Evening star., 1933-02-05
BY LILY LYKES SHEPARD.

NE factor always to be listed
among those which combine to
make Washington the loveliest
Of American cities Is the erection
here Of symbolical and appTo-
pirate national churches by IA
different religious denominations. These eol-
fees form q definite contribution to the civic
fabric and growing architectural beauty Of the
Nations Capital They offer vistas Of interior
glory and stately exterior groupings that COM
pement the lacy tree boughs over wide ave-
nues the cherry blossom chaplet around the
Tidal Basin, the simple dignity of the his
toric White House and the efulgent grandeur
of the new Arlington Memorial Bridge span
ming the Potomac River.
They say in enduring stone and sculptureo
bronze the wish of thousands Of men, women
and children throughout the land to empha-
size at the seat Of the Federal Government,
the church as q vital agency in the making
Of these United States.
The people as a political unit have erected
splendid buildings for affairs Of state. But
the people as individuals banded IN congen1aI
fellowships for religious ideals have lifted
spires and turrets like links with the past, into
the newly shaped skyline Of Washington. It
seems fitting that the imposing structures, the
driveways, the landscaped open spaces ana
other memorials dedicated to national heroes,
commerce, science industry and legislation
should also have noble reminders of the origin
Of this Republic.
That 50 many and such distinctive denomd-
nations have found sufficient strength to place
worthy national churches In Washington Is
the very Towering Of the religious liberty
sought by the first sh1poad OF P1lgrmS 70
these shores.
These churches have been reared from the
pennies given by the kindergartn class IN q
sunday school in Kansas, from dollars paid at
church suppers for the pumpkin pies Of New
England aid societies and from checks, some
siv hV
man in New York
Some Of the structures are still N the
process Of building. Others grew out Of the
first church house built by a denomination
when Washington was yet village trying out
o new form of popular government.
Only two OF the buildings are the ones
actually put up before this century began to
write history in the nineteen hundreds. These
ere the Luther Place Memorial Church, at
Thomas Circle, and the Church OF the Holy
City, erected by the Swedenborgians at Six
teenth and Corcoran streets northwest, in the
lay 90s.
More than three-fourths of the present
structures were given to Washington during
the past 80 years, the majority of them being
dedicated since 1910. Each denomination has
striven to give Of its best of the period in
point of architecture and chapel Identification,
harmonizng its type to the standards Of the
Fine Arts Commission, which, in turn, Is very
proud of the representative churches here.
The dominant choice of style has been
Gothic, both pure and modified, although
sometimes this note is entirely absent. It IS
not unusual to find some Of the church In
tsriors express so characteristically the at
mosphere and spirit of its worshipers every
where that the transient from the same creed
Immediately feels at home.
PROVISION was made in the original plans
T for Federal City made in 1871 by Maj.
Pierre Charles PEnfant at the request Of Presi-
dent Washington, for the location of a national
church on the site now occupied by the Patent
ONCE This was to be q church 'for Al the
people" -.. - y-rt-,-- ,t-~s..4 --''--'r5'ss-r
,a..caE .-s'- fs-