Evening star., 1932-05-05
CATHEDRAL OPENS
FINISHED SECTION
Distinguished Company Pres
ent for Ascension Day
Services.

The work Of rehabilitating "a dis
ordered and disorderly world" i.
svnbolized in the opening today fol
public worship of the first section Of
Washington Cathedral proper, the
Right Rev. James E. Freeman
Episcopal Bishop of Washington, tolo
a distinguished congregation in Ascen.
sion day services marking the lorna
completion of the great choir ano
sanctuary of the Cathedral
Today's service, the first held within
the walls of the magnificent Cathedral
proper, was perhaps the most impress
sive of the many great services Wnlcn
have brought together world Leaders
at the new national shrine which Will
stand as one of the crowning glorleS
Of the Capital of tomorrow.
Many NotabIes Present.
Numbered In the congregation were
Mrs Hoover. Mrs. Woodrow Wilson
Mrs william Howard Taft, Vice Presi-
dent Curtis, members of the cabinet
the Supreme Court, Congress and the
diplomatic corps, and prominent men
and women from all parts OF the coun--
try who have aided in the realization OF
the long cherished dream for creation
of a cathedral in the Capital which VIII
rank with the finest in the world.
President Hoover had planned to at
tend but was prevented because OF gov
ernmental business.
Nothing could be more httlng IN a
time so critical, fraught with such
momentous events, than this service
in which We engage this morning
Rshop Freeman declared. The very
fact that this temple is but partially
completed seems to suggest that the
vast work of rehabilitating dis
ordered and disorderly world presents
to us opportunity and challenge OF
sncalculable value.
This splendid choir and sanctuary
are designed to express the divine
harmonies of the gospel and to lit
our hearts and minds, through Sacra-
mental means. to behold the King In
His beauty. Beyond these walls a
troubled and distracted world Is seek
ing the ways Of peace and orderly
living. Within these walls fresh
affirmation is given of the ways and
means by which alone that peace can
be secured"
Cites Need for Peace.
There is a tragic need today for
fresh affirmation of the elemental
imperatives of religion. Bishop Free
man told his distinguished listeners
and a radio audience in all parts OF the
country. He expressed hope that the
Cathedral, as a house Of prayer for
the Nation, may prove "a talisman' In
effecting "the ultimate unity OF
Christendom." He emphasized with
vigor the need for accomplishment OF
world peace, declaring this was the
holy work of religion"
The great Cathedral, through It's
influence. services and worship, the
bishop added, may become mighty
and determining factor in all that
concerns and promotes an orderly and
peaceful world"
LET us not believe" Bishop Freeman
said, that peace is only matter OF
concordats and treaties. Peace Is a
cultivated state Of mind, state OF
mind that issues in habits OF kindly
judgments. repressed passions, a gener-
Gus consideration of the aims and
purposes of those who, by temperament
and training, follow ways unfamiliar
and alien to our own.
Even the skill of statesmen and the
high aims of those who press the claims
of leagues to enforce peace fail OF their
designs unless the passions Of men
are stilled by the assiduous cultivation
of the will to peace. and this, we
affirm, is the holy work Of religion
Church Has Supreme Task.
What this house stands for and
represents is something infinitely
higher and nobler than that which
is attempted in legislative halls BY
the boldest lover of peace. Here we
recognize that mans spirit must bow
to the will of Him who was proclaimed
the Prince of Peace Here, every
motive, every human impulse mus
yield to His word: Thou shalt lov'
thy neighbor as thyself'
Upon no other consistent ground
may we urge the high claims Of peace
Only as we bend our wills to His shall