Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-09-04


ington. In fact. man may stano III
any quarter OF the city and see i,oni
a street corner two or three worship
ing places. but few OF them are stru''
lures OF imposing appearance
Many capitals of the world are lusr
" famed for their churches ana 10.
little else, so unless there is an npni'
in this direction Washington VIII nave
to depend on it's other glories TOT ais
tinction. This deficiency, however
keenly felt. and even now there is
movement afoot among all sec's I"
beautify Washington churches
u The only churches in Washington
at present worthy OF menuon arc
those built during the decade before
and the decade after the Revolution
Probably the most exquisite survival
OF these earlier periods OF churcn
building is old st. Johns Episcopal
Church. which stands just across La
favette square from the White House.
This is. indeed, n remarkable quarter
from an architectural point or view
The historic square is lined with nota-
HE structures, among them the Com
modore Decatur house, the John hay,
house and the Arlington Hotel olu
: st Johns itself is classic in type anu
= follows closely the dictates OF lingo
:. Jones. Its graceful portico. OF the no
D man doric order, faces Sixteenth
street. while its length extends along
the square. Its belfry is the most Typ
. tcal feature about the edihce. It's cias-
- sic lines. pyramided to spire' Gaining
iu' TO mind the best OF London steeples
There are other churches in WASH
tneton belonging to the same perloo
hut smaller and less noteworthy. Oh'
of 80 years later. however. Is wortn'
mentioning, in that 1t is remarkaoi'
III example Of church architecture, a.
ex. though built during a period OF o'
oea pression. 1t is the Cathedral OF >
nd fDominic a Catholic church in Souu
al west Washington, a little freQuente
co. section of the city. This church Is u
,slv most perfect Gothic building In u
nif- city. and while not as ornate as 20
,hle tinental Gothic cathedrals, 1t is OF
that high plane Of excellence. II Is n
rod. among the churches shown TO slgi
seers who come to Washington. no
ever. and is seldom seen save
those who frequent H.
Another of the churches built In
Tould "blsck walnut" period is Grace Chul
much IN Georgetown. which is contiguous
Is on Washtngton and now a part OF
little Grace Church is OF red orick
we'll gothic. Its chief merit lies In
mans markable belfry. although the en-
spect structure is unusually graceful.
,eople Two notable churches. however.
in7 novv heing erected by the advocate
nth better church architecture In w
them snston. The one which Is to stan'
the head of Washington's list OF
clesiastical edifices is the Cathedri
ss Peter and Paul, at Mount st
ban. which overlooks the entire
e was This cathedral, which is just RI
,rtland above its foundations. will be of
4 Eng ,oost elaborate gothic design. 1t
tackled resemble York Minister. an Old v
ks and church of fame, pointing two TO
empted b,ob above a maze of flying buttr
2. The and carved images OF saints
3 when chanel of the Holy Nativity, pi
g head sba cathedral. has already been
all and coted hut the main cathedral W
nearly as long in building as ID
.hadral of St John the Divine In
York.
ry- Another notable Washington c
French -, vndar construction is the
E." the - =, Christ Scientist, n
English ooron1etion on Columbia Heig
ny cries soshionable residence section
mt great city. This church is classic In
rliament ond "a built on the lines OF tn
ng these ,beon It will be the most I'm
ley pro- church Of its type In Wash
one bat Eouallv as fine will be the Ter
} King" the Scottish Rite. but that st
viii not be completed for mont
probably years to come.
n. -, This general movement tow'
neeo Vi ter church architecture Will,
lring the ee snoade nut Washington
wake nin plane with other cities OF It's
ndered In p'a" a~cel,ence of such ed
the mesh rai
g and q