The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-26
DEDICATE new CHOIR
Clergy and Laymen Join in
Special Services.
EPISCOPAL BISHOPS PRESENT
Gifts to Chapel OF Virginia TheO-
logical Seminary Formally Accepted
rament Administered by Bishop
II. c. Potter, OF New York.

! Bishops of the Episcopal Church, promi-
nent members of its clergy, the faculty
and student body Of the Virginia Theo-
/ logical Seminary. and their friends gath
/ cred in the chapel Of that institution yes
/ terday morning to participate in the
/ special services for the benedction and
/ dedication Of the new choir and chancel
presented to the seminary by Bishop H
/ c. Potter, Of New York, and other alumni
OF the historic divinity school.
/ Bishop Gibson. Of Virginia, conducted
/ the services OF benediction and delivered
the opening address on behalf of the
board of trustees Of the institution He
was followed by Dean Crawford of the
! seminary, who acknowledged the gifts
and paid tribute 10 the. donors. Then
/ Bishop Potter responded with an address
/ in which he gave personal "reminiscences
of his life as a student Of the seminary
during the years just prior to the war of
! the rebellion.
! The services began at II o'clock. Dur
\ ing the forenoon a procession Of carriages
/ bearing the bishops. clergy, and other Wis
/ itors wound up the road leading TO the
cluster Of seminary buildings, standing on
| a wooded hill, overlooking Alexandria
/ Bishop Potter and Mrs Potter drove all
the way from Washington to attend tho
| services The student body, about fifty
/ in number. occupied the new choir stalls
In the chanceL At the hour for the open-
/ ing Of the ceremonies the nave Of the
/ little chapel was filled with lay visitors
/ the students from the neighboring Episco-
/ pal High School attending almost in a
/ body.
Procession of Bishops.
The services opened with procession
/ Of tho bishops and clergy. They entered
/ the chapel and proceeded up the nave to
/ tho choir steps. while the congregation
! sang the opening hymn. Then the bishops
/ and several OF the clergy took their places
within the chancel rails. the other clergy
men and members Of the faculty taking
( seats with the students i'm the choir. Al
/ the close Of the sacred services Bishop
! Gibson delivered his address, thanking
/ the donors of the Chancel an memorials
/ we have received these gifts at the
/ hands Of dear friends and co-laborers In
I the cause, but We trace them back far
/ tncr than TO the hands, farther even than
I 70 the hearts Of men and women, however
F. large and generous those hearts may be.
I he said 1t is God from whom comes
/ every good and perfect gift To God
/ therefore, we address our thanks that He
/ has put K into the hearts Of His servants
| 90 think upon this place Without friends
and their loving care we should have no
I choir and chancei, but il is more pro-
/ f0undly true that without God Ne should
/ have had no such friends"
Acknowledgment of Gifts.
/ Dean Crawford made acknowledgment
/ Of the gifts on behalf Of the seminary.
after which Bishop Potter spoke. He re-
/ ferred lovingly 90 his memories Of the
/ institution as it existed In his early
/ days, when he was one Of its stud snts
/ He described the simplicity and shabbi-
/ ness Of the old chapel and its furnish
/ iHgs, and expressed himself as most
/ happy that ne should be able to assist
! in adding to the attracuveness and beau
/ " Of the new chapel through the presen-
/ tatiOu of the choir and chanceI
! AT the close Of the services the visiting
/ bishops, clergy, and students remained in
/ the chapel and celebrated the Feast Of
/ the Conversion Of St. Paul. Bishop Potter
/ administering the sacrament.
! Other bishops present were: Bishop
/ Strang. Of Wilmington. y. c., Bishop
/ HoTer, Of Asheville y. c., Bishop Bur
/ ton. Of Lexington. Ky, and Bishop Sat
| teTlee Of Washington.