Evening star., 1923-12-21

Is iiSteu OH the
dar as st. Thomas day and. coinci-
dentally, special services are being held
at st. Thomas Church, 18th and
Church streets northwest, to COM
memorate the completion Of a thirty
year building program. The services
will conclude tonight with dedication
of the extended chancel and parish
hall and the honoring Of Rev. DR..
C. Ernest Smith upon the completion
Of twenty-one years of his rectorship.
This morning the usual services on
the festival Of st. Thomas. the apostle
and martyr, were held at the church.
beginning at o'clock with holy eucha-
rist, and at IL o'clock matin and holy
eucharist were observed. Last night
before a large audience a motion pic
ture was shown at the parish hall.
Dedication Service Tonight.
Tonight the dedication will take
place. The ceremonies will begin at
8 pm. with a procession into the
church, through the sanctuary into
the parish hall. In the great hall
benediction, prayers and blessing will
be said.
Rev. DR.. Smith will then speak on
"Culmination of Five Events" Charles
]. Bell of St. Thomas vestry will
introduce Rt. Rev. James E. Freeman.
Bishop of the Episcopal diocese, VINO
will address the gathering Meivitie NE IL e
vestry, will speak on History OF the
Parish and Two Rectorships:" Other
addresses will be made by Capt. En-
nails Waggaman and N. Sumner My
rick.
Corner stone Lnid Thirty Years Ago.
Thirty years ago the corner stone OF
st. Thomas Church was laid by Bishop
Paret, then bishop of the undivided
diocese Of Maryland. On June rs, 1899.
the first service was held in the new
church Up to that time services in st.
Thomas parish (founded in 1ssD had
been held In q temporary chapel, which
afterward served as parish hall until
it was taken down eighteen months
ago.
Rev. ]. A. Aspinwall. son OF a promi-
nent business man Of New York city,
who founded the Panama railroad and
after whom the city Of Aspinwall (now
Colon) was named, was then living In
Washington as retired clergyman. his
home being at II Dupont Circle. Ad-
vantage was taken OF the opportunity
to invite Mr.. Aspinwall to become the
first rector of the new parish. He ac-
cepted the invitation and until his
resignation in June. 1902. was rector
Of St. Thomas.
Coming OF DIR. Smith.
In November Of the same year the
present rector. Rev. c. Ernest Smith,
where for ten years he had been rector
Of the Church Of st. Michael and All
Angels, to be the rector Of st. Thomas
parish.
The church. which had been built
from the designs of Mr.. Theophilus
pdlar diStip 4
tect of Philadelphia. was conceded
from the first to be a very beautiful
specimen of Gothic architecture
During Mr.. Aspinwall's rectorshir
three memorials were given, which
add much beauty to the interior-the
exceedingly handsome reredos. the
pulpit and the eagle lecturn. When
Mr.. Aspinwalrs resignation took
place in 1902 there was a consider
able debt on the church-$72,5o0
along with the interest it had cost
the parish to carry 1t, total sum
of over 100000.
On st. Thomas day, December. 21.
1912. the church, being then free
from debt, was consecrated by Bishop
been a continual succession of beau
tiful gifts. nearly sixty in number
Among these are twenty-five me-
mortal windows. the graceful angel
of the famous Thorwaldsen font in
Copenhagen CathedraD, the rich
quartered oak screen which extends
across the full width of the church
from the north to the south wall
forming a vestibule at the west end;
Christ, the worlds Consoler. in one
Of the quatrefoils Of the greet Ian
tern tower, the most impressive fea-
ture Of the church.; iron gates an
railing separating entirely the chan
eel from the nave.
Panels In Church.
Over the reredos is the east win
dow, which depicts Christ In the
highest panel Of its central light. en-
Below this central panel are t~ e.
others; six Of these portray The
events of the creation as given IT
Genesis: the other six portray the
same events as described in the Bene.
| dicite. All the windows Of storiee
glass. now numbering twenty-five
are the work Of Henry. Holiday, r
A., the acknowledged head of his
profession. In consequence OF all the
work being from one hand the resul'
is Of a markedly harmonious charac,
ter throughout. But further, eacl
window has been arranged to fit intt
a settled plan; in fact. for ever
window in the church the design ha,
been already chosen and only awaits
| the appearance of the donors. Thu.
nothing has been left to haphazart
| choice.
The chancel, inclosed with gate
and iron griliwork on stone wall
| fs worthy of special attention. Thu
sanctuary lamp and great gospe
lights have been universally admired
! and likewise its carved oak priests
stalls. all done by hand. The organ
] Just rebuilt by Messrs. Lewis ant
Hitchcock, was opened by the organ
| ist last Wednesday and Is now very
| fine instrument.
or all the windows, that represent
ing st. Thomas preaching on the Ma.
labar coast in India Is perhaps thu
most interesting. The costumes IL
that window were taken by Mr.. Holi.
he found in the British Museum. con.
eaining admirable color reproductions
Of many paintings in the cave tenn.