The Washington herald., 1912-06-22
FIRST BRITISH MARTYR
TO DIE FOR THE FAITH

Monday last the church commemorated
the life and death OF her first martyr
on the soil Of Great Britain-St. AIban.
About the year sos. when the leglons OF
old Rome were holding Great Britain as
a conquered province OF the Roman EN-
pire. AIban. a Roman soldier. converted
to Christianity while being among the
British. was put to death by his L. try
superiors. He suffered at a place called
verulam, some twenty miles from Lon
don. and which has since become known
as st. Adams, by reason OF the martyrs
death.
At st. Adams a stately cathedral now
stands. one Of the most stately and
imposing in all England. few years
ago. when we were engaged in laying
the corner stone Of the new cathedral on
Mount ST. Albans. Il was entirely fitting
that one OF the visiting bishops should
be the Bishop OF ST. Albans II re-
minded all men who knew anything Of
history that this church. which they
know in these United States as the
Protestant Episcopal, was the same
church which long centuries ago gave
its first British martyr TO die for the
faith once for all delivered to the saints.
A special meeting Of the board Of gov
ernors OF the Episcopal Eye. Ear, and
Throat Hospital was called by direction
of the president last Monday evening at
s o'clock at the hospital building for the
purpose OF authorizing the incumbrance
Of the real estate Of the corporation.
The incumbrance IL necessary in con-
nection with the purchase Of the prop
erty at Fifteenth and NJ Streets. Few
institutions OF the Episcopal Church have
a greater claim on the generous support
Of It's members than this hospital, which
opens its doors and offers its benefits
to all alike, Irrespective Of race or creed.
Rev. Canon Nelms, rector OF Ascension
Church, Twelfth Street and Massachu-
setts Avenue. was honored on Wednesday
last with the degree Of D. D., by ST.
Johns College, Annapolis, Nd. Canon
Nelms was present at the comforting Of
the degree. which was conferred by the
president, DR.. Thomas Fell. on the in
struction Of the board OF trustees in rec
ognitiOn OF Canon Nelms' most success
ful work and general ability. He will
hereafter be DR.. Nelms.
DIR. c. Ernest Smith. rector of st.
Thomas Church, Eighteenth Street near
Dupont Circle, left Philadelphia Sunday
last on the steamship CarthagenIan for
Newfoundland. Dr. Ernest Smith began
his ministry as a deacon under the Rev.
Canon J. NJ. Noel rector at Harbor
Grace, the second town OF Importance
in the island. Canon Noel Is still living
and still rector OF the same parish. st.
PauPs, HaTbor Grace. DR.. Ernest Smith
expects to renew old memories. Before
going to HarbOr Grace which is about
fifty miles from St. Johns. he will be
the guest Of the Lord Bishop at Bishops
Court, by whom he has been asked TO
preach the sermon TO the synod OF the
diocese in the stately Gothic Cathedral.
one Of Sir Gilbert Scott's creations.
which has no superior on this side OF
the Atlantic.
The Church Of the Ascension, Massa-
chusetts Avenue and Twelfth Street. has
engaged as director Of its choir Mrs.
Charles C. McRoberts, nee Miss Virginia
Goodwin. She will begin the work in
September. About eight years ago Mrs.
McRoberts conducted a most successful
volunteer choir OF sixty voices at the
Ascension, and the parishioners regard
her return TO them just as Mr.. Kaspar
resigned the work as almost providen-
tlaI.
On Friday evening, June Il, the Bish-
op OF the diocese visited Grace Church.
EOuln W d1llluAlOUs lNT AllG purpose OL
the apostolic rite OF con-
frmation. The work there is under the
direction OF the rector OF the Ascension,
but Mr.. Fred Gunnen, a lay reader
from the parish Of the Ascension. is in
charge and there was every evidence
OF the fine work which he has done.
There were nine candidates confirmed
and the congregation was perhaps twice
over again as large as at any time in
many years before. The volunteer choir
rendered excellent work and the Bishop
gave a most practical and helpful ad-
dress. Under Mr.. Gunnelrs leadership
the parish has begun to pay OF its
mortgage Indebtedness and a bright fu-
ture is its outlook.
Last Sunday the Rev Canon George
F. Dudley. rector OF st. Stephens
Church, Columbia Heights, preached the |
sermon OF the Washing |
ton College OF Music. The service was |
In St Stephens Church. The new and |
stately building, thoroughly churchey in |
design and furnishing. was much ad- |
nired by the graduates and their |
friends, many Of whom had not before |
within its walls.
The Washington clerlcus once a year
has an out-of-town meeting. This |
year It was held last Tuesday at 1 |
o'clock at BeltsvilIe. Prince George |
County. Md, at the rectory Of Rev. c. |
[ La Roche, rector of Beltsville, who |
was host on the occasion. Rev. Canon |
J. II. McGrew was speaker, his subject |
being Things Wrong End in India"
Canon McGrew for some years was a /
,ClIege president in India and therefore
we'll qualified to treat with a question
Indian life.
Many of the clergy are now planning
heir vacations, to which the strenuous
character Of the winter and spring work
n Washington church circles fully en-
tiles them. Alone among WASHINGTON
hurches the two principal churches in
have the excellent plan Of
in concert, the same locum te-
ens conducting service alternately in
ach church during the absence OF its
ector. Considering the depleted charac-
er Of the congregations during July and
.ugust, this arrangement might be ex-
ended with very satisfactory results.
1t Is Interesting to note that while
his is the slack time OF the year for
ity churches, 1t is the busiest time i'm
ginable for the country churches. The
ountry Is generally very full OF visitors,
nd the roads are all good. and conse-
uently the travelling Is good also-ali OF
fh!ch is conducible to full congregations
The next Red Letter Saints Day OF the
hurch occurs on Monday. when the Ma
witty Of John the Baptist Is celebrated.
he circumstances OF the birth OF the
baptist being so unique necessarily gave
he idea Of celebrating that event in the