Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-11
TRAVELS IN HUADELPHIA
BY Christopher Morley

tional life. With his brown eyes glowing
with enthusiasm he will explain how the
religion, the romance, the pathos and humor
of century and half are woven into every
line and tint of the fabric. The magnificent
stained windows-windows that recall moth
ing less fine than the most splendid cathedrals
OF the middle agcs-were planned by Doctor
Burk and executed by Nicola D'Ascenzo.
The marvellous oak carvings of the choir
stalls and pews, the carved lead lamps, the
organ, all were done here in Philadelphia.
THIS amazing poem in stone. endless in
l. lovingly elaborated beauty. can no more
be described than any great poem can be de-
scrlbed 1T is as perfect. as unique. aS THE
Eve of Saint Agnes: as rich in color and
AS thrilling in meaning On these hillsides
where men ''tramped the snow to coral"
hungry. shivcrug and unshod; where great
artist. wanting to paint the commander in
chief, had to do it on bedtickug; and where
this same commander, worshiper as well as
Warrior, stole from the campfire to pray: on
this field of doubt and suffering there has
risen this monument of religious art, devised
as focus of patriotic inspiration for the
whole republic. 1t is an altar of national
worship. as though expressly conceived to
give outward shape to the words uttered
phlS S'S''luuN W uuothtl III
chief:
The stage is set the destiny disclosed
1t has come about by no plan Of our con-
ceiving, but by the hand of God. who
led us into this way We cannot turn
back. We only go forward, with
lifted eyes and freshened spirit to follow
the vision. It was of this that we
dreamed at our birth.
OF the dreams of Americas S birth the
Washington Memorial Chapel is the noble
and fitting symbol 1t is both n thanks
giving and a prophecy.
LNROM no other lips than those of Doctor
i Burk himself can the story of this place
be told. He will tell you how the chanel
grew out of humility and dscouragement.
He will show you the plain little wooden
chapel which he built first of ALL before
money could be raised for the present build =
ing. He will show you the gargoyle-the
Imp of Valley Forge-which he says is EN- =
blematic of the spirit of the place because he
can even smile in winter when his mouth is
full of ice. The chapel goes back to the
truest tradition of medieval art. when so
much humor was carved into the stone or =
naments of cathedrals. When the corner =
stone was laid in 1908 Doctor Burk had only
enough money on hand to pay for two loads
of stone; he had only a piece of hemlock
board to shelter the copper box that contained
the relics to be inclosed in the foundations,
and after the ceremony had to smuggle the
box back to his home for safe keeping
Standing in the beautiful little coster where
the open air pulpit looks out into the wood
land cathedral with Mount Vernon elms
planted in the form of crossl, he says: 'Ii
the park were left alone it would be merely
a picnic ground. It's the most spiritual spot
in America we must maintain its spiritual
heritage
TT is one of the rector's regrets that only
one President has ever visited Vale,
| Forge. As one stands in the open air pulpit
| looking out through the grove of elms ant
over the blue and green valley, one wishe,
| that. Mr.. Wilson might visit the spot There
| is no place in America of such peculiar sig
| nificance just now, there would be no man 5,
| quick as MIR. Wilson to catch its spiritua
! eckoes. Even the humhlest Of us hear
ss~sa11 "a xhispers il the ruatls Of thpJf trees.