Evening star., 1928-10-10

as the world had not known before. 1t
establisherS of the Episcopal faith in A
Here the pilgrim finds the grandeur
and majesty of Christ's church. In the
dusk of its aiSles beneath its resplendent
windows is that peace that paSSeth
understanding The visitor can hardly
leave the cathedral close without a
clearer understanding of the living force
of Christianity.
The idea of a cathedral In the Ma
tional Capital originated in the early
days of American history. Maj. L 'Enfant,
working under the direction of Gen.
Washington, planned "a church for
national purposes" in the Capital City
It was to have been on the present site
of the Patent Office. But like many of
the visions of Washington. this was not
realized until long after the first Presi-
dents death.
The first steps we're taken by Charles
c. Glover in 1891, when he called a
meeting in his home and enlisted the
interest Of group of eminent men
in the plan. In 1898 Congress granted
a charter empowering the Cathedral
Foundation to proceed with its work.
Mount st. Alban, 400 feet above the
Potomac and one of the highest points
in the District, was chosen as the
cathedral site. 1t is acknowledge to
be one of the finest cathedral sites in
the world, rivaled only by tt - of the
Temple, of Jerusalem. This and was
purchased in 1893 1t has -}en aug
mented by generous gifts, - that to-
day the cathedral close '1vers 67l2
acres. From it the City of Washington,
the Potomac Valley and the Maryland
and Virginia hills are visible.
Since then the Washington Cathe-
dral of st. Peter and st. Paul has
captured the imagination of a large
More than $4,000 persons, represent
ing every State in the Union, have
come to share the vision and have
contributed nearly $7,000,000. These
contributions have provided for the
discharge of the mortgage on the
original cathedral land, the addition
of many beautiful acres, the establish
lnent of two successful schools, a
College of Preachers and the first wing
of the cathedral library, the laying OF
the foundation for the entire cathedral
fabric, the construction of three crypt
chapels, the apse and a major portion
of the choir walls and crossing, and
the acquisition of many sacred objects
rich in historical associations.
Cruciform in Shape.
The cathedral will be cruciform in
shape, with two impressive tranSeptS,
forming the arms of the cross. The
total length, measuring from the ex-
terror of the apse to the western en-
trance, will be 534 feet and the width
at the transepts will be 135 feet. 1t
will have a total area of 71,000 square
feet. The central tower will be 252
feet high. The tower will rise lot feet
higher above the Potomac River than
the Washington Monument: The west
ern towers viii be 1876 feet high
The Gothic principle has been fol-
lowed throughout It has that COM
bination of strength and simplicity Of
scheme combined with hghtness ana
grace and multiplicity of detail found
in a giant tree. The design OF
gothic cathedral is such that one is
not impressed by its dead weight, but
rather by its strength, grace and up
ward growth The three chapels in the
crypt now are regularly open to pilgrims.
The first portion of the cathedral to
be completed was the Bethlehem
Chapel, in the crypt directly beneath
the apse. Here daily services have been
held since 1912 This chapel is dedi-
Gated as a memorial to Right Rev.
Henry Yates Satterlee, first Bishop of
Washington. In the burial vault
beneath the chapel rest the bodies of
Woodrow Wilson, Admiral George
Dewey, Henry Vaughan, one OF the
original architects of the cathedral;
Herman Kohlsaat, Chicago publisher;
the Right Rev. Thomas Claggett, flrSt
bishop consecrated on American soil,
and Mary CAN'T, his wife; and the Rev.
Walden Myer, canon of the cathedral.
The burial place of the late President
Wilson is marked by sarcophagus of
cream -colored limestone inscribed with
the crusaders cross in the south wall
of the chapel. Over the Sarcophagus is
a delicately carved oak canopy, sur
mounting which are three flags, two
presented to Mr.. Wilson at his Inaugural
tions and the third carried by the first
detachment of American troops when
they marched through London in 1917.
Architecture Is Gothic.
The architecture of the chapel is dec
GRATED fourteenth century Gothic. The
altar is an exceptional work of art
The central panel represents the
nativity, and above it is a rich, vaulted
canopy showing on each face mlnla-
ture Gothic window. Behind the altar
is a vault where rest the bodies OF
Right Rev. Henry Yates Satterlee and
JANE LdWIGIlCS, 11lS WIG. OFCI NiAC
vault is an alabaster tomb guarded by
two angels, exquisitely carved.
AS the visitor goes down the south
aisle there can be seen, under the VIM
dow on the left, three historic stones
lately given to the cathedral-a stone
from the chapel of Moses on Mount
Sinai, a stone carved in the form OF a
mama pot from an anci Mt Jewish
synagogue in western China. and stone
from the first church erected on the
American continent. A little farther
along. on the left wall, is memorial
tablet 10 Maj. Archibald Butt, military
aide to President Roosevelt, who was
lost on the Titanic. On the right wall
opposite is a tablet in memory OF
Margaret S. White, widow of Henry
White, former Ambassador to France.
The north and south aisle windows
represent the prophecies and promises
of the coming of Christ found in the
Old Testament. The chapel organ is
one of the finest in the New World. The
marble font is that from which Bishop
Satterlee was bapt zed, presented by the
yestry of Calvary Church, New York.
The four colun rs surrounding the
altar and Bishop fsatterlees tomb have
a deep symbolic significance in that
they rest upon the foundation stone ol
the cathedral ana VIII support ILle nlSi
altar of the cathedral proper. The
foundation stone was brought from tlls
field of Bethlehem. The five windows
in the ambulatory, or passage around
the altar, represent the chief scrnes con-
nected with the Incarnation-the CHIEF
human ancestors of Jesus. the procla.
nation of the incarnation by the ange
to the shepherds, the wise men present
ing their gifts, SimeonS acknoWledg-
ment of the Holy Child and a group o.
angels holding a great curtain behine
the mother of Jesus and the Ange
Gabriel The choir and clergy entrance
Is marked by window representing th'
visitation of the Virgin Mary to Eliza