Evening star., 1922-04-19
DONATE ADDITION
TO CATHEDRAL SITE
Canon and Mrs. RusselPs
Gift CIassed Among Largest
in Church History.

One of the largest gifts in church
history, sufficient ground to complete
what is now predicted will be the finest
cathedral site in the world. was an
nounced at the annual spring meeting
held in Whitby Hall, Mount St. Alban,
today.
Canon and Mrs. ]. Townsend Russell
were the donors, and the property
known as "Beauvoir" according to
Charles c. Glover, one of the lay mem
bers of the cathedral chapter. or board
of trustees. who made the announce
ment. consists of nearly Is acres
located on Woodley road and is con-
servatively valued at $4,000
For many years it was the home of
Dr. Busey, well known physician,
ana later was occupied successfully
by Admiral and Mrs. Dewey. Senator'S.
Dixon and Brady, and former Secfe =
tary of War and Mrs. Newton ID.
Baker. Canon Russell purchased the
site from Senator Brady.
Property In Described.
Beauvoir is bounded by the pro-
posed 35th street. Woodley road, and
the cathedral property. 1t rounds
out and completes what is 'univer-
sally acknowledged to be one of the
greatest cathedral sites in the world,
rivaled only by the temple at Jeru-
salem. The eievation of 400 feet
above Washington corresponds to the
height of the Temple Mount, Jeru-
salem. and it's area exceeds the Tenn
pie plateaus.
1T is not far cry. nor is 1t the
idle vision of dreamer to see WASH
ington as a city of a million or more
inhabitants" Mr. Glover said, in max
trend of growth will be toward the
northwest an dthe acquisition of this
latest gift completely protects the
cathedral from any invasion of either
commercial or residential develop
ment.
"Standing on the beautiful rolling,
plateau, surrounded by groves Of
magnificent oaks which have watched
the slow march of the centuries, it
will rise, one of the worlds most i'm
pressive and inspiring examples of
pure fourteenth century Gothic archi-
principal residential district of the
future.
Thirty Buildings Proposed.
There will be thirty buildings on
the tract. These include the bishops
home, the administration building.
separate schools for girls and boys
and later there Will be built a theo-
logical library, houses for retired
clergy. and a hostel. or guest house.
for StuQentS.
Canon Russell has done one of
the noblest and most magnificent
acts conceived of in connection with
this vast project. I do not think any
gift the Cathedral Foundation has
ever had will have as far-reaching
effect.
"The present cathedral site was
once owned by Joseph Nourse. a
friend of George Washington and
first register of the Treasury. It
was always his prayer that at some
time a church would be built on
Mount St. Alban. This beautiful
wooded plateau was named in memory
of Alban, the first Christian martyr
in England, who died in the year
3O4. England has immortalized him
by the famous Cathedral Church of
From the days of George Wash
ington, the building Of a great cathe-
dral in Washington has been dis
cussed, but it was not Antil 1891
that, the present project was
launched. In that year Mr.. Glover
called a memorable meeting at his
residence, at which the Right Rev.
William Paret, Bishop of Maryland,
presided and which resulted in the
Organization of the Cathedral Foun-
In 1893 a federal charter was re-
ICsontinued on Twenty-first Paee1