The Washington herald., 1912-08-11

eager. rubicund little clergyman, VINO is
all enthusiasm without cant, is due the
creation of the most eloquent patriotic
memorial in our country, says James
oDonnell Bennett in the Chicago
Tribune. The Washington Memorial
Chapel Is the new crown OF the desthless
glories of Valley Forge, and 1t repre-
Herbert Burk. rector Of All Saints
Church in Norristown. Pa. and minister
in charge of the memorial
Nine years ago there was at valley
Forge no conspicuous monument to COM
memorate the sufferings. and the victory
over themselves. of the men of WASH
ington's army, who were encamped there
during the bitter winter Of 11II-1s. except
the intensely conventional obelisk In
honor Of the 1900 soldiers who perished
on those heights of cold. hunger. and dis
ease during the darkest six months OF
the Revolution.
To-day a Gothic chapel. so stately in
it's general scheme and so exquisite In
lis detail that II is worthy to rank with
ecclesiastical foundations Of the Old
World. forms the portal to the valley.
and bears in upon the pilgrim the mean
ing. at once mournful and exultsnt, Of a
spot consecrated by much suffering and
glorified by much heroism.
Work Starts in 1908.
Without a parishioner and without q
cent, the first steps in the foundation OF
this chapel were taken in 1903. The work
has gone on steadily, sometimes very
slowly. now with the building Of few
feet of wall. now with the installation
of a massive pew given in honor Of a
Revolutionary patriot by his descend
ants, now with the erection by one OF
the thirteen original States Of a bay in
the Cloister of the Colonies. and now
with the presentation of memorial
brasses a pulpit, a lectern. or a font
And at last the ideal of the founder Is
becoming comprehensive to the least
IMAGINATIVE passer-by. and travellers
from distant points enter the chapel
with interest and leave 1t in a glow OF
wonder and delight at what has been
done, grateful, too, and vowing to help
this devoted clergyman in his labor of
love.
Rev. Herbert Burk fairly twinkled
with happiness as he unfolded the de-
signs that show what the washington
Memorial Chapel and its adjoining
Cloister of the Colonies, Porch Of the
Allies, Patriots Hall, tower, and library
will be when they are finished
Prayer and Advertisement.
This place" he said, has been built
up by prayer-and advertisement"
What the rector meant was that no
step in the realization of his plan has
suffered for lack Of such exploitation as
he could obtain. Pamphlets and leaflets
about the work have founds their way
into every Episcopal diocese in the
United States. Bishops Of the church
and many representative men in the
official life of the nation have gone to
Valley Forge to deliver addresses to
mark the dedication Of memorable addi-
tons to the edifice. such as a new bay
In the Coister of the Colonies or in
the Porch Of Allies.
Mr. Burk's noble conception has In
truth taken a powerful hold on the mag
nation and the patriotic ardor of every
one to whom It has been made known.
Already brasses and other commemora-
tive adornments to the value Of $21.Slo
have been placed In the chapel, and
other memorials that will cost $4,000 are
pledged. Partly because the work goes
on slowly, and partly because 1t Is be-
ing done under the direction OF man
whose taste is singularly pure and whose
scholarship is sound, every detail Of the
structure is wrought out with pious
care Every piece of brass, every orna-
ment IN stone, every bit of carved wood.
not only is devised with careful eye
to the harmony of the whole, but Is
SO lovingly and cunningiy contrfved as
to possess a special Individuality.
The workmanship Is, therefore, of n
character we associate with a long van-
ished school of artisans. who took their
time over their task and put themselves
into 1t. The heraldic devices. both &C.
clesiastical and national, that have been
woven into the bronze and marble adorn-
|ments of the chapel and cloisters. repre-
sent years of study by Mr.. Burk. and
each one spells out a chapter In the his
tory of the church In America, of the
colonies and the republic, and of the
great trading companies whose officers
opened the Atlantic seaboard to COM
merce. Incidents In the religious life of
Washington. from his baptism to his SOL
emn commendation in his valedictory
prayer of the interests of Almighty
God" are frequently and beautifully
commemorated throughout the chapel
Beauty II Twofold.
A catalogue of other memorials, crests
and architectural details Of this lovely
structure would be tedious. But II is
not tedious to see and to ponder upon
these beautiful and eloquent objects
Every stone speaks to the thoughtful
pilgrim q message Of devotion present
and past. and he goes forth from the
place inspired with q great pride and