Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-23
CHURCH ARRANGES
!. STONE Ceremony
Al
Masonic Leaders to Join In
Exercises at New Western
i Presbyterian Site.

The corner stone Of the new West
orn Presbyterian Church to be erected
On II street between Nineteenth and
Thsntieth streets. opposite the present
= structure, win be laid tomorrow at 3
o'clock with appropriate religious and
Masonic exercises. DR.. ]. H. Durham,
pastor Of the church, will preside, as
sisted by Rev. Chobot Godfrey, pas
Rev. Andrew Bird, pastor of the
Church of the Pilgrims; Rev. Freely
Rhorer, pastor of Metropolitan Pres
byterian Church, and Chester Smith,
moderator Of the washington Pres
bytery.
DR.. John Palmer, grand chaplain Of
the Grand Lodge of MaSons Of the
District, will deliver the address. The
stons will be laid by James A. West,
ether officers of the Grand Lodge.
To Use Washington's GaveI.
A feature Of the exercises will be the
use by Grand Master West Of the
/ gave1 welded by George Washington
e the laying Of the corner stone OF
the United States Capitol. This his
toric gavel IS the property Of Potomac
Lodge, No. 5, r. A. A. M. Of the Dis
txict. It Is never taken from its
safe deposit box without authorization
Of the Potomac Lodge and 1t will be
conveyed to the ceremonies by a spe-
ctal committee of the lodge charged
with responsibility for It's safe return.
) Various Masonic documents and
church records, including the names Of
the contributors to the new church,
VIII be sealed in the corner stone.
The present church, which was built
! IA. 1854, is one of Washington'S oldest
churches. The list of original sub
scriberS includes the name of Franklin
Pierce, then President Of the United
States. Gen. U. S.. Grant was fire.
uuent worshipper. jefferson Davis, who
soon after the completion Of the church
became President of the Confederacy,
was q contributor.
the old church will be sold. The new
structure will be perpendicular English
Gothic in architecture with variations
from the traditional practice. The
treatment Of the interior will blend
with the surrounding community. Con-
centration Of ornament Is made on the
traceried windows and the main en-
trance. The supporting walls will be
built Of local stone finished with a
hammered surface and the roof will be
Of slate, finished with heavy copper
Is especially well treated. being tncloSed
BY q low wall capped with a wrought
from fence. This will be entered through
q wrought-iron gate under q stone arch.
walks viii be Of fiagstone, laid in geo.
metric patterns.
Spacious. Auditorium.
The church auditorium will be q
room large enough to seat 500 persons
b Is of the clear-story. long-axis type,
} with central aisle leading to . bal
anced sanctuary.
large traceriZed windows on each side
and q window at the rear. The ceiling
VIII be supported on heavy oak beam
frusses, with q clear height to a ridge
Of SO feet. The treatment viii assure
uerfect acoustics. Side walls Will be
finished In coarse-textured plaster Of
light tint. The sanctuary VIII be nm
isiaed with O beautiful wood screen In
closing the sanctuary arch and faced
On ell sides with tracerized paneling. J.
Pewg, pulpit, communion table and
other furnishings viii be especially de-
&gned to match and viii harmonic
With the interior decorations. The gall
1sEy win provide seating capacity for
100 persons.
The Sunday school rooms provide q
gerieS of assembly rooms for worship
and study on the first and second floors.
Cozily furnished rooms are provided
Tor the Mems Club and the Ladies Club.
Attractive Features.
A chapel, social hall, capable Of seat
ing 400 persons, equipped with large
platform; q dining room for small fun
Z tons, with ample kitchen facilities, are
some Of the attractive features arranged.
/. Through French doors direct access Is
had to the beautiful court. which viii
. be made adaptable for outdoor garden
parties In Summer.
8 The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are
pEovided with individual rooms.
Mechanical equipment viii provide
Tor the heating Of separate units as
Tneegied: radiators will ba concealed and