Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-07-29


TS-As we stated yesterday, the newt
Catholic Church, in tins town, was dec-
icatcd, or blessed, on Sunday morning
last.
II was filed by large audience, all
Of vi ON atientively listem d to all the
services with true feelings of devo-
+ tioD.
The procession was formed NJ the
West door, and moved around the build
ing, on the outside, in The following or
der Gross bearer, bearing beautiful
( Professional Cross, Accolites, Sanciua-
ry boys, Rev. Clergy and the Right
Rev. Bishop O'Reiley. The Bishop ap-
peared in Poniificals, wearing his miire
and stole, and bearing his pastoral
staff.
The MiSerere was chan,ed the Bish-
op sprinkled the walls with Holy water,
repeating, "Asperges me, Domino, hyssc-
po, ef mnndab Dor; iapabis me, ct super
nirem deaIbabor." The Bishop then
sung short prayer, invoking the bles.
sing OF God on The house, &c.
The procession then entered the
Church, singing the I.itany Of the
SaInts.
Alter repeating several prayers at tie
altar, the procession was again formed,
and marched ar ,und the house, on the
inside, the Bishop sprinkfing the walls
with Holy waier,--the clergy singing
the ll9lh, l2Oih and l2Ist Psalms.
The dedication ceremony then con-
cluded with the prayer, "Oh God who
dosi sanciiy this place which is dedica-
ted to Thy Name" &c.
The Mass was then said, alter which
Bishop O'Reiley preached an able and
appropriate Sermon, which was listened
to by all pressn,, Catholics and Protcs-
tan,s, with evident satisfaction The
following are the clergymen whe were
present. Bishop ORciicy, OF Provi-
dence; ishop Fitzpatrick, Of Bost Oh
Rev. N. O'Brien, OF Boston, Master Of
Ceremonies Very Rev. Hugh Nc Ma
hon, Vicar General OF Pittsburgh, and
Arch Deacon of the day; Rev. j.
Hughes, Deacon Of office; Mr.. Murray,
sub Deacon; Messrs. Lynch and Dur
fee, Deacons OF Order The scene was
very imposing and impressive, ard was
IN keeping with the grandeur OF The edi-
flee.
We give The following description Of
the Church for the benefit Of those who
Lave no, seen 1t. Ii was designed by
and has been erected under the care Of
that first Of Catholic architects, p. C.,
Kcely, Esq. and superintended by the
worthy Pastor Rey. james Fitton, whose
zeal and taste are appreciated no, only
by his own Church, but also by the
whole community long may he be
spared among us, to continue his minis
trations Of love and mercy.
This sacred cdifice is OF the second
period of Gothic architecture. 1t has
cleristory, and comprises well defined
chancel, nave and aisles, q tower,
porch and sacristv. Its length east and
west, from out to out Of walls, including
chance 10 about i35 lcei; its width is
65 feet. To the corbel table Of aisle
walls is "a f.. to the corbel Of nave is
4S f.; to the apex Of nave gable is 10
f.; while the height OF tower to the
start of spirc rs 6S #. The foundation
walls, broad and deep, OF solid granite
blocks, are laid with best cement NOR
ar, the same rs used throughout the
entire work, which already etrified,
have become a solid mass to bear up
the superstructurc for centuries TO c,mc.
All. above the foundation, is built OF
Connecticut free stone, laid in quarry
beds, with windows and door jams, liable
mouldings, ellis, corbe tables, gabeI
ohsetts, etc., ETC., neatly cut.
The front. raised five feet above the
eyel Of the street, as the iand falls from
east to west, with It's graduated green
slope, trees, shrubbery. and varegaled
living ivy, here brought from the very
centre of Ireland, is supported by mas
sive butresses with deep buses, drip
stones and oilsetts. The tower, which
ls at the northwest corner, is supported
by still more massive bu,tresses, with
bases of bold projection, and is lighted
by six richly wrought windows, in the
first and second stories, while the upprr,
which is really ornate in its character,
is pierced OIL every side by beIlrey win
dows, with louvre boarding High over
the doorway, is seen conspicuously, the
monogram OF the Blessed Mo her under
whose protecting care the first stone OF
this sacred edifce was laid. The spirc,
pointing in silence heavenward, when
completed, lierced oil all sides with
spire-lights and canopies, to admit, as It
were, the penitent's sigh to ascend, sur
mounted with it's final and cross the
emblem OF mans salvation, will present
holy and characteristic feature in the
outline Of the holy pile.
The nave and aisle walls are support
cd by butircsscs, divided into two or
more stages, with graduated ofsetts, and
finished with corbel-,ables, The door
Of the west entrance. the tower and