Evening star., 1927-12-06
CATHEDRAL CHAPEL
OPENED TO PUBLIC
st. Joseph Room at Mount
St. Adams Ready for Wis.,
itors-Dedication Delayed.

The structurally complete Chapel Of
st. Joseph of Arimathea in the crypt
Of Washington Cathedral has been
opened regularly to visitors, although
the date Of it's formal dedication has
not been determined definitely, it was
announced today by the cathedral
authorities.
This chapel was first publicly used
as temporary place of sepulture for
the late Senior Don Francisco Sanchez
I.atour. Minister from Guatemala to
the United States, whose funeral was
held in the adjoining Bethlehem Chap
ell Ultimately the Chapel of st. .Jo-
seph of Arimathea will be available for
various services without music, includ-
ing meditations and intercessions on
quiet days, baptisms. combinations,
weddings and so forth, it was stated.
Example of Norman Art.
Located beneath the crossing and
between the four huge piers. which
are ultimately to support the weight
Of the soralng central tower. the
Chape Of st. Joseph Of Arimathea is
striking example of Norman art and
architecture. However. neither in
general conception nor in detail does
it follow any existing examples OF
medieval Norman work. Norman ar
chtecture is especially adapted by its
massiveness to the work of support
ing tremendous loads. The lowest
arches are circular; the higher ones
are pointed. As result there is a
pleasing variety in architectural de-
tail.
All structural members of the chap
ell are Of great size and yet the con-
tours of the holdings are things stud
led from the delicacy of curves down
to the finest point. The light and
shadow effects are both mysterious
and beautiful. The plan is in the
form of a Greek cross. The chapel is
approximately 60 feet long and so
feet wide. The height from floor to
vaulted stone ceiling is approximate
ly "a feet. The four circular piers
are at the intersecting arms Ct the
cross and the cruciform shape is
formed by utilizing the space between.
Not only are the piers more than "a
feet in diameter and each capable of
sustaining weight of $4,000, 900
pounds impressive but the nodded
stone ribs of the vaulted ceiling are
unusually massive as well AS beautl-
full and refined. They have the effect
of springing in clusters off the carved
capitals of the four small piers grow
ing out of the bigger piers. The vault
ed ceiling is supported by II piers of
varied size. each pier having capi
tai of different design.
Indiana Limestone Used.
The structural material used in the
chapel is Indiana limestone for piers
and vaultings, shafts and arches, end
columns and vaulting ribs. The plain
surfaces of the walls are of plastered
brick construction, with the idea of
rich adornment later. The problem of
ventilating and heating the charel
has been carefully worked out. The
circulation of fresh air from the out
side is assured by great ducts gcing
under the cathedral foundations and
connected with exhaust fans.
The chapel was named after Joseph
Of Arimathea for historical. sentimen-
tai and religious symbolical reasons.
the cathedral authorities said. In the
first place. it was pointed out. Joseph
of Arima thea was the rich man" who
gave up his garden sepulchre as 4
place for the entombment of the Cru
Gifted Christ.