Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-06
ASCENSION DAY SERVICE
Foundation Stone of Building Serves
as an Altar.
SCENE AN IMPRESSIVE ONE
Knights Templar Hear Sermon at
st. Inconsistencies in
Catholic Churches.


ice at Mount st. Adams yesterday after
noon. where Bishop Harding reminded g
vast congregation that it was the frs
service to be held on the fabric of the
Cathedral of SITS. Peter and Paul. i
was an Ascension day service, and q.
Ascension day always has been connected
with some especial event in the cathedra
project, Bishop Harding's sermon ad
dressed itself to answering the question
why do We need a cathedral?"
The congregation sat upon the rough
masonry of the floor of the crypt, which
will be the underlying foundation of the
Bethlehem Chapel when the vast temple
is raised above the tops Of the oaks OF
the cathedral close. For an altar THE
foundation stone dedicated severa
months ago was used. The boys of the
choir of the Cathedral School were
grouped about this stone, singing for the
first time on the actual material of the
great church.
The bishop made answer to his own
question as to the need of a cathedral in
Washington, discoursing under three gen.
eral heads. He pointed out that cathe-
dral is the greatest of missionary agents:
that it is most fruitful of all church Or
CARNATIONS in its returns, and that it is
most effective in any diocese. He said
that cathedral, with it's staff Of train
ed and vigorous men. can do work that
no parochial organization can do.
Draws Picture of Cathedral.
The bishop drew a picture of what the
cathedral would be when completed. He
told the congregation that the building
would be orientated to the sunrise Of the
traditional Ascension day, which is May A.
He announced the beginning of the
open-air services and made public the
fact that the book of services to be used
this year has been compiled by Canon
DevrieS.
Yesterdays services began when a long
with the choir, started from the north
transept of st. Adams Church a little
before 3 o'clock. when the chimes In
the tower rendered an Ascension day
song. The procession, headed by a cru
offer and two acolytes, was composed OF
the choir. a section of the Marine Band.
clergymen of the diocese, the mace bear
err who precedes the members OF the ca
thedral chapter in PROFESSIONS OF this
kind, and the bishop. The line OF march
followed he imaginary walls of the cathe-
dral.
The members of the clergy seated them
selves on either side of the bishops chair.
placed in the exact center of the eastern
curve of the crypt floor. South of the
choir sat the girls from the Cathedral
School.
For a professional hymn, Jerusalem
the Golden was sung by the procession
as it wound through the grove from the
little church of St. Adams to the crypt
The music of the service was made uI
entirely of hymns. Among the prayers
at the close of the service was one fol
Edgar Priest, cathedral organist. who Is
ill, and the special prayer for the cathe.
draI composed by the late Bishop Sat
terlee.
Picture a Pretty One.
For occasional the choir sang Grown
Him With Many Crowns 1t was q
pretty p.cture-the receding choir. just
at that time of day the suns rays broke
through the branches of the trees, shin
ing on the purple and white Of the vest
menrs. Many of the choir boys were
scarcely bigger than the metal cross
Just enough bright color was given by
the two banners carried in the procession
to make the whole scene have an old
world touch. reminiscent of the days
when the church was closer allied with
heraldy than it is now.
Ascension day services for the benefit
of the knights Templar of the District
of Columbia were held at st. Thomas
Episcopal Church, 18th street near Du-
pont Circle. last evening.
At 7:15 o'clock the local communicates
in two divisions. Washington, No. 1, and
Columbia No. 2. in the first, and Poto-
mac, No. 3; De Molay. No. 4, and Orient
No. 5, in the second. headed by two Sec
tons of the Marine Band, formed at Ma
sonic Temple, 18th and New York avenue
northwest, and marched to the church
under the command of Eminent Comman-
der DR.. Gabriel F. Johnston of Washington
Commandery. which had charge of the
arrangements.
Route of Procession.
The route of the procession was west
on H street to 18th street, to X street, to
Connecticut avenue, to 18th street and
the church. At the church open ranks
were formed while the grand commander
Walter III Klonfer and other officers III