were immediatel
recognized by the cardinal, who appoint
ed him chaplain Of the municipal inst