The Washington herald., 1915-02-21
CHURCHES FALL;
Shrine TO RISE
Catholic Women of America
Planning Impressive
Edi6ce Here.
CITE IN r n CD01Mnc
SITE IN c. u. GROUNDS
Structure to Be Erected to Immaculate
Conception of Virgin-Larse Do
nation from Late Pope.


| While the most modern machines of
war arc being turned against the
churches Of Europe that have held the
admiration of the world for centuries,
the Catholic women Of America are
planning to erect in Washington shrine
to the immaculate Conception Of the
Virgin Mary that will preserve for fu-
| ture ages a record of those medieval
edifices now being wiped from existence.
The shrine. which is expected to be one
| of the masterpieces Of American archi-
lecture, will stand in the grounds of the
Catholic University at Brookland. ID. C.,
and will bring to that little religious set
| Element nationwide fame. The plan to
erect such a shrine was born in the
minds of a number of prominent Catho-
{ lie women several years ago when the
late pontiff. Plus X. placed the United
States under the special protection OF
the Virgin Mary.
| A national organization was formed
with chapters in all the principal cities
of the country, and the task Of collecting
| funds for the project was begun Through
the widespread distribution OF contribu-
| ton books, and few generous dona-
The subscriptions range from 10 cents
up, thus enabling all Catholics to place
their mite behind the great enterprise.
| To Put Plans on show.
Since the shrine is to be 4 national
monument it was deemed most approprl-
ate to place it in the shadow of the
national government. thereby adding tc
its own and the nations fame. Plans
for the structure have been drawn by
Francis Il. Hoffman. jr., and. with al
elaborate plaster model of the shrine
will be exhibited at the Panama-PaciiiC
Exnosition at San Francisco.
The front facade of the shrine will fac
! the large campus in the university
grounds. encircled by the steel-sray
buildings of the Gibbons memorial anc
the main university building. These In
turn are surrounded by fine old trees
making the whole setting one of striking
picturesqueness The rapid slope in thu
campus at the rear OF the shrine will give
| ample light and unusual height to thu
crypt, which is under the transept anc
chancel.
! The style of architecture. French
! Gothic was selected because the delicate
tracery and lofty proportions of this type
are symbolic of the Virin Mary and hel
| immaculate conception.
| Statue of Virgin.
| The main floor consists of a nave 8
| feet wide and 1Ge feet long. extending
from the main entrance to the altar. Thu
nave is divided into seven bays. witt
lofty side aisles. l6 feet in width. \
! the intersection of the nave and th'
| transepts a large crossing tower, sur
mounted by an octar onal lantern. rise:
/ 12o feet above the floor Of the nave. lr
! the square belfry of this tower. lighted
! by lancet windows, n colossal stutue Of
/ the Immaculate Virgin will be placed.
The nave is fianked by a north ant
south TRANSIENT the former ending in {
: semi-octa gonal chapel which will be con
secrated to st. Bridget. The latter lead
I to an altar under the great rose window
! The altar of the south transept lead
down to the crypt from one side and Il
the southern entrance of the church from
the other.
| At the end of the nave the chancel. S
| feet long and S6 feet wide. graduates Il
an octagonal end. II is surmounted by ;
huge stone vault, 80 feet above the floor
The chancel is lighted by lofty, richl!
stained windows.
! These windows Surmount the chance
stalls. where ~ priests can be assem-
bled at great ceremonies. The chance
| is three steps above the nave floor, anc
the sanctuary is three steps higher thar
| the chancel.
The chancel is surrounded by n low
vaulted ambulatory opening into severa
side chapels vcstry. sacristy and a cir
| cular stairway to the crypt. From the
high altar. at one end. to the main en-
| trance. at the other. is 11e feet. and the
greatest width at the transepts is 10 feet
! Praise from Pope.
The main organ is situated in two tow
ers that OverhanC the main entrance. ant
directly under the great western window
! The choir is over the entrance vesttbule
The ceiling of the nave rises from the
north and south ends in the shape of {
semi-vault. being fiat ut the apex. II !:
divided by ribs into square Golfers. II
which will be painted scenes representing
the I.itanv of the Blessed Virgin.
The floor will be richly inlaid will
stone and marble of mosaic design. and
like the Franciscan Monastery. will b.
void Of pews. Portable chairs. in accord
ance with the rich finishinss of the
church. will replace the customary pew
: at services.
The late Pope followed with great in
terest the work of launching this enter
prise and sent a large contribution ii
the early days of collection. In lette,
to his eninence, Cardinal Gibbons. th'
pcntiff praised the charitable and reii
gious zeal Of the Catholics of the United
States, and extended his apostolic bene
diction over the work and the workers
; This letter which was written in July
| 1914. says, in part:
May these holy prayers be heart
through the Immaculate Mother of God
in whose honor it has been decided t.
build this church and may her rlotherlJ
eyes watch day and night over the Cath
Ollie in the country to contribute hi
share towards the completion OF thi:
ma gnificent church.
| The Washington chapter for the collec
ton of funds Is under the patronage o.
CARDINAL Gibbons. honorary president. ant
consists of: Bishop Thomas Shahan. df
rector: Mrs. Thomas F. Ryan. president
and Miss Fannie Whelan, secretary ant
treasurer.
DIR. G. C. SPENCER Is ELECTED.