The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-01-25
MEMORY.
Of EPISCOPAL
CHURCH|N|AN
Clergy and Laity Gather to
Pay Tribute to Work Of
Bishop Harding.

y 7
fifteenth anniversary Of the con-
secration, on january Is, 1909. Of the
late Bishop Alfred Harding, were
held this morning in the Bethlehem
Chapel Of the National Cathedral on
Mt. st. Alban.
The Rt. Rev. James De Wolf
Perry, Bishop of Rhode Island and
q canon of the National Cathedral,
preached the sermon. Bishop Free
man, OF Washington, officiated
Nearly all the clergy Of the dioscese
attended. Hundreds of lay friends
of Bishop Harding were present.
L1ikened to st. Paul.
In his sermon. Bishop Perry
likened Bishop Harding to st. Paul.
I'm many ways" he said, "the
life Of Bishop Harding reflects the
spirit Of the. Apostle, chiefly in the
quality. Of courage which was the
keynote OF his. character. One felt
it in the dynamic power which he
brought to bear upon every new
duty. His work never became for
him a matter of routine. 1t sug-
gested rather an encounter with
changing problems and new diff
culties."
Speaking Of his selection as
bishop, Bishop Perry said:
$50 pronounced was his service
to- the diocese that when the time
came for the choice Of one among
the clergy who had lived and
labored with the first bishop Of
Washington, to take up the la.bors
Of their lost leader, the lot fell
upon him as an expression Of uni.
versal trustful affection.
Period Critical.
'Those who knew him first in
the beginning Of his episcopate be.
came aware of what fiber he was
made as he set himself to the task
projected by his predecessor. 1t
happened at a time which meant,
for the. church, In this diocese, a
moment of decision as between
great advance, and on the other
hand, the surrender Of a matchless
opportunity. ".
Under Bishop Satterlee the posi-
ton Of the church In Washington
had begun to take national sig-
nificance. The whole country had
gained the first vision of a cathe.
dral which should become the par
ish church Of all America. The
. site had been acquired. the initial
fund raised and the first founda.
tons laid as acts of daring faith.
The founders work had been under
the fresh inspiration which at
tends the beginning of great enter
prises. Who now should under"
take the long hard toll OF building
what had been 80 boldly, brilliantly
designed? The election Of the new
bishop was the answer to that
question. 1: So. (,
Built Chapel First.
The bishop, in the first year Of
his episcopate, resolved to build the
chapel, where we are met, as the
foundation of the future sanctuary.
to give it the name Of Bethlehem
the home Of the incarnation, to dedi-
cate it to the memory of Bishop
Satterlee, and to consecrate 1t with.
out debt as showing in advance the
character and use Of the completed
structure.
THE plan was undertaken and ef-
fected against apparently .insuper-
able obstacles and in the face Of de-
termined opposition. Only the spirit
OF courage by which he he'd learned
patiently to overcome obstacles
could prevail in the achieving OF
this first triumph of actual con.
struction.
"Since the day Of dedication on
the first of May in 1912 the vast
significance and the consecrated
wisdom Of the achievement have
been proved. The chapel has openeC
the doors to congregations. through
whom the place of national cathe.
dral has become manifest.
Has National Purpose.
1T has offered to Americans at
the seat Of government a place Of
worship on occasions of public in
tercession, national mourning and
thanksgiving. It has entered sen.
sibly and deeply into the spiritual
life OF our country. More person
ally 1t has become both a monument
to the name of the founder, and a
shrine which shall ever be per-
vaded by the spirit Of the first
builder Of the cathedral.
1.-THE chapel and the sanctuary
towering above 1t are the visible
embodiment of his devotion, his
completed handiwork. But the heri-
tage that we receive from him sur.
passes this. That must be found
In the expanse Of the Cathedral yet
unbuilt. The substance of his life
work Is the substance Of things
hoped for, the evidence Of what he
wrought is the evidence Of things
not seen. These in the Apostle
Paul's conception spell faith, and
these contain the secret of Bishop
Harding's success.
Though he was destined not to
see the completion even Of that
portion Of his work, every stone in