Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-01

have gone. This, however, is said to be OF
no account, as il was not considered trust
worthy before. and would have been re-
moved. The forty or SO Of coal boats that
passed the dam few days ago, will be arriy.
ing in the District in all OF to-day aud to-
morrow. Dam No. 5 is stated to be all right
Nat. Int.
RELIGIOUS SERvICEs.-At very early hour
on Sunday morning, ST. Mary's Church was
filled with large and attentive congregation.
About O'Clock, the Archbishop of Balti-
more entered, with various attendants, ana
began the conservation of the new altar,
which lasted fur nearly two hours. The rite
consisted Of the recitation of many OF the
psalms, with various prayers, and the blessing
Of salt, ashes, water and wine, which were
mingled together for the sprinkllng of the
altar. The Archbishop made crosses with
Chrsm and holy oil in the centre and on the
corners of the altar, in the form of cross,
several times, and finally poured both upon
it, amounting the entire table. lie also placed
in small cavity, or sepulchre, relics of sew
eral saints, and blessing sand and lime, made
cement, and closed them in with a suitable
stone tablet. The crosses were made with
grains Of incense in the places which had
been anointed, and cruciform wax tapers
being placed upon them, aud lighted At each
Of the four ends, were consumed. The altar
was, also, frequently fumed with incense.
All these ceremonies the Archbishop eX-
planned, were in allusiOn to various facts re.
corded in the Old Testament, and to st.
Johns Vision Of the Heavenly Jerusalem III
the Revelations.
The altar being cleansed, covered, and
adorned with lights and flowers, the Most
Rev. DR.. Kenrick celebrated Mass thereon,
and administered the holy communion TO
large number of persons. Mass was then
celebrated by the Rev. Dr.. Ryder. At ID
O'Clock, the candidates for Confirmation, -
boys; 80 girls; gentlemen "A ladies'; :
colored boys . colored men; and 1 coiored wo'
men, % in all, assembled at the school house
on Fairfax street, and preceded by an acolyte
in surplice bearing tue cross, attended BY two
others with large lighted candles, proceeded
along Duke and Royal Streets to the church.
a, the front door of which they were met by
the pastor, attended by two aeolytes AS
the procession passed the pastoral residence,
on Duke Street it was Joined by Archbishop
Kenrick in his robes of ogice, wearing cap
and mitre Of cloth of gold, and bearing
his crosier, or pastoral staff. lie was
attended by two clergymen and i've acoiytes
appropriately attred. The candidates being
seated, and the clergy having entered the
cbaucel, the Archbishop proceeded to ad-
minister the sacrament Of Confirmation the
recipients kneeling before him by twos' irem
the old man of seventy, whose tottering STEPS
were supported to the altar. to the little in-
uocent of ten, arrayed in virgin white.
Nearly ali the females were without bon
nets, wearing white wells.
Rev. Peter Kroes, Rector OF St. MaryS,
then celebrated Solemn Mass, accompanied
by the music of Mozart's Grand Mass. Nc.
-. from the choir led by Mr.. FOertsch on the
organ. assisted by an efficient orchestra.
After the reading of the Gospel, the Arch
bishop preached an exceedingly able dis
coprse upon the last three verses Of the Cos
pei of St. Matthew.
The exercises concluded at II o'clock, and
the immense crowd, (for the galleries. a'sies'
vestibule, steps, and even the paVemcnts had
been thronged,) dispersed.
Ala o'clock, the church was again crowd
ed. in every part to its utmost capacity
Vespers were cbaunted by the choir, ana at
,be Anthem "Magnifcat" the Archbishop lett
the throne or canopied seat, he occupied, ana
advancing to the front of the altar, eXhoFttd
those who had been confirmed, and who &C.
cunied the entire upper range OF pewS, with
Great force and eloquence. hundred can
5las held by them were then hghted, ano
the darkness of the church occasloneu hy
the gloom of the declining day, thus iilu'
minated, the beautiful appearance oil the al,
tar With its elegant vases oil rare ho"eie ""G
blazing lights, and the array oil peau'iu' anu
| innocent children about to enter upon SOL
emn covenant with God, all combined to pro-
duce one of the most impressive specthcles
| ever witnessed in Alexandria. The prayer
nnon renewal Of the baptlsmal VOWS was
then read by Master Henry }. Neyett, ana
Miss Mary Hurdle, and the children ana
adults. many OF whom were recent converts
to Catholicity, advancing by sections TO the
altar rails received certificates OF co"hfma
ton, and repeated the following WORDS: !
renounce the devil. with all his works ana
pomps, and premise to live ana DIE III INC
IoIv Catholic Church" The services theh
concluded with the Benediction.
THE WEATHER continued, upto yesterday
cold. cloudy, aud rainy. This state oil things
b.s now lasted for more than month
Serious fears begin to be entertained '""'
much injury will be dsne to the wheat crop
az we'll as to the corn crop, unless We soou
have sunshine.
MorSr VERNON. two hundred acres
Of the Mount Vernon Estate, purchased ny
the Ladies' Mount Vernon Association, nave
been laid off by Mr.. S. r. Johnston, aud the
bounds and survey examined and approved
| S.,,r3o, Last nv the officers Of the As