Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-25
SPECIAL SERVICE HELD
BISHOP sATTERLEE HALLowS
GROUND AT ST. ALBAN'S.
Site of Coming Edifice Dedicated to
Saints Peter and Paul
The Exercises.

Bishep Henry Y Satterlee yesterday
afternoon pronounced the words hallowing
the ground at St. Adams, .. c., upon
which the Washington Protestant Epsco-
pal Cathedral of IS Peter and Paul is
some day to be erected. By the generous
gift of $4,000 last fall by Mrs Julian
james the ground was freed entirely from
debt This time had been eagerly awaited
by the bishop, the clergy and the diocese
and the board of trustees of the cathedral.
for, according to a rule of the denomina-
ton. the ground could not be hallowed until
all debt was paid upon it.
Mrs James has had erected on the brow
of the hill overlooking this city large
shn-dlal. which has the novel feature of
r:arking not only the hours of the day, but
also the seasons of the Christian year by
the shadow of cross. This was also con-
secrated yesterday, and will commemorate
the gift.
Yesterday was Ascension day. upon which
so many impressive services have been held
in the Cathedral Close. At pm. the
bishop, preceded by the clergy, various
boys choirs from the city churches and
the Marine Band proceeded to the peace
cross on the lawn. Rev. Alfred Harding
served as marshal.
Program of Exercises.
The evensong which preceded the dedica-
ton service was begun by Rev. G. C. F.
Bratenahl, rector of ST Adams parish and
the canon precentor The first office of the
hallowing was read for the bishop by Dr.
Harding. The Psalms prescribed for the
dedication were read by Rev Frank III.
Bigelow, assistant rector of ST. Johns
Church, who designed the sun dial Rev
Richard p. Williams, archdeacon of the
diocese, read the lesson for Ascension day.
Rev. c. G. Pierce, chaplain at Fort Myer,
and Rey. DR.. w. L. Devries read portions
of the Service.
The bishop halowed the ground in the
following formula:
Il do pronounce this ground duly and
truly dedicated to God and set apart as
the Cathedral Close of the diocese of Wash
ington and | do declare this landmark to
be q witness and memorial that this is holy
soil, consecrated to the glory and honor Of
God most high and hallowed for the benefit
of his people throughout all generations"
The sun dial was not entirely completed
yesterday, the pedestal being III position,
but portions of the dial itself rot yet placed.
The whole was covered with ivy leaves and
will be unveiled at later date
The Sun Dial.
The sun dial is one OF the most complete
in existence, and is the work of Prof. Bige-
low The bronze sun dial and shadow
calendar Is set in a block of Indiana lime
stone, which is In the form of an altar,
approached on all sides by three granite
steps. The inscriptions, Transit umbra,
lux parmanet," signifying The shadow
passes, light remains" is carved in Gothic
letters on the beveled edge. Also the verse
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" The inscription is: This land
mark is set up In the Cathedral Close In
memoriam on Ascension day, A. d. 1906 In
the eleventh year of the episcopate of the
first bishop OF Washington
The names of the members of Mrs. James
family, in whose memory the gift is made
are also inscribed on it.
About five thousand people were present
during the afternoon and special car service
was provided from Georgetown to accom-
MEDIATE the crowds.