Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-09-26
CATHEDRAL EVENT
WIDELY D|CUSSED
aSM Anniversary Service Re.
calls Important Pre-
kminary Steps.

fininary Steps.
The twenty-fifth anniversary Of thu
laying Of the foundation stone Of Wash.
ington Cathedral. to be observed at q
special service of commemoration In
the Great Choir on Thursday afternoon
has called forth reminiscent statements
from many friends of the sacred enter.
prise on Mount st. Alban.
Rev. Dr.. william l.. De Vries, canon
precentor of the Cathedral, has told
how the Right Rev. Henry Yates Sat-
terlee, first Bishop of Washington and
first master builder of the Cathedral
sent for him In May, 1907, and told
him to prepare for the foundation stone
ceremony in September. "Astounded
and a doubling Thomas DR.. De vries
says, Il objected that the stone could
not be laid that soon, for We had but
just paid for the Cathedral close
Thanksgiving day, 1906 we had nc
funds. the designs were not accepted
nor even in hand and might prove
wholly unsatisfactory, and there for
years would be a foundatios stone with
nothing on 1t and make the whole
Cathedral idea a ridicule and a re-
proach. Nor had that idea vet caught
the imagination of the community,
country and church,
Bishop Satterlee refused to be dis
couraged Throughout the Summer
he hbored to find the necessary funds
lone morning while this work was in
progress" DR.. De Vries recalls, II asked
the bishop if he knew how much
a
cathedral. He said, No but please
write the Secretary Of the Navy and
ask him.
Comparisons Are Made.
. 1.-THE answer was: Five million dol
1ars-just the then estimated cost of
our Cathedral fable! A battleship is
for destruction and goes to the scrap
heap in IS years. A cathedral Is for
The ministration Of the word and sacra-
:ments which give life. and becomes
more beautiful and useful every year
of its existence. The bishop made use
of this in his pamphlet and in several
addresses with telling effect. Since then
the cost Of battleships has rapidly risen
to more than Sac, 600 900, and our whole
cathedral project, fabric, synod hall,
library, endowrnentS and all the rest. is
estimated to cost no more than $685.
100000.
In the end Bishop SatterIee got the
funds and laid the foundation stone in
that memorable year, the tercentenary
of the first settlement of our church in
America, at jamestown, Va. For this
reason chiefly, he held it must be laid
that year. and also because the great
international Convention of the Broth
erhood of st. Andrew, meeting in
Washington, and closing that very day,
and the General Convention beginning
in Richmond, Va, few days later,
would bring conjunctions, combinations
and crowds not likely soon again to
assemble at our national Capital.
When day broke it was raining in
torrents. Bishop Satterlee was I'M
daunted, and prayed earnestly in
private, at the early celebration, and
at the o'clock services, held that day
all over the diocese instead of at II
O'Clock. And a little after 9 the clouds
broke away. the sun shone forth bril-
llantly and 1t was clear and warm. At
high noon the service came off, and it
was, indeed, very great occasion. But
black, menacing clouds were in the
storm quarter all through the service
However there they stayed, and in the
end gradually dissipated"
ANXIOUS N1gnt Before.
Miss Elizabeth S. Macleod. friend
of the Cathedral work since child
hood, has written: The night before
was an anxious one, for it was raining,
and the weather forecast was for rain
the next day. Canon Harding, master
OF ceremonies, sent word to Bishop Sat-
terlee, What about the weather, bishop?
What if it rains?' The bishops answer
was: Remember Elijah! So we all
prayed earnestly that it might not
rain. Sunday morning dawned and the
rain continued. There were three early
celebrations of the holy communion,
one in the bishops private chapel, one
in ST. Adams Church, and one in the
little sanctuary at the Jerusalem altar
We went to this last one, where the
presiding bishop, Bishop Tuttle, cele-
brated, and many bishops were present.
Soon after our return the rain ceased,
blue sky appeared, and the sun shone
out in full glory.
we had seats on the platform
There was a great assembly of bishops
and clergy, representing the church in
England, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa.
South America and the islands of the
sea. Three choirs led the singing, &C
companied by the Marine Band The
service was solemn and impressive
y" The Bishop of London had long
been close friend of Bishop Satter1"e
1t was eat Nv to those ,lAo ~, !.
seen and heard him in England, or who
had read his books ana knew Of his
work, to have him with us.
First to Pass on Site.
Gas children, we belonged to the
Church OF the Epiphany and our rector
Rev. DR.. Charles H. Hall, is said to have
been the first person to choose the site
of the future Cathedral Standing at
the door of ST Adams Church, he look
ed toward the city and exclaimed, Here
is where our cathedral must stand some
dayn"
Miss Macleod says that Bishop
Satterlee closed the foundation stone
ceremony with a prayer that the i'm
projections Of our service might be for.
given"
Bishop Satterlee lived less than six
months after the laying of the stone.
He died February %, 1908. When the
Bethlehem Chapel of the Cathedral was
finished his remains were entombed
behind the altar.