The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-20
CENTRAL TOWER : 10 RISE ABOVE
 CITY'S SKYLINE
New National Cathedral
 In Nations Capital To Be Finished

< of gigantic office buildings in between mark the present one.
 Five years hence, when the National | cathedral is finished, its magnificent central tower will rise higher above the Patomac than the famous Washington monument.
 It is fitting that against the skyline of the national capital, the most con spicuous tower should be that of a great cathedral. Up to this time Washington has been the only capital city in the world without national expression of the spiritual life and as. pirations of its people. In his plans for the capital George Washington includ- ed church ito be erected for national purposes" With the completion of this cathedral Washington's dream will become a reality.
 The decision to complete the Ma ys tipnals cathedral has just been taken & by Several of the most distinguished : statesmen and business men of the na- I ton who have joined with the National s Cathedral foundation in nationwide . appeal to the American people for = $10, 900, 900. Toward the fulfillment of the great cathedral ideal, more than 5000 men and women, of all classes and conditions, in every section of the country, have already participated. 2 While the undertaking is being spon- = sored g by the Protestant Episcopal church, the cathedral idea has made a spowerfu1 appeal to the American pub lie generally. sg A nationwide movement to com- plete the construction of the National cathedral was formally launched at a recent luncheon participated in by off < cials of the Cathedral foundation at < the home of John Hays Hammond. chairman of the United States coal { Commission and chairman of the Wash ington committee. Senator George w. 2 Pepper of Pennsylvania, national chair man, Andrew w. Mellon. secretary of the treasury, and national chairman of z the foundation Henry White, former ambassador to France; Gen. John J. Pershing are among those who support the cathedral movement.
 Public Statement
 The official statement, considered by many as tconfession of faith" signed by the Rt. Rev. James E. Freeman, bishop of Washington. as president of s the foundation; Senator Pepper, na- national treasurer; John Hays Ham, mond, chairman of the Washington committee; Admiral Cary T. Grayson, vice chairman, and the following mem- Dean G. c. F. Bratenahl, chancellor William l.. Dayries. Charles J. Bell, president American Security and Trust company; Charles c. Glover, chairman of the board Riggs National bank; Rt. Rev. Phillip M. Rhinelander of Phil asielphia, Rt Rev. James De Wolf Perry-bishop of Rhode Island; Dr. William c. Rives, Corcoran Thom, Henry White, Dr. William H. Wilmer. famous eye specialist; James Parmelee ef Chicago and Cleveland. follows: the American people: TsfWe have associated ourselves with : those who are working to build the 4. Washington National cathedral. We 7 desire to bear public witness to our be- \ lief that this is patriotic enterprise ef far-reaching importance.
 < "In building the capital city of the Z nation we should express not merely ! the supremacy of government and of mighty God. The capitol is the symbol of the one. We need the cathedral to symbolic the other.
 ..This was Washington's idea. His plans for the city included a great
 
 tons faith. We must now give sub stance to his hope. A good beginning has been made The gifts of more than 5000 people of an aggregate value of :. nearly $4,000,000 have provided a matchless site on q tract of 65 acres ! overlooking the whole city. A design of conceded architectural merit and of surpassing beauty has been adopted. The entire foundation of the vast build ing has been laid. The eastern end of :. the structure has actually been reared. . Ten million dollars is required to fin : isli the whole within the next five ' years. This will be. done if our fellow citizens share our view that the time has now come to give visible expression to the religion of the republic.
 ..'The moment when people despair of the reign of peace on earth and of good will to men is the very moment when the Christian forces in the com munity should launch great adven- ture of faith. This cathedral, while re- lated organically to the Episcopal 2 church, will be national in the broadest sense.
 National House of Prayer ! s"Great preachers will here proclaim their message. The building will be a ], house of prayer for all people. twill be available for great public services and ceremonies. It will become in time what Westminster Abbey is to Eng land--the shrige in which to preserve the memorials of all who with notable < fidelity, have served their God and country.
 ..Tlle charter granted by Congress of the United States declares that the en- terprise is for the promotion of reli- gion, education and charity
 gss..We confidently ask our fellow citi- zens everywhere to unite with us in building this national cathedral. In so doing we are convinced that they will be liIerating mighty force for civic rightcousless ih America"
 Tn. generous contributions of the people of Washington have convinced all of those who have the responsibility for the great undertaking that the ap- peal will meet a ready response from every state in the union. In this way the cathedral ip certain to be built with in thti period designated by the National Cathedral foundation.
 The Bethlehem chapel in the crypt 2 of tie great cathedral is already being used for religious services. From here each Sunday Bishop Freeman's ser monS are broadcast to an invisible con greg;.tion of raany hundreds of thou sands, for the Washington radio has been heard on stations all over the United States, as far west as Honolulu and as far east as England.
 DEApBRYAN TALKS
 TO MEN OF CHURCH