The Washington herald., 1912-12-22
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
IS CONSECRATED
Service of Unusual Solemnity Marks
the Affair Held Yesterday
at St. Thomas.
FORMER LORD BISHOP
breaches THE SERMON
Debt of $4,000 Has Been Paid
Since Present Rector Has
Been in Charge.

Services Of unusual solemnity yester-
day marked the conservation of St
Thomas Episcopal Church. Many oi
| the leading churchmen of the Episcopal
faith of the country took part in the
services. The church is now free from
debt and is recognized as one OF the
strongest parishes in the diocese of
| Washington.
The conservation sermon was preached
by Right Rev. Frederick Courtney, D.
D.. former lord Bishop Of Nova Scotia,
and at present rector of st. James
Church. New York The sentence of
conservation was read by Rev. DR.. c.
Ernest Smith, rector OF st. Thomas
Church. Rev. c. Herbert Reese, curate
of st. Thomas parish, was master of
ceremonies, assisted by Julian Wall. The
instrument of donation was read by
Brig. Gen. George A. Woodward, u. S.
A, senior warden OF the parish.
The order of procession was as follows:
Crossbearer. choir, deacons, priests. in
the order of their priesthood, Junior first.
visiting priests taking part in the ser
vice, curates of St. Thomas parish. rec
tor of st. Thomas parish, and Rev. DR..
| ]. A. Aspinwall, former rector: Rt Rev.
DR.. Courtney, priest attending DR.. Court
ney, Canon Talbot, the Bishop Of Wash
ington; chaplain of the Bishop OF Wash
ington, Canon Nelms.
Bishop Courtney breaches.
The procession left the parish house
promptly at 1880 o'clock, and proceeded
directly to the church, where the digni-
fled ceremonies of conservation establish
ed by the ritual of the Episcopal Church
began at the main entrance.
nF
Rev. DR.. Randolph H. McKim, rector of
the Church Of the Epiphany. read the
morning prayer service TO the creed, the
service being conducted by Rev. DIR.
Charles Fiske, rector of st. Michael and
All Angels Church, OF Baltimore, who
began with the nicene creed. The first
lesson was read by Rev. W. J. Cox, while
Rev. Carl S. Smith read the second les
son. The choir sang the Gloria" at the
end OF each psalm.
The holy communion service began with
the introit hymn No. 4S4. I'VE Love the
Place, o Lord" by the choir, followed by
Elvey's "Kyrie in A" and the Gloria
Tibi," and hymn No. 4S3, Christ Is
Made the Sure Foundation"
The conservation sermon, delivered by
Bishop Courtney. was based on the text
from the tenth and succeeding verses of
the twenty-irst chapter Of the Revela-
llOn vi ol- JOlIr descriptive OF the Clly
shown TO the apostle in a vision.
Canon Talbot read the epistle in the
communion service. the Gospel was read
by Rev. DR.. J. A. Aspinwall and the
server was Rev. Mr.. Reese, his assistants
being Revs. Cox, Carl S. Smith, and Nc
kee.
st. Thomas parish was organized at a
meeting April -. 1891 at which more than
5000 was pledged for the purpose. The
diocesan convention authorized the new
parish May q. 1891. At a meeting June
II the new parish was formally organ
lied. the name Of Calvary Parish being
adopted. Rev. DR.. J. J. Aspinwall was
called as the first pastor.
A brick chapel costing $4,000 had been
erected by January, 1892, and plans for
the present church edifice were first dis
Cussed at a meeting of the parishioners
November Is, 1892. The ground for the
present building was broken October 10
lSS3 Rev. DR.. Aspinwall turning the first
spadeful OF earth. The corner stone was
laid June s. 1894. Bishop Paret. of Mary
land. officiating. Rev. Dr. AspinwaII re-
signed in June. 1902, and Rev. DR.. Smith.
the present pastor. was called to succeed
him.
Since Rev. DR.. Smith has been pastor
the church debt OF $1,000 has been paid.
and the dedication of the magnificent
church, entirely free from membranes
OF any character, is the result of his
jealous efforts.