New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-09
SHOOTING THE DEVIL.

Thursday was the day for the yearly Roman Catholic
festival Of Coypus Christi. which is Feast of Obga-
tions held always after Trinity Sunday. II is feast
instituted bv that Church in commemoration OF the
Eucharist or Lords Supper and is of the greatest
festivals of the year, being observed by Catholics
throughout the world. In Catholic countries the
sacrament is carried about the streets in procession
the priests and people expressing their devotons in
PRAYERS and By other testimonials of affection such
flowers and music. The streets throDged, atars
erected and beautifully decorated honor of the sacra
ments and benedctions pronounced upon the peo-
PIE by the priests. The pronouncing Of the benedcton
is accompanied by the firing of guns signal to all
persons within hearing of the report to unite in devotion
at the time of the benediction In Germany and other
countries this day s strictly observed. All Catholics
and many Iroiestants rest from all labor. The day
of ibis festival is appointed in the of flowers
that Nature NAV cast her floral tribute at the shrine
OF ervent devotion Fragrant flowers are strewed in
the streets and flowers end evergreens decorate the
cathodrss and churches of the Catholics on this prom
nent occasion. This festive day is also regarded as
DIV Of PRAYER for blessing upon the fruits and crops
of the season-hat there may be abundance in the
harvest and in that respect il may be regarded as an
| anecCdent of the Thanksgiving Day recognized by
| other Cl urehes.
| The signal of shooting has been ignorantly will
fully represented as the ceremony of shooting the
Devil by which appeation only this Observance is
that this shooting either eralor typical shooting the
Devil out of the Church The ceremonies Of this fes
tiva took place on Thursday at the German Catholic
Church located in Montrose-av. Brooklyn, in that
ton Of the late City of Willamsburgh known
"Dutch Town." The neigbborhood being almost ex-
cusivey German the characteristics OF Fatherland are
visible in many respects, of which this Is one most
prominent. The day wore the appearance OF the Sab
bath. Labor at stand; the hoiday-sult was
donned and the principal portion of the people locked
to Tie church to participate in the services. The
Washington Guards, Capt. Maerz, one of the military
companies of that locality, were armed and equipped.
At 10 o'clock the church filed to attend mass and
hear the discourse for the OCCASION During mass at
certain intervals and while the organ was playing and
the choir and congregation chanting the military COM
pany drawn up IN line in front of the altar would pre-
| sent arms and then followed in quick succession the
roll of the drums the sound of trumpets inside of the
church. and loud discharges of firearms outside of the
church. This was repeated several tunes during the
services The church was decorated with evergreens
and the altar with flowers. The edice was filled to its
utmost capacity by the congregation. Al the close OF
The services the military marched into he street
and formed in front of the church Some further Ger
emonies including discharge of firearms at the side
of the church, closed the services of the morning. The
band of music commenced playing and with the mill
tary proceeded up to EWenst TO their quarters, fol-
| lowed by the throng.
| In the afternoon Church services were repeated,
after which IL usual holiday, festival or Sabbath
days. The lseerbeer halls and other places OF amlse-
mt nj were throneed for the remainder of the day and
evening. Such is what ia termed the ceremony OF
| Shooting the Devil" seen in " Dutch Town.
together with brief account of the origin and objects
| of the day.
| Corpus Christi, or "Feast Of the Blessed Sacra-
"ment," which is generally observed in the Roman
| Catholic Church, commemorated on Thursday
at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Newark, j., with I'M
usual ceremony The Society Of the Blessed Sacra-
"mentp attached to the Cathedral, and the Young
Mems Catholic Association the latter being distin-
euished by badge in the form of a cross suspended
by ribbon upon the left breast participated in the
services and they intended TO form part OF
| procession around the church-the most important
part of the ceremonies this wailispensed WITH how
| ever, on account OF the unfavorabe weather. Inc
forenoon was chiefly occupied in the administration
of tie Sacrament of Confirmation by Bishop Bsyley,
| TO between 900 and 200 persons, among whom were
| said TO have been five or six converts. The To-
male portion of the recipients were neatly attred 10
white dresses md lace walls and occupied nearly one
half of the spacious edifce. Previous to administer
| ing confirmation the Bishop in full canonicals
| made few brief remarks upon the importance, the
| ends ard objects of the Sacrament Mass was subse
quently celebrated by the Bishop, and communion ad
| ministered 10 those who had been confirmed.
| Newark Daily Advertiser, June