/\LE UNIVERSITY
OCT 5 1906
LIBRARY

Zhc

T^nMmton

fifjemodal

(^bapel

\DaUei2 jforae

Copr'^ht Ij;; b'v Jesse E. Ph' p.
GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON
Painted at Vallei Forge b\- Charles Wills.m Peak

THE

WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL

VALLEY FORGE

BY
W. Herbert Burk, B. D.
• ¦ •
Rector of All Saints' Church, Norristown, and Minister in Charge
.of the Washington Memorial Chapel, Valley Forge.
Member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE AUTHOR

NORRISTOWN 1906

Copyright, 1906
BY
W. Herbert Burk

PREFACE.
The following pages are reprinted from my "Historical
and Topographical Guide to Valley Forge." When they were
first printed the Pennsylvania Bay in the "Cloister of the Col
onies" was not built. Its Completion and dedication have
given to Valley Forge a new note ct interest as well as a mon
ument of great beauty. I have therefore taken this oppor
tunity to add an account of it, and also to give such other in
formation as may be of interest to the visitor to the Wash
ington Memorial Chapel.
W. HERBERT BURK.
All Saints' Rectory,
Norristown, Pa.
July 24, 1906.

THE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL.
fyt N the course of studies in the history of the Church in
II America the writer was impressed with the religious
character of the men who made the Nation. This
led hira to a more careful study of the religious
character of Washington, and on Sunday, February 22,
1903, in a sermon in All Saints' Church, NorrLstown, on
"Washington the Churchman," he spoke of Washington's wor
ship at Valley Forge and said, "Would that there we might rear
a wayside chapel, flt memorial of the Church's most honored
son, to be the Nation's Bethel for all days to come, where the
American patriot might kneel in quest of that courage and thai
strength to make all honorable his citizenship here below, and
prove his claim to that above! " The sermon was printed in "The
Norristown Daily Herald," and the suggestion was commended
by the press throughout the country. From that day the
writer has striven to give permanence to his conception. The
Sunday School Association of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, to
which the subject was referred, recommended the establish
ment of a Sunday school, and after some delay this was done,
the flrst service being held in the Valley Forge Hall on May
17, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. I. Heston Todd and Mr. and Mrs. John
Hallman offered sites for the building, and the Rt. Rev. Alex
ander Mackay-Smlth, D. D., Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese
of Pennsylvania, selected the one on which the Chapel stands.
The laying of the corner-stone formed a part of the program
of the 125th anniversary of the Evacuation of Valley Forge.
Mr. Todd presented the deed for the ground, which was ac
cepted by the Rt. Rev. O. W. Whitaker, D. D., Bishop of the
Diocese of Pennsylvania, who then laid the stone. This was
the gift of Bishop Mackay-Smlth.
The purpose of the Washington Memorial Chapel was set
forth in the words used by the Bishop in laying the corner-

8
stone, "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost, Amen. I lay the corner-stone of an edifice to be
here erected by the name of the Washington Memorial Chapel,
to be devoted to the service of Almighty God, agreeably to the
principles of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United
States of America, in its doctrine, ministry, liturgy, rites and
usages; and in memory of George Washington, communicant
and lay-reader of this Church, and the patriot Churchmen and
Churchwomen who served their God and Country in tho
struggle for Liberty." '
The Rev. C. Ellis Stevens, LL.D.,D. C. L., Rector of Christ
Church, Philadelphia, in which Washington was a frequent
worshipper, delivered an able address on "The Christianity of
Washington." About two hundred clergy and choristers took
part in the service.
Perpendicular Gothic was selected as the style of archi
tecture for the Chapel as being the best adapted for the object
and use of the building. Dr. Charles C. Harrison, Provost of
the University of Pennsylvania, requested Prof. Warren P.
Laird to act as the representative of the Department of Archi
tecture of the University and to pass judgment upon the de
signs submitted. In his report Prof. Laird thus speaks of the
successful design, that of Field and Medary, Philadelphia:
"Its ensemble expresses truthfully the theme of the com
petition; a memorial chapel with auxiliary structures. The
chapel dominates the group while not overpowering it, and the
tower, higher than the chapel and sufficient to Its purpose as
an observatory, is placed at the right point to complete the
balance of the group. This is as simple in plan as it is effective
in mass. The chapel, while pure in historic character and fine
In proportion, has an expression of dignity, repose and
strength, which it would be difflcult to carry further toward
harmony with the sentiment of Valley Forge. In its wall and
window treatment there is presented, as nearly as possible in
a place intended for worship rather than defence, the mediaeval
approach of the church to fortress building. The other por
tions of the group are true in character and in proportion with
the chapel. The plan arrangement of this group combines

Cloister ol the Colonies. Washington IVIemorial Chapel. Patriots Hall. Tower and Rectory.

10

more of simplicity, compactness and economy, both of con
struction and administration, than any other in the competi
tion. In architectural quality it is scholarly and tasteful to an
unusual degree and possesses real charm and distinction."
Unfortunately the money required to carry out the plans
has not been secured, and the work has been retarded. In
order that the building might be used while the funds were
being secured a temporary roof was put in place and the in
terior stone work finished up to the sill lines, the roof being
so arranged that the walls can be carried up to their full height
without interfering with the use of the chapel.

THE WASHINGTON IMEIVIORIAL CHAPCL, FEBRUARY 22, 1906.

The First Service. -On Washington's Birthday, 1906, the
first service was held in the partly built chapel. The service

II
was made notable by the presence of the Rt, Rev, Robert At
kinson Gibson, D, D,, Bishop of Virginia, in whose diocese are
the two parishes of which Washington was a vestryman dur
ing the Revolution. In the course of an eloquent sermon on
the character of Washington the Bishop declared that he was
the genius of this place, — "the crowning glory of Valley Forge."
The Porch. — The porch has been built by All Saints' Sun
day School, Norristown, which pledged the flrst one hundred
dollars towards the erection of the Chapel. At the entrance
the effort has been made to emphasize the religious character
of Washington. The inscription cut in the wall on the righ;
is taken from the General Criers at Valley Forge, in which In
arranging the hour of Divine Service for the army he said:
While we are zealously performing the Duties
of good Citizens and Soldiers we certainly
ought not to be Inattentive to the higher Duties
of Religion. To the distinguished Character of
Patriot it should be our highest Glory to add
the more distinguished Character of Christian.
The inscription on the left is taken from the Farewell Ad ¦
dress, and is as follows:
Of all the Dispositions and Habits which lead
to political Prosperity Religion and Morality are
Indlspensible Supports. In vain would that Man claim
the Tribute of Patriotism who should labor to
subvert these great Pillars of human happiness
these firmest props of the Duties of Men and Citizens.
In the windows has been placed Washington's valedictory
prayer for the people of the United States.
I commend the interests of our dearest country to the pro
tection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintend
ence of them to His holy keeping.
In each window there is an ecclesiastical seal, the four
symbolizing the communion of the Anglican Church of which
Washington was a member and from which he received his re
ligious training. Following the order of the inscription they

12

are: Canterbury and York, representing the Church of Eng
land; London, under whose bishop were the English communi
cants in the American Colonies; and the House of Bishops of
the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of Amer
ica, which, after the Revolution, succeeded to the property and
rights of the English Church in this country.
The carved oak ceiling bears the arms of Washington.
from which it has been claimed that the American flag has

<5T-;-

THE miERIOR OF THE CHAPEL,

been derived. Our flag was developed from that of Great
Britain, first by the substitution of the red and white stripes

'3
for the red ground, as representative of the confederated colo
nies, and secondly by the substitution of the circle of thirteen
stars for the red St. George's cross and the white St. Andrew's.
The walls of the chapel will be adorned with memorial
bronzes, one of the most interesting of which will be that
v/hich Miss Rhoda A. Thompson, of Waterbury, Conn,, will
erect to the memory of her father, who enlisted as a drummer
boy and served throughout the war.

WASHINGTON AT PRAYER.

As this Chapel was inspired by Washington's Prayer at
Valley Forge it will be an appropriate place In which to read
the story as it has been preserved in the traditions of the de
scendants £rom Isaac Potts, who flrst told it. This account is
taken from a paper in the handwriting of Ruth Anna, his
daughter. The incident evidently occurred before Washington made
the Potts home his headquarters, so the place of prayer was
probably somewhere on the slopes of Mount Joy.

14
"In 1777, while the American army lay at Valley Forge, a
good old Quaker by the name of Potts had occasion to pass
through a thick wood near head-quarters As he traversed the
dark brown forest, he heard, at a distance before him, a voice
which as he advanced became more fervid and interested. Ap
proaching with slowness and circumspection, whom should he
behold in a dark bower, apparently formed for the purpose,
but the Commander-in-Chief of the armies of the United
Colonies on his knees in the act of devotion to the Ruler of
the universe! At the moment when Friend Potts, concealed
by the trees, came up, Washington was interceding for his he-
loved country. With tones of gratitude that labored for ade
quate expression, he adored that exuberant goo Iness which,
from the depth of obscurity, had exalted him to the head of a
great nation, and that nation flghting at fearful odds for all
the world holds dear.
"He utterly disclaimed all ability of his own for this arduous
conflict; he wept at the thought of that irretrievable ruin
which his mistakes might bring on his country, and with
the patriot's pathos spreading the interests of unborn millions
before the eye of Eternal Mercy, he implored the aid of that
arm which guides the starry host. Soon as the General had
flnlshed his devotions and had retired. Friend Potts returneil
to his house, and threw himself into a chair by the side of his
wife. " 'Hegh! Isaac!' said she with tenderness, 'thee seems agi
tated; what's the matter?' 'Indeed, my dear,' quoth he, 'if 1
appear agitated 'tis no more than what I am. I have seen this
day what I shall never forget. Till now I have thought that a
Christian and a soldier were characters incompatible; but tf
George Washington be not a man of God, I am mistaken, and
still more shall I be disappointed if God do not through him
perform some great thing for this country."
(Isaac Potts was then 26, having been married at the age
of 20, at Plymouth Meeting, Gth December, 1770, to Martha,
daughter of Samuel and Mary (Livezy) Bolton, born May 28,
1750.)

15

THE NEW JERSEY BAY.

Cloister of the Colonies. — An attractive feature of the
Chapel will be the "Cloister of the Colonies," which will form
an ambulatory around a garth on the west. The New Jersey Bay
was erected by Miss Sarah R. Chew, and is the first state
monument erected at Valley Forge. It was dedicated by the
Rt. Rev. Johu Scarborough, D. D., Bishop of New Jersey, oa
June 19, 1905, the 127th anniversary of the Evacuation, The
addresses were made by Francis Bazley Lee, Esq., of Trenton,
N. J., author of "New Jersey, Colony and State," who took as
his subject, "Some Phases of the Revolutionary Movement in
New Jersey," and the Rev. Robert W. Forsyth, Rector of St.
Paul's Church, Camden, N. J., who spoke on "New Jersey

i6
Churchmen in the Revolution." Cut in the structural stone is
the following inscription: To the Glory of God
and in Appreciation of the
Patriotism and Devotion
of the Soldiers of
New Jersey
in the
War of the Revolution
and in Loving Memory of
Stille Chew and Rebecca D.
Turner, his Wife, of
Woodbury, N. J., this
Bay is Erected by
Sarah R. Chew, 1905.
The Pennsylvania Bay is the gift of Mr. T. Broom Belfield,
of Philadelphia. The Rt. Rev. O. W. Whitaker, D. D., Bishop
of Pennsylvania, dedicated it on June 19, 1906. The speakers
on this occasion were Bishop Whitaker, the Rev. David Ji.
Steele, Rector of the Chuich ot St. Luke and the Epiphany,
Philadelphia, whose subject was "The Country Gentleman as
d Chuichman"; and Fianklin S, Edmonds, Esq., of Philadel
phia, whose address was on "American Ideals." The Bay bert.ir,
the following inscription: To the Glory of God and in
Honor of the brave
Pennsylvanians
whose lives were given for
the Blessings we enjoy,
and in loving Memory of his
Parents, Wite and Children,
who now rest from their labors,
this Bay is erected by
T. Broom Belfield,
June 19, 1906.

17
These Bays, like the chapel, are built of granite and In
diana limestone, and impress one with their great solidity
The ceilings are of carved oak, and each bears the arms of its
State. The floors are of Tennessee marble, and set in IIkj
centre of each is tho Colonial seal in bronze.

^ft^''^ " -

.^M'-y^ ^'^^'.. a-^^'

'"'"^v 'y *VM

PENNSYLVANIA BAY. NEW JERSEY BAY. WASHINGTON iVIEiVIORiAL CHAPEL
To the east of the stone chapel stands the little frame one
which has become famous as the place in which President
Roosevelt made a notable speech oh the 126th anniversary of
the Evacuation. This was the only time that a President of
the United States has visited Valley Forge.
The President spoke on the contrasted lessons of Gci--
tysburg and Valley Forge, and in the cour,^e of his addiess said
"It is a good thing that these great historic landmarks of
our country, Gettysburg and Valley Forge, should be pre-

i8

served; that one should commemorate a single tremendous ef
fort, and the other what we need, on the whole, much more —
much more commonly — and which is a more difficult thing —
constant effort. Only men with a touch of the heroic could
have lasted out that three days' wrestle at Gettysburg; only
men fltted to rank with the great men of all times could have
beaten back the mighty onslaught of that gallant and wonder
ful army of Northern Virginia, whose final, supreme effort
failed at the stone wall, on Cemetery Hill, on that July day,
now forty-one years ago.

THE FIRST CHAPEL.
"But, after all, hard as it is to rise to the .supreme height of
self-sacrifice at a time of crisis that is brief; hard as it is to
make the single, great effort, it is harder yet to rise to the
level of a crisis when it takes the form of a need of constant,
patient, steady work, month after month, year after year;

19
when, too, it does not end after a struggle in a glorious day
of victory; when, too, triumph is wrested bitterly away at the
end. "Here at Valley Forge, Washington and his Continentals
warred, not against foreign soldiery, but against themselves;
against all the appeals of our nature that are most diflJcult to
resist; against discouragement, discontent, the mean envies
and jealousies and heart-burnings sure to arise at any time in
large bodies of men, but especially when defeat and disaster
have come to them; when the soldiers who carried our national
flag had suffered from cold, from privation, from hardship,
knowing that their foes were well housed, that things went
easier with the others than they did with them; and they con
quered because they had in them the spirit that made them
steadfast, not only on an occasional great day, but day aftei-
day, in a life of endeavor to do their duty well."
The other speakers on this occasion, one of the most
memorable in the history of Valley Forge, were the Rt. Rev.
Leighton Coleman, D, D., Bishop of Delaware; the Ron.
Wayne MacVeagh, and the Hon. Irving P. Wanger.
On Sept, 10, 1905, the little Chapel was again honored when
Vice President Fairbanks made an eloquent address on the
Value of Prayer, Instancing the prayers of Washington, Lin
coln and McKinley. The last noted speaker heard here was
the Rt. Rev. James Heartt VanBuren", D. D., Missionary Bishop
of Porto Rico, who spoke of Valley Forge as "the Holy of
Holies of the American people."
The Chapel was first used for service on September 27,
1903, when the sermon was preached by the Rev. Herbert J.
Cook, Dean of the Convocation of Norristown. Since Feb. 22.
1906, the building has been used by the Sunday-school of the
Mission. The "Betsy Ross" flag is one of the most popular me
morials at Valley Forge, and was flrst raised on the morning
of June 19, 1903. On the staff has been placed the following
inscription: "This flag and staff are a memorial of Betsy Ross.
a member of Christ Church, Philadelphia, who made the flv?t
fliig of our nation. Presented by All Saints' Sunday School.
Norristown, Pa."

20

From the happy suggestion made by Mrs. W. Herbert
Burk has come the practice of flying the flag at the times of
service. At first this was the only form of announcing the
services, but even since the bell wa?
given by St. Andrew's Sunday School,
Philadelphia, the practice has con
tinued and is now the established cus
tom. The Patriots' Hall. —A very im
portant part of the group of buildings
which has been planned in connection
with the Washington Memorial Chapel,
is the Patriots' Hall. The ever growing
interest in Valley Forge, and the en
largement and improvement of the
Park, annua'ly increase the numbe:
of patriotic pilgrims who flnd inspira
tion in the hills and valleys conse
crated by the struggle of Wasbingtor.
and his starving troops. As time goes
on, patriotic and historical societies
wV] desire to hold their meetings or
this sacred soil. To make this pos-
sib'e av.d at tbe same Ume to provide
for the comfort and convenience oi
large gatherings. It is proposed to erect
the Patriots' Hall, memorial ot the pa
triots of the past, tbe common meeting
p'aee of tbe patriots of the present.
This will be comie:ited with the
Washington Memorial Chapel, and will
contain on the first floor the vestry
and choir rooms, etc., for the use of
the clergy and choirs of the Chapel.
The public rooms will be a banquet
hall and library. The former will be
connected with ample kitchens on
the floor below, and v/ill be at the
service of such societies as choose to

The Patriots' Hall,
Porch of the Allies, Tower
and Rectgry.

21
spend a day at Valley Forge. The library will afford a suita
ble place for historical research, as an effort will be made to
place upon Its shelves such books as deal with the history of
our country, and especially with the War of the Revolutioi
and the winter at Valley Forge.
On the second floor there will be a hall arranged to ac
commodate several hundred people. Its windows will be me
morials of those whose patriotism was worthy of emulation.
Around Its walls will be the cases for a collection of objects
illustrative of American history, the nucleus of which will be
the collection of Indian relics, given for this purpose by tho
late Rev. Jesse Y. Burk, S. T. D.
The approach to the hall will be under thes "Porch of the
Allies," each bay of which will be a memorial of those, like
Lafayette and Steuben, who came across the seas to aid the
American cause. The tower between the Patriots' Hall and
Rectory will give access to the assembly room and museum on
the second floor, and will serve as an observatory and bell
tower. From its height there will be a superb view of the en
campment and of the surrounding country. Eventually a
chime of thirteen bells will send its message of peace far
and wide.
To make this a reality individuals and Camps of the
Patriotic Order of the Sons of America holding shares in tho
Headquarters are giving the proceeds of these towards this
fund and It is hoped that the Hall may speedily be built with
the gifts of other patriotic citizens of the Country.
The "Mary Regina Brice Collection of Historical Docu
ments" has lately been presented to the Chapel by Mrs. Brice,
of Reading, and includes a number of interesting and valua
ble papers relating to those who took part in the Revolution.
Since this collection has been received others have made
contributions with which Important purchases have bea.i
made. There should always be a fund available for the pur
chase of relics, and visitors to Valley Forge are asked to con
tribute to this fund. Purchases made with such contributions
may be marked with the donor's name or made memorials.

22
The Chapel has only a few relics of Washington. It has
one letter- written at Valley Forge. It is addressed to Gov
ernor Wharton, of Pennsylvania, and sets forth the needs of
the troops of that State. From the Peale family has been se
cured the gilt button which Washington gave to Charles Will-
son Peale, who painted the Valley Forge portrait reproduced
In this volume. It also has in its collection the curious candid-
shade made by Benjamin Franklin and presented by him to
Washington. But the most interesting Washington relic is that which a
New York friend presented. It is a small volume, entitled
"Advice to a Son." It was given by John Custis to his son
Daniel Parke Custis, who married Martha Dandridge. When
she married George Washington the book was taken to Mount
Vernon. After Washington's death It was owned by his favor
ite nephew, Lawrence Lewis, the husband of Nelly Custis.
From him It descended to Lorenzo Lewis and H. L. D. Lewis.
It was sold with the Washington Library in 1890.
Unfortunately none of these relics can be exhibited until
some portion of the Patriots' Hall is built.

Plan of the Cloister ot the Colonies, the Washington IVIemorial Chapel,
the Patriots' Hall and the Rectory.

YALE UNIVERSITY

3 9002 00655 1098