a place intended for worship rather than defense, the mediæval approach of the church to fortress building. The other portions of the group are true in character and in proportion with the chapel. The plan arrangement of this group combines more of simplicity, compactness and economy, both of construction and administration, than any other in the competition. 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 was not secured, and the work was retarded. In order that the building might be used while the funds were being secured a temporary roof was put in place and the interior stone work finished up to the sill lines, the roof being so arranged that the walls could be carried up to their full height without interfering with the use of the chapel.

The First Service.-On Washington's Birthday, 1905, the first service was held in the partly built chapel. The service was made notable by the presence of the Rt. Rev. Robert Atkinson Gibson, D. D., Bishop of Virginia, in whose diocese are the two parishes of which Washington was a vestryman. 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 Cloister of the Colonies.-The "Cloister of the Colonies" is a unique monument of patriotism and the most beautiful memorial at Valley Forge. Each of the thirteen Colonies will be represented by a bay. The cloister forms a porte cochère to the chapel and one of the entrances to the Washington Memorial Cemetery.

Beginning at the chapel the bays are New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia (the archway), Maryland and Massachusetts. They are built of Holmesburg granite and Indiana limestone. The floors are of Knoxville marble, and in the center of each is a large copy in brass of the Colonial seal. The ceilings are of oak, hand-carved, and on the central boss of each are em

blazoned the State arms. Over the arch of the Virginia bay are the arms of the Virginia Company, consisting of the arms of England, Scotland, Ireland and France, and the motto: "En dat Virginia quintam." The motto is set between symbols representing the gifts of the English Church to America, the arms of Canterbury and York, symbolizing the English Church;

the mitre, crozier and keys, the ministry; the font and chalice, the sacraments; the two books, the Bible and Prayer Book. This bay, erected in 1907, marks the three hundredth anniversary of the founding of Jamestown and the establishment of English life and institutions in America. Above the inner arch are the arms of Washington, the great Virginian.

The donors of the bays, and the dates of the dedications, are as follows:

New Jersey Bay-Miss Sarah R. Chew, 1905.

Pennsylvania Bay-Mr. T. Broom Belfield, 1906.

Virginia Bay-Mr. George C. Thomas, 1907.

Maryland Bay—Mr. James E. Mitchell, 1908.

Massachusetts Bay-Massachusetts Society, Sons of the American Revolution, 1909.

INSCRIPTIONS.

New Jersey.

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.

Pennsylvania.

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, WIFE AND CHILDREN,

WHO NOW REST FROM THEIR LABORS,
THIS BAY IS ERECTED BY

T. BROOM BELFIELD,

JUNE 19, 1906.

Virginia.

TO THE GLORY OF GOD,

IN HONOR OF THE UNFALTERING HEROIS M

OF THE FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY

AND THE BRAVE VIRGINIANS

WHO SO FAITHFULLY STOOD BY HIM

IN THIS VALLEY,

AND IN SINCERE APPRECIATION OF

THE DEVOTION OF THE

CHURCH MEN OF THE

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

TO THE MISSIONS OF THE CHURCH,

AND ESPECIALLY IN GIVING THEMSELVES

TO THIS GREAT CAUSE,

THIS BAY IS ERECTED BY

GEORGE CLIFFORD THOMAS,

JUNE 19, 1907.

Maryland.

TO THE GLORY OF ALMIGHTY GOD

IN HONOUR OF THE BRAVE TROOPS OF

MARYLAND

WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR

COUNTRY, AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ABRAHAM DAVID MITCHELL,

OF MARYLAND,

AND JANE THOMPSON EVANS, HIS WIFE,

THIS BAY IS ERECTED BY THEIR SON,

JAMES EVANS MITCHELL,

Massachusetts.

TO THE GLORY OF GOD,

IN HONOR OF THEIR ANCESTORS

AND IN LASTING MEMORY

OF THE

SOLDIERS OF MASSACHUSETTS

ENCAMPED AT VALLEY FORGE DURING

THE WINTER OF 1777-1778,

THIS BAY IS ERECTED BY THE

MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY,

SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION,

1909.

The Washington Memorial Door. The porch door is the gift of Colonial Chapter, Daughters of the Revolution, and is one of the handsomest memorials at Valley Forge. On the top rail are seven shields with armorial bearings. In the center are the Washington arms, and to the right those of the United States, Virginia, and the insignia of the Daughters of the Revolution. To the left are those of the Protestant Episcopal Church, the Diocese of Virginia, and the seal of the Washington Memorial Chapel. On the inner side are the arms of the Washingtons and the English families with which they intermarried.

The door is the gift of Colonial Chapter, Daughters of the Revolution, and was dedicated May 13, 1910. It bears the following inscription, carved in the upper stiles :

TO THE GLORY OF GOD, OUR NATION'S HONOUR AND
THE MEMORY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, THIS DOOR IS
GIVEN BY COLONIAL CHAPTER, PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY,
DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION.

r

The Porch.-The porch was built by All Saints' Sunday School, Norristown, which pledged the first one hundred dollars toward the erection of the chapel. At the entrance the effort has been made to emphasize the religious character