The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-18
IMPOSING RELIGIOUS SOLEMHTTY
In DROOkLYn.
Bacssapg and Laying the Cornor stene q .
New Catholic Church

New Catholic Church
The ceremony Of laying the corner stone and of
consecrating the Catholic Church, in the course Of
erection the Of Court and Luqueer streets,
took place yesterday in the presence Of an immense
congregation numbering probably from eight to ten
thousand persons The new church Is to be dedica.
ted to the Virgin, or, it is designated, to Mary,
Star of the Lea The undertaking has been so far
carried on through the untiring exertons Of the Rev.
MI. Bacon, of the Church Of Assumption, who is to
be its pastor 1t fronts on Court street. the altar
being at the opposite or eastern end The building
Is TO be constructed Of brick faced with Connecticut
stone. and is to be clear stony structure in the
Gothic, or early English style Of church architecture
The naive and aisle to be one hundred and twenty
feet in length by sssy feet in breadth, the chancel
being thirtyfve by twOty five and it is intended to
seat eighteen hundred persons. There is to be
tower the north western corner, twenty five feet
square and two hundred feet in height. The church
ground comprises sixteen lots and the cost of
the whole edifce-which may be finished in the
course Of q years. estimated to be from thirty to
forty thousand dollars.
Perhaps one OF the chief reasons why there was
such an immense assembly present was that it was
understood the ceremony was to be participated in
by Monsgnor Bedini, the Papal Nuncio to Brazil,
weeks SINCE and presented to the President of the
United States autograph letter from his Holiness,
and also because archbishop Hughes was expected to
preach. In the first expectation, however, the con-
gregation was disappointed, the Nunco being still,
we understand at Washington in the latter however
they were realized.
At the south end or front of the building a wooden
platform raised supported the side walls, and
covered ever with canvass as a tent. On raised
dais on this platform were two thrones or purple
covered chairs for the accommodation of the two
distinguished persOnages named, and behind those
chairs tall scarlet screen. Previous to the ar
rival Of his Grace, the children-male and female
of the Catholic Orphan Asylum, and the children
of the Sunday School Union, arrived, headed by
Father SCHNEIDER, and preceded by Adkins fine
band, playing +" The Flag of Union forever
Those children took up position outside of the
walls, and by their presence added much to the in
terest of the scene. On the northern wall the band
and choir of male singers were stationed, who ex
ecuted various religious chants previous to and in
the intervals of the ceremony.
The congregation had now been kept waiting a
considerable time after the hour-5 oclock-when
the s0lemnties were to begin, and at length q mo-
ton in the crowd indicated that their suspense was
over. Then, from q temporary wooden building to
the Of the church. issued procession of priests
and acolytes escorting the Archbishop, clad in his
archiepiscopal robes, wearing on his head most
gorgeous mtre, gstening with precious stones, his
train being borne by clean faced little boys in stoles
First four of those little fellows carrying large
silver candesticks with long wax candles and these
were followed by others bearing the and crozier
and then came the Archbishop in his magnificent
robes and wearing bis ring. He supported by the
Rev. Messrs. McGnn and Boyce, and then some dozen
reverend fathers, in their clerical habilments
followed in his train. The procession having mounted
the platform, marched down the body of the church
to the further end where the ceremony of consecrat
ing temporary crucifx there erected performed
Then the procession returned and the priests and
acolytes formed themselves around his Grace, for
whose convenience one Of the chairs was brought
down, and then the ceremonies were commenced of
laying the corner stone, which at the southwest
corner. Then the Archbishop was Invested of his
mitre, and read the prescribed ritual from large
illuminated missal, printed in the old English text,
the responses being in red or rubc, as they were
called this book was held before his Grace by
young priest Then the stone was sprinkled with
holy water and the Archbishop pronounced the text
hume Lap,den quen' reprobarrwnt hic factus est IN
cdpat Gngu, it is in the English version of the
Bible, the stone which the builders refused, the
same is become the headstone Of the corner" Then
the benediction was bestowed upon it, IN no,aine
pdtYi ct fin, ct splrtius saycfi. The Archbishop
then knelt down and all the priests around him,
and recited the Ltany, while to each invocation the
priests gave the response Ora pro nobis. Then a
choir OF priests and aeolytes sang the hymn, Name
rising early in the morning, erected altar or
stone, to the Lord) The workmen then raised the
stOne-a large square granite one, with a Greek
cross engraved on one of its sides-by means of o
windlass, and gradually lowered it to its position,
the Archbishop using handsome silver trowel in
performing the ceremony OF laying it. Then there
was another asperson of holy water the Archbishop
reciting the psalm, M,serere mihi Deus sec,eld.n
nagnav, maseracodaam t,tan1, (Pity me, oh God,
according to thy great mercy. Afterwards the
choir eba1 1nh the hymn, guam netuendus est
cavity in the stone was placed collection of the
various United States coins of this year. copies of
the HERALD and other daily newspapers of
writing Of the Crystal Palace and Of the &C.
remony Of its Inauguration, list Of the
executive and administrative Offices of the repub-
lie, the name OF the regning Pope, &c. The cap
for the stone was then lowered the same ceremony
Of sprnkliDg being observed, and the psalm being
recited commencing, Omntpoens ct miSricorS
Deus"
Then the Archbishop was conducted to his throne
on the dais, the choir accompanied by Adkins Band
executing, in very fine manner the Magntfciatc
collection in aid of the funds for the building Of
the church was then made, and a goodly sum the
aggregate must have proved to be. During this time
the Band RECALLED the assembly with some beautiful
airs, among them that universally admired operate
one, Com gentit.o
THE ARcnBIsnoPs SERMON
His Grace then rose and, putting on his mitre, adj
dressed the congregation follows
My Dear Brethren can have no hope that
my voice will be able to reach the boundaries
of an aseembage as large as this which / see be-
fore and around me. With silence on your part
the few words which have to address TO you may
be heard to certain distance but If there should be
the least disturbance it will be impossible for you to
hear me, although should wish my voice to be as
loud that Of the trumpet that you might know the
feelings which this suspicious occasion has awakened
Who will say henceforward that the love Of God the
faith Of Gods Church. the zeal for his glory are di-
minshed on the soil Of freedom and of liberty? Who
Will dare 70 say 30, seeing as see such multitude
OF people as now surrounds me? And what dearly
believed brethren What hna