Evening star., 1936-09-26
MEMORIAL GREETS 100000
Washington Cathedral Pilgrims From All States and Many Con
tres Including Britains King Have Been Inspired by
Structure Designed to Stand 1000 Years.

Gen. John J. Pershing of World
War fame keeps In constant touch
with Mount ST. Alban for, he says.
Many cathedrals have been destroyed
in war and I should like to have q
hand in building one"
Washington Cathedral, like the
great shrine at Canterbury in the
days of Thomas q Beckett, is being
erected by pilgrims. New stones have
recently been placed by more than II
Eastern high schools. and such varied
organizations as the Associated Coun-
trywomen OF the World, Pennsylvania
milkmen's clubs and the Order of the
First Families Of Virginia. Indian
tribes have contributed boxes Of pen
MES collected on their Western reser-
vatiors.
Names Of more than II 900 gener-
GUS visitors from 20 States and a.
foreign countries are inscribed in the
huge Book Of Remembrance, which
will be kept in . special niche near
the main altar. Gifts of Andrew Mel
lon. Harvey Firestone, the rubber
magnate, and William Green. presi-
den tot the American Federation of
Labor. are recorded near those of an
Illinois school teacher and q Michigan
mechanic.
Our late Ambassador Henry White
was eager to see Washington Cathe-
dral become the American Westminster
Abbey. His dream is being realized as
thousands each year come to pay
tribute to Woodrow Wilson. Admiral
Dewey, Spanish War hero,
and other leaders of religion, Journal
ism and public affairs laid to rest in
the crypts.
vergers' count Of pilgrims totaled
approximately 5000, ,000 on September
20. No record exists of numerous less
formal guests who do not use the
services of volunteer guides. Arrayed
in purple robes and mortar-board
hats, some of the 60 members Of this
unique pilgrim aide" corps are on
duty daily to extend Cathedral hos
pitality and explain its treasures. Sew
eral are specially qualified to entertain
deaf. blind or foreign visitors.
GUIDES find great personages or
very simple people the most ap-
preciative sightseers. Americans take
pride in the construction of q national
shrine by native artists with native
materials. Many vacationists return
year after year ito see how the build
ing is getting on" Children show
surprisingly deep interest, the guides
said. Every June they come in bus
loads to Mount st. Alban, and in the
late Summer boys and girls Of the
All Clubs attend special Cathedral
services there. Young people flnd re-
ligious symbols peculiarly their own
in the Children's Chapel carved ami
mails and birds, and portrayal of
Christ ~ Q Boy in the Temple.
Blind visitors, the chief aide ex-
planned. visualize the great church
nearly as well as those who see. Often
they exclaim delightedly, as they
finger . delicate bit of sculpture or
wrought iron. \ young lawyer told
her that he SPY It the half hour be-
fore his first Osupreme Court trial
wandering ip$zhe crypts to calm his
stage frigh A Washington girl,
whose famy has been forced to share
. tiny apartment during the depres-
sion, conflded that her Cathedral vis-
its provide her only opportunity to
'1be alone"
Treasures Of st. Peters and Paurs
appeal In some way to the special in
terests Of every variety of pilgrim.
Thousands are attracted by the
pageantry Of its great national and
international services. Travellers from
tr- States always seek the Gallery Of
State fiags in the main choir, to rec
the emblems sent by their Common
wealths. The sculptures Of the Ter
Sanctus Reredos, the immense screen
behind the main altar, represent the
historic figures Of Christianity from
Old Testament prophets to modern
Chinese martyr, an Indian priest and
. native bishop Of Africa. These
statues strike . note familiar to for-
eign visitors - do the memorial to
Marshal Foch Of France and stones
from the Appian Way.
Boxwood-bordered paths Of the
Bishops Garden and the Herb Cot
tage. with its fragrant shrubs and
storied rosemary and lavendar. are .
mecca for garden lovers. The national
ofncers Of the Tall Cedars Of Lebanon
discovered there the only trees brought
from the Holy Land 10 this country.