Evening star., 1923-12-16

Since the inception of the National
Cathedral here, prominent men of the
nation have given the movement to
complete 1t a helping hand, with the
result that this week the National
Cathedral Foundation is engaged in
determined effort to raise $10,000,000
necessary to complete the structure.
Even as George Washington, in
planning the Capital city, saw the
necessity Of "a great house OF prayer
for all people," statesmen in general,
no matter of what cnurc- affiliation,
have been sympatheticaiiy inclined
toward the National Cathedral
project.
The membership Of the cathedral
chapter and committees has been
through the years Of their existence
,,,,r a roster Of f., notable names: The bead: ad-
was cathedral trustee, and speak
ing once of the plan he said: MY
father helped to build the little
church at our home in Vermont.
from him, and IL / can help In any
way to build the Cathedral OF Wash
ington, ] am following in his foot
steps"
Presidents See Value.
Understanding and appreciation of
what the National Cathedral means
TO the country have been evinced by
the several Presidents who have been
In office since the movement for it
began.
President Mckinley, who spoke at
the dedication OF the peace cross that
signalized the close OF the war with
Spain in 1898, said: II appreciate
the very great. privilege given me to
participate with the ancient church
mere represented, its bishops and its
laymen, In this new sowing for the
Master and for men. Every under
rei1gion and morality and education
is positive gain to citizenship, to
country and to civilization"
President Roosevelt said, on the
occasion of the foundation stone lay
ing, September 20, 1907: Il believe
SO implicitly in the good that will be
done by and through this cathedral
because / know that the people of
this church, the people of kindred
churches. to one of which / belong,
are growing more and more to real
ize that they must show by their lives
how well they appreciate the truth
or the text that they shall be judged
by their fruits"
VIII Add to Clty's beauty.
Woodrow Wilson, in a letter 10 the
Rt Rev. James Z. Freeman. D. D.,
wrote: Il am glad to second you in
any way possible in accomplishing
the completion Of the cathedral here.
Its completion viii not only add
greatly to the stately beauty of our
National Capital. but Will provide a
center from which I believe, under
your guidance. the most useful and
beneficial work can be done for the
uplift Of the community and stimula-
tion of the nation. 1 hope with all
my heart that your efforts in this
matter will be crowned with the
most complete success"
President Coolidge. on the occasion
or the open-air service at the amphi-
theater of the National Cathedral,
following the conservation of Bishop
Freeman, wrote: Your work is to be
commended because IT represents the
ernment and all civilization. That
foundation is religion. Whatever
inspires and strengthens the religious
belief and religious activity Of the
people, whatever ministers to their
spiritual life. is OF supreme impor-
tance. without it all other EFFORTS
will fail. With it there lies the only
hope of success. The strength of our
country is the strength of its reIig-
iods convictions"
Work Gains Impetus.
A marked impetus has been given
to the work since the conservation of
Rt. Rev. James E. Freeman as the
third Bishop of Washington. He is
familiar with every feature of the
cathedral work, because, shortly after
coming to Washington as rector of
Epiphany Church, the late Bishop
Harding made DR.. Freeman q canon
of the Washington cathedral and a
member of its chapter. Accustomed
to the handling of large projects.
Bishop Freeman Immediately threw
his interest into the plans, looking to
the speedy completion of the cathe-
dral in raising a fund of 10000. 900
for this purpose. With Bishop Hard
ing and Dean Bratenahl of the cathe-
dral staff he was Intimately associ-
ated at the time of the bishops death
In completing the details for carrying
forward the work. The bishop be-
lieves that the cathedral will be a
reservoir of power and inspiration to
every parish church within the dio-
cese.
This cathedral should ultimately
come to be the logical center for
those pronouncements." he said, re-
Gently, that express our highest obli-
cations not only to our own people,
but to the nations Of the world. 1t
should stand as the finest expression
not only of our Christian faith. but of
our spirit of democracy and universal
brotherhood"
Associated with Dean Bratenahl on
the cathedral staff are Rev. James
De Wolk Perry, Bishop of Rhode Is
land. Rt. Rev Philip NJ. Rhinelander