The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-06-27
>euscasioa sf Sc Paurs Cathedral az Pttts-


-sERM0N OF ARCHBISHOP HUGHES.
From the Ptttsburg Post. June Is
s. Psuls Cathedral the largest and finest church
ship Of Cod with the usual solemn ceremonies Of the
Roman Catholic Church, yesterday morning.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CATHEDRAL.
The stone Of this fms building laid about
four years ago. and that time the work has pro-
creased steadily, until It is sufficiently completed to be
means finished The ediaee MEASURES two hundred and
twenty feet In length by one hundred and forty In its
greatest lateral extension The ground plan OF the
What call the head part Of the latter 10 ~ feet
square uide the massive walls occupied as preseyte-
sept with WINGS each 40 feet square, the stem of the
cross the 16 feet in length BY AZ feet square
wide by liz feet in length run parallel with the
The space adjoining the presoyterium, between It's
sides and the Dgs OF the transept occupied oy So
Entering the cathedral from one OF tho three
doors opening Grsnt street the oeeuy
which presens itself fairly astonshes the beholder when
Witnessed for the frt time. row OF massive piers o.
clusters of columns running parallel with the 'front.' and
ON Grant street from the corridor vestibule thus
formed extend four OF colamns which, on account
leaf worI &c form striking with the massive
pillars just described and elicit both admiration and re-
spec for ths science and kl which, were required to
build them up and upon them to height Of seven
five feet the elegant archwork which forms the cell
ing From the four massive, but from their proportions.
sm looking clusters Of columns at the four corners OF
the transept spring at height of fortyt feet above
the floor four arches each Of forty feet spao which
support the tremendous central tower which raises its
ssIo.. 'N' h0n0is' anu 's'' '' ''' .'''' '' A'
The ceiling Of this central part noble cupola, 1ss
feet above the floor with splendid ceiling and which,
With sixteen windows OF from % to 80 feet in height,
the double purpose Of lighting ana vsntla ling
the building This part OF the structure is considered
very daring piece Of architecture The tall spire which
rises from the brisk work Of the tower at height OF 16O
feet is suInountsd By an iron cross Of IL feet IN height
from which point in clear cay the eye can see the
whole city and the country around Pttsburg for many
the last link the cham of stairs iron winding stairs
ON the outside Of the tower can be got up These stairs
the de.igns which the indefagabe architect Of the
building has slreacy pre pared for it.
The ceilings Of tbs interior are all variegated, richly
groned, and like the numerous capitals and arches,
window trimming, etc, hshlt ornamented with foliage
The walls are adorned by plumber of co ossal statues
The windows, the framework Of which, made Of terra
GOTTA show the ost elegant tracery work In the pointed
Of the budiIg is execu}ed) partly filled with richly
stained glars
in part finished, however, built by the aybrothers Of
the astery of St. vincents, near Youngstown, in
Ihs rich CANOPY over the episcopal chair carved Of
csn:r,sns. -'ionals eight N number, highly
Some $50 pews of elegant pa..e, nth hi.bv carved
ends and doors, are now ready for .scammodston
s sns sns s TO So
to 1000 ana necessary, additional pews be set
up on the space left free for PROFESSIONS ETC. The
"fourteen staticns representing the suffering of
Saviour and executed of papier mache by eminent
artist in PARIS TO adorn the sidswas and large
oil painting to surmount the screenwork Of the altar
the latter we hear is beirg painted in Rome.
The towers 220 fec high each, will add greatly to the
external appearance of tns building which is intend
cd will be fniLhed and painted the
built.
Among the many novel features for the first time In.
troduced netce the reversible seats, the invocation
of Bishop O'Conner Mr. Tsafe Mr. Bartberger. The
ssats can be chsDgsd without nscesstatng the occu
pants to leave the and by this the congrs
CATION face either way think this feature will be
generally introduced in future.
the most noticeable of art IN the cathedral We
90 think the statury, painting, stucco work. &C., &c
this building are not to be surpassed any whers and
1t shonic be matter of qualification to every Pttsburx
er that We bave in our MIDST gentleman Of such pro
fcency in these arts.
The first calculation of the cost the structuro fixed
It at sf0oCo but we understand that about $3.50 900
have already been expended on II, and still further
paid out vas aim entirely raised by voluntary
subscriptions in this community The building will
forever rmain monument Of the iberaty, enterprise
and taste of large portion of our citizens.
THE CONSIDERATION.
The ceremonies connected With the conservation ard
but the clergy alone were admitted we Of course
HIGH roNr1FIcAL MASS =
At o O'Clock the cathedral was thrown open to this
public, and an immense crowd, who hsi bsen in waiting
from an early hour, focked in 1t was computed thu
about FIVE thousand persons were present. As soon
the majority comfortably seated procession of
archb hops, bishops priests. &C., clothed In their
sors marched into the cathedral through the central
aisle and surrounded the altar directly after which the
celebration Of high pontideai mass was commenced
tie grandest heard inside of sacred edi6ce.
Solemn aBd well adapted to the occasion, there could
not have been q person In the whole vast assembly
whose heart not touched by its harmonious concord
This interesting ceremony Occupied about half an hour
Most Rev ArcSsshop hughes Of New Yori Most Rev
Archbishop Kendrick, OF Batimore Right Rev Bishops
PORTER, Mobile Whssian, Wheeling; Hsqne, hiwause
dephia; NIGH, Richmond; Loghlin Brooklyn; Amat,
Monterey, California; Young: Erie; oResgan, Chicago;
Is; oCopbor, Pttsburs; Rsverends B. F. Garland, Rsy.
nclds Gai,sgser stlingsr Larfin hcaC9lloush Tuigs
OCoLnor Pollard, Doyle Chritz Farren, Coady, Oltho,
semks Grenmen Tracy, shehan, Malone, Phian; Rear
DON Eo,sy oIcSi hoSsl Keenan, ns MDsvt c'ppin
BISHOP HUGHES SPEECH.
The eedicatory sermon was preached By Archbishop
1Tsis heed therefore with Yourselves. Cbishous,
and To al the flock which the Holy Ghos has made
you oveseers to feed the church Of God which he has
purchased with his own blood Acts cn. 20: v. %.
occupied about an hour in its delivery His sub
ject was the forms and ceremonies Of the Catholic
chuIch enoeavoripg to show that these OF the
same divine origin religion itself Everything said
he which comes within the rsnse Of human knowledge
stance the other FORM In the whole range of nature,
in all the variety Of ubjects which engage human
nSedstasioui Luib Two lolu Couuluon ID aOuuu
familiar with form, but substance, even when pushed
closely may escape the strictest search. Let NO man
Prsteneng to investigate religion, that he reveres
the enc and dsspses the other God made and adapted
1t 70 the nature Of things while he m the author OF the
substance he is ALEC the creator Of the form 1t
mot Intended to direct attention particularly to the
monies juit Witnessed for although these ceremonies
FORM they not necessarily part Of primitive
religion but portion of the outward ceremonial
appointed by the church proper for such occasions
The church when used the matter OF earth
ted itthat is to say emancpated 1t from the original
curse God put upon it. 1t is thus that the Temple Of
the Lord 10 confecrated BY solemn rites and ceremonies
1t Ia thus that pomp is not spared to set apart this
polluted earth oEe spot where Gods people may
meet to worship.
dication OF former 81 Paups on the spot where we
now etand 1t was noble monument OF the piety Of
the Catholics Of the Western metropolis, but IL lacked
the grandeur the majesty Of the present one. 1t
less grand, less noble even as structure than this
and in reference to its purpose, still inferior It
wa but parish church., belonging to the See Of pha