Evening star., 1941-02-09

1t was during this period that Pres
ident Theodore Roosevelt visited
this school to extend greetings 10
Sister Angelica and her household.
In 1907 the rush of registrants
made it necessary to rent nearby
1928 Massachusetts avenue as an
annex. Following the removal of
the school to its present site on
Upton street, the old building was
used for special music and art classes
while arrangements were under way
for its sale. During the period the
Christian Brothers Of nearby ST.
Johns College also conducted sons
classes there.
Designed Here.
The new home for the National
Catholic Welfare Conference was
designed by Frederick v. Murphy,
we'll known Washington architect
and head Of the school of srchitec-
ture of the Catholic University Of
America to serve both monumental
and functional purpose
The monumental portion Of tbs
proposed building will be a 9O-foos
white stone facade of dignified
classic design with a sculptured
statue of Christ standing in a semi
circular niche. This niche which 10
to be cut into the plain wall of ths
facade will be 20 feet in width and
80 feet high, rising the full height
OF the facade. 1t will be opened to
the sky at the top and be fluted Ns
full length.
The statue will be 20-foot figure
OF Christ in green bronze. II will
stand on a large block of stone set
in the center of the semi-circular
niche. To accentuate the dignity Of
the statuary and to give it a GER
tain detachment from its massive
white background, it will be ap-
! preached by a series of terraces built
up to a scuptural climax The en-
| tire structure will be constructed
with view toward creating an at
mosphere of serenity and sanctuary,
1t was pointed out.
Laid up in huge slabs of stone, ~
white background 65 feet wide and
| 80 feet high will be devoid of win
dows and other openings, except for
two small doors inconspicuously
| placed. Opening into small fovers
these doors will constitute the en-
trance to the Office portion of the
/ building.
Use of Space.
The new building will provide
much needed space for the Ma
tional Catholic Welfare Conference.
which was organized in September,
1919, as common agency acting
under authority of the American
Bishops to promote the welfare Of
Catholics in this country. 1t sue
| ceeded the emergency National
Catholic War Council created by the
archbishops and bishops of the
United States at the time of Amer
icaS entrance into the World War
and recognized officially by the
United States Government for well
fare work both in the United States
Z
construction period.
Convinced of the need OF an
agency for peace time purposes. the
Bishops of the United States eStab.
lished the conference for the pur.
poses OF "unifying, Co-Ordinating and
| organizing the Catholic people Of
the United States in works of educa-
and other activities" First executi's
| director of the organization was ths
Right Rev. Msgr. John j. Burke,
c. S. p, who so ably directed the
Catholic war service program, as
well as serving as chairman of the
Committee of Six. the advisory body
which represented officially the re-
ligious bodies Of the country on
questions of a moral and religious
character before the War Depart
ment and the Commission on Train
ing Activities. Msgr. Burke remained
at the head of the ~ C. w. c. until
his death in'1936 He was succeeded
by the Right Rev. Msgr. Michael j.
Ready, who had been assistant gen.
eral secretary to Msgr. Burke during
a portion Of his administration.
History Repeats.
With the large influx of young
men into Army camps, naval train
ing stations and defense areas, 1t
appears that history is repeating
itself. Once more the N. C. w. C.
will become the center for Catholic
activity designed TO promote the
welfare of the men in the service.
This work will be directed by the
National Catholic Community Serv-
ice. which is composed of the arch
bishops and bishops of the Admin
iStrative Board of the National
Catholic Welfare Conference, plus
the military vicar of the Army and
Navy ordinariate. MSgr. Ready Is
secretary of this group which to-
gether with the Salvation Army,
Y. M. C. A., Y. w. c. A. and Jewish
Welfare Board. forms the United
Service Organizations for National
Defense.