Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-08

spicuous and commanding object in
the capital
The Apse. already erected. was the
gift of the late Mrs. Archibald ID.
Russell, in memory of her mother,
! Mrs. Percy r. Pyne. The Bethlehem
Chapel, beneath the Apse, is at pres
ent used for services. A consider
able portion Of the choir already is in
process Of construction. largely
through the gift of a Washington
layman whose name is withheld, and
the foundations of the entire struc-
ture, also in process Of construction.
will be completed within the coming
year. The present value Of the prop
crty with its endowments and invest
ment funds has been coaservatively
estimated more than four million
dollars of which the largest single
gift was five hundred thousand dol
| lars by the. late John A. Kasson, one
! time United States Minister to Aus
| tria.
| Behind the present national move
ment are to be numbered some of the
best known Americans. Among those
who are taking an active part are
| the following members Of the Cathe-
dral Chapter: Charles G. Glover,
chairman Of the board of the Riggs
National Bank, at whose home in
1898 Il meeting was held which re-
suited in the charter of the Cathedral
! Foundations; Henry White, former
American ambassador to France:
Charles J. Bell, President of the
American Security & Trust Com
pany; James Parmele, trustee of the
Carnegie Foundation Fund; CorcOran
Thorn and DR.. William II. Wilmer;
Bishop Perry Of Rhode Island,
Bishop Rhinelander of Pennsylvania,
Bishop Harding of Washington,
president of the Chapter; the Very
Rev. q. G. +. Bratenahl. dean of the
Cathedral; Rev. William L. DeVries,
the chancellor; Rev. James L. Free
man. rector of the Church of the
Epiphany and DR.. William c. Rives.
Subsequently there will be added to
the list other bishops of the church.
distinguished clergymen and laymcn
and women from all the states.
In presenting the plan for immedi-
ate construction. DR.. Freeman today
in behalf of the Bishop and the Chap
ter made the following announce
ment:
This Cathedral that it is proposed
to erect III the capital of the nation,
makes an unusual and unique appeal
because it is national in character
There is no other city on this conti-
| nent where such a building can so
fifty express the high ideals of our
nation as Washington. This is more
than Diocesan building and its int
crest is more than local. Here in
Washington stands the great build
ings that have to do with the large
concerns of federal administration.
and here it is Indispensable that a
great cathedral building should in
! calnate and interpret those things
that we hold and believe to be fun
damental to the perpetuity of the
nation itself.
Beyond the fact that it is the
building of a great religious body, it
must stand as the witness of our
common faith as people. In the
very best sense it is to be house
OF prayer for all people. No building
IN great Britain SO focuses the atfec-
tons of the people as Westminster
Abbey. This great abbey is liter
ally the shrine of Great Britain. II
Is believed that the national cathe-
oral IN Washington ultimately must
come to be to America what the
Abbey is to the English people. 1t
ought to be the place of sculpture
for the great dead of our nation. 1t
ought TO be a memorial to the men
and women who SO unstintingiy gave
'he1iseNcs IOf the people of the
world in the great war. 1t ought to
furnish place for great assemblies.
national and international, meeting
in Washington upon great missions
That relate to the vast interests of
America and the peoples of the world.
FROM its pulpit. must issue mess
ages that deal with the most vital
concerns of our individual and corpo-
rate life. This national Cathedral is
conceived to focus the highest ideals
We mold as a people. In all these re-
spects we believe it must make it's
reasonable appeal to lovers of God
ana Country. On its artistic side
~ VIII be the greatest building of its
KIND IN America and one of the nota-
Die buildings Of the world. If a
nation can be aroused to erect great
memorials for its distinguished dead
tnen surely it must be appealed to bv
the claim of such vast undertaking
as thls one, which is to give perma-
nent witness to those high hopes and
Ideals that constitute the security Of
the home, the state and the nation
itself" '''''oh
IN the erection of the structure
frohman. Ross and Little. srchitects
with Cram and Ferguson as consult
liaS architects, will carry out the
original DESIGNS N~