The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-02-09
Ten Million Dollar Struc.
ture Will Be Built
PLANS NOW READY
Episcopal Church Back of Move
ment For Costly National
Shrine
Associated Press Dispatch.l

great American National Cathe-
dral, larger than Westminster Alb
hey and rivalling the celebrated
structurs of Europe were an
nounced here today at the an
nual convention OF the Episcopal
Diocese OF Washington.
Costing ten million dollars, and
with its great central tower rising
ABOVE the Washington monument,
the great edifice is planned to take
in the hearts OF Americans the
place which the old Abbey occupies
among the British nation; to prob
ably become the final resting place
OF Americas celebrated dead and as
A witness for Christ in the capital
Of the nation"
The plans contemplate more than
a diocesan cathedral; they embrace
a national shrine.
Although the construction OF a
cathedral on the heights OF Mount
Saint Alban, in the northwest sec
ton OF Washington, has been going
on slowly for some time, il was not
until very recently that IL was de-
cided to raise the funds to complete
the edifice immediatly as a national
undertaking
Bass OF ! ne Appeal
Making the announcement today,
the Right Reverend Alfred 1.
Harding Bishop of Washington,
pointed out at the last general con-
vention OF the Episcopal church both
houses unanimously adopted res
Olution which "commends the cree
ton without delay at the capital OF
the nation OF a great cathedral to
witness TO the spiritual ideals OF
america"
This said Bishop Harding SIS
the basis OF the appeal we are now
making to the churchmen and
church women of our land. We are
convinced that this witness Tor
Christ in the capital OF the nation
will be potent agency in lifting
the minds of mon TO spiritual real
tiles and thus Counteract the trend
so evident in our time towards
materialiSln'.
Beginning in comparatively
small way, the first Bishop OF
Washington. the late DR.. Henry
Yates Satterlle, made it his LIES
work TO acquire and pay for the site
which has grown until now it COM
prises sixty four acres. on the
heights of the North west section.
overlooking the Potomac, and with
the national capital spread below
in panorama. Already on the property
is school for girls; its building the
gift OF the late Mrs. Phoebe Hearst.
There is also boys school the build
ing for which was given BY Mrs.
Harriet Lane Johnston, niece of
President Buchanan in memory Of
hei' two sons James Buchanan and
Henry Elliot. The Bishops home
which stands in the Cathedral Close
vas the gift of Mrs. Susan Evelyn
Murray. IN the little sanctuary
lands an eXquiSitely carved stone
L-lpit which ultimately will De
placed in the completed cathedral.
it was presented by the Archbishop,
Lean and Chapter of Canterbury.
Cathedral, England. A great stone
grounds, erected at the close of the
Spanish American war and dedicat-
ed by the late President Mckinley.
Designed BY English Architect
The cathedral has been designed
by one of the greatest English
architects. the late George F. Bod
lev and his American associate the
late Henry Baughan. 1t has been
pronounced one of the most beauti
full in the world It will be seen
that in its great proportions the
C2LH6uTdl Will Ue larger IMAM west
minister Abbey for its whole length
outside measurement, will be five
hundred feet; its width one humid
red and thirty five feet. It's great
central tower will rise TO two humid
red and sixty feet. and its twin
front towers will be one hundred
and ninety FIVE feet tall. The mas
sive central tower erected on the
great eminence will have an eleva-
ton OF six hundred and forty four
feet above the. city OF Washington,
making it the most conspicuous and
commanding object in the capital.
The Apse, already erected. was the
gift of the late Mrs. Archibald D..
Mrs. Percy r. Pyne. The Bethle-
hem Chapel, beneath the Apse, is at
present used for services. A con-
siderable portion Of the choir al
ready is in process of construction,
largely through the gift Of Wash
ington layman whose name is with
held. and the foundations will be
completed within the coming year.
The present value OF the property
, with it's endowments and invest
ment funds has been conseryauVely
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
Austria.
Back OF Movement
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
: Cathedral Chapter; Charles c.
clover. Chairman Of the board of
the Riggs National Bank. at whose
home in 1893 meeting was held
which resulted in the chapter Of the
Cathedral Foundation: Henry White,
former American ambassador to
France. Charles J. Bell, President
OF the American Security & Trust
Company: James Parmele, Trustee
of the Carnegie Foundation Found;
Corcoran Thorn and DR.. William Fl.
Wilmer: Bishop Perry Of Rhode Is
land. Bishop Rhinelander Of Penn
sylyania. Bishop Harding Of Wash
inrton. president Of the Chapter;
The very Rev. G. c. F. Bratenahl,
1ean of the Cathedral: Rev. William
7, Deyries, the chancellor; Rev
, lanes 70. Freeman, 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
cIergymen and lay men anG women
rom all the states.
In presenting the plan for I'm