Evening star., 1924-10-27
CATHEDRAL DRAWS
17,0(|O IN 4 WEEKS
TWenty-Four States and
Four Foreign Nations Rep
resented by Visitors.

a survey of contributions to the
building fund OF the National Cathe-
dral through memberships taken out
in the National Cathedral Foundation
and stones given at the curators OF
flee during the first month since its
erection at the entrance to Bethle-
hem Chapel shows that the contribu-
Tors came from "a States and the
District of Columbia and four foreign
countries and represented L different
religious denominations. During the
four weeks the visitors to the cathe-
dral totaled nearly 1900.
Strange as it may seem, contribu-
tors from New York State made up
i per cent of the total and outnum-
bered the District of Columbia, with
10 per cent New Jersey and Pennsyl-
vania came next with Virginia, Cali
fornia and Ohio following in the
order named. Others came from
Tennessee, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana,
Connecticut, Louisiana, kansas
Massachusetts, Maryland, Texas. West
Virginia. Kentucky. Wyoming, Geor-
sia. Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine
and North Carolina. The foreign
countries represented were Canada,
New Zealand, Scotland and England
Many Churches Represented.
Members of the Episcopal Church
constituted only 40 per cent of those
who made their religious affiliations
known. Presbyterians and Metho-
dists ranked next with Roman Catho-
lies and BaptiStS following. Ihe
others were Congre egationalists. Dis
ciples of Christ, Christian Scientists.
Unit4ians. Cniversalists and mem
bers of the Church of England. About
10 per cent put their names down as
belonging to no church.
Right Rev James f. Freeman, Bishop
of Washington, said that the survey
provided concrete evidence or the
wide spiritual appeal of the great
cathedral destined, many believe, 10
be the Westminster Abbey or Amer
lea. This record shows that Amer
leans everywhere, whether they live
In Washington, New York of Cali
fornia, are vitally interested in our
house of prayer for all people which
is being erected in the Capital as a
witness to Christ. and as an evidence
i'll stone that Americas faith Stlll
lives" Bishop Freeman said. The
bishop added that two of the out
standing men in public life OF the
United States told him recently that
they considered the building of the
cathedral one of the most important
undertakings now before the Amer
lean people.
Begin S5OO.OOO Contract.
Visitors to the cathedral last Mon
day saw workmen laying the first
stone of the base Of one of the
pilasters in the south aisle of the
crypt This was the first stone to be
laid under the present contract for
construction costing 100000 signed
BY Bishop Freeman last April, and
which Will not be finished until next
Summer Within a few days the
artisans will start laying the granite
base for the Chapel Of the Resurrec-
tion, under the main floor level of the
south transept. This chapel Will be
only slightly smaller than the Beth
Ichem Chapel where Woodrow Will
son was laid to rest.
Almost all those who come from
outside the District are surprised to
learn that the cathedral is only about
one-tenth completed. Most of them
expect to find a finished structure
at the end of their pilgrimage out
from the city and up Mount Saint
Alban.
How long will it take to finish the
cathedral?" is a question asked by
almost every visitor. How much
will it cost to complete it?'' is usually
the next one.
They are all told that it will be pos
siblc to build the cathedral in five
years and that approximately 81
100000 u year will be required.
Bishop Freeman said that he hoped
TO raise 81 500, 900 before next Sum
mcr.