Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-04-16
Cathedral Attracts Easter PILGRIMS

HE throngs which attend Easter serv-
ices at the Washington Cathedral
correspond in today's religious life
to the assemblies Of pilgrims who
travelled far to be present ut the
resurrection services Of the church
centuries ago BY the year 325 AID. religious
pilgrimages had become of such ecclesiastical
importance that the Council of Nicaea made the
date of Easter movable for the convenience and
comfort Of those who made long journeys to
tho Easter ceremonials. which were moved from
city to city each year Easter Sunday was given
. place in the calendar as the first Sunday
after the full moon that falls on or next after
tho 31st of March, SO that pilgrims travelling
BY night should have the advantage of moon
Light.
Ever since 1898, when the Peace Gross was
raised. visitors to the National Capital have
j0urneyed to Mount st. Adams. For many
years the radio has carried the sermons OF the
Right Rev. James E. Freeman D. D., LII. D.,
Bishop of Washington, the air, and this
year part of his Good Friday service was broad
cast to London. Today however, is the first
time that congregations are permitted to attend
an Easter service conducted by Bishop Freeman
In the Cathedral proper, for the Great Choir
section was not opened until last Ascension
day. As the beautiful reredos Of the Chapel
Of st. Mary and the colorful rose window OF the
north transcept have very recently been put
In place, these outstanding pieces Of ecclesiast-
cal art will be seen the latest religious SYM
b0ls installed in the Cathedral.
"A /ORSHIPERS who pass under the lofty
wv arch, the west entrance OF this
medieval structure about one-fourth COM
pleted, will look down 1913 feet between great
Gothic arches to the sanctuary with its high
altar, known the Jerusalem altar, because it
is made of rock from the quarries outside OF
Jerusalem. Even before the fabric Of the
Cathedral had been begun this unsculptured
stone symbolic of Christian worship had been
made ready the communion table about
which generations would gather at the Holy
Eucharist. 1t has been placed directly
above the foundation stone of the great
house Of prayer. brought from the fields
Of Bethlehem. When the beautiful white
reredos behind the high altar replaces the
present model it will sing the everlasting praise
of the Ter Sanctus, therefore, with angels and
archangels, and with all the company Of
heaven we laud and magnify Thy glorious name;
evermore praising Thee and saying, Holy, Holy,
Holy Lord Gcd of hosts, heaven and earth are
full Of Thy glory: glory be to Thee. o Lord
Most High" Angels already look down from
the arches forming the setting for the reredoS,
which will be one of the finest pieces OF church
carving ever created. Its design shows Christ
rs the reigning King seated as the central
figure above the altar. In the inches about the
great carving 10 figures typifying the patriarchs
and apostles Of Christianity will take their
places amid the nine traditional choirs Of angels
in singing praise. The elaborate boss or cary
ing in the high stone vaulting above the altar
already symbozes The life of the world to
come" It shows a host of people Of every race
and tongue meeting at the heavenly gate.
Members of the Easter congregation will
probably see the Abyssnian cross, a gift from
the Emperor of Ethiopia, carried by the cruciaer
Of the Cathedral Choir. Pilgrims who remain
after the Easter service to see the many beau
ties Of the Cathedral are apt to study the s.
foot stained-glass window on the south wall OF
tho sanctuary through which light OF such rich
coloring falls upon the altar. Its three-storied
gallery of pictures makes it one Of the tallest
windows in any cathedral It proclaims the
story Of Christianity through 20 centuries IN its
text. 'the holy church throughout all the world
doth acknowledge Thee" (taken from the "Te
Deum'). by portraying outstanding historical
figures and tracing the dissemination Of Chris
tianity. The events pictured in the lower
section begin with the scene Of st. Peter preach
ing ON the day of Pentecost and cover the period
to 1000 AID
The middle section reveals Christian progress
during the next 600 years, showing among
other pictures. the establishment of national
liberty through the Magma Charta. Gutenberg
providing the printing press for the spread Of
knowledge and King James, who gave the
world the first authorized version Of the Bible.
People of all races are seen in worship at the
top of the window. The camel caravan and
oar-propelled galley used by the evangelsts
in the first century to spread the gospel are
shown in the lower part Of the window in con-
trast to the pictured airplane and microphone
used in modern times to spread the message
Of salvation.
THE Chapel of ST. John, which Is the chapel