The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-04
INTERESTING SERVICES YESTERDAY.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CELEBRATION.
DEDICATION or A CEMETERy-srRMON BY TUE vica

ROMAN CATHOLIC CELEBRATION.
DEDICATION or CEMETERy-sERMON BY THE VICAR
GENERAL
The Mortuary church, at Calvary Cemetery yes
terday dedicated the Blessed Virgin at half past ten
O'Clock The attendance of the faithful in despite Of the
threatening appearance of the weather. very
aging and long before the sacred commenced the
little church full it could conveniently be- The
distance Of the cemetery from the city great oosta
Gle the increase OF visters but all the hindranccs con
sidered the church very well nied.
Calvary Cemetery church has been erected mainly
through the nstrumentaty of NJ J. ODonneil, ESQ., pr
vate secretary to his grace the Archbishop The style j.
entirely gothic. The plan Of its construction is crucorm
having tower and spire angle and the vestrie
back of the transeps It's length is eighty feet and il
width forty feet with ransepis Of twenty feet EACH
has clear story root and side ascs-thc height
Of each story roof being thirty five feet-cpened
and supported by cluster OF The whole of the
wood work Of the interior Of the building has been paint
cd and stained 10 resemble black walnut, and vanished
The church is lighted by twelve stained glass windows in
the side ases and the tout ensemble is interesting in the
extreme.
The altar of gothic design being lighted from apor
ture in the roof The sirc of the altar is elaboraely
beautiful being composed Of frosted silver, relieved by
FURNISHED nickel and gold The altar table is beautifully
decorated and lighted from the roof i is also Of gothic
construction aud the whole amqnts to 81 600 The
altar table is Of beautifully polished wood, and the deco
rations very artistically arranged.
The church, which Is capable of holding about 900
persons stands on emnence at the northwest
Of the cemetery and has just been completed under the
direction OF the resident chaplain Rev Mr. Henessy
accordance with the assurance Of st. Paul that it is u
holy and wholesome thought TO pray for the dead that
they may be loosed from their sins,' it is customary
with Catholics TO have the burial service read by cler
gyman at the before the remains deposited in
the earth Previously this ceremony had TO be performed
at Calvary in the open air, but henceorth the dead will
he placed in catafalque front Of the altar Of the
tuary church. where the burial service will be performed
II add that the dedication of church TO
the service Of God according the Catholic ritual is
Of the most solemn and important Of all the rites Of that
faith.
Calvary Cemetery the great depository OF the Catholic
dead Of al nations in the vicinity Of New York.
tans within the limits enclosed and in use about fifty
two acres, but its entire dimensions 1l9 acres
II was opened for burial in 184S within the ten years
which have since elapsed 100 900 have been inter
red there The average buras are at about the rate OF
10 OCO year one fourth OF which number buried free
Of charge. These of course from the walks Of the
poor who cannot afford TO purchase the few feet Of earth
destined for their last resting place.
The Of the cemetery also take charge Of the
those Catholics who die in hospitals and pub
lie institutions without friends and pay the expenses Of
The ceremony dedication began shortly before II
O'Clock the very Rev. Father STAIRS, Vicar General the
pastor OF the church, and another priest assisting.
The reverend gentlemen having put on their robes en-
tered the south door Immediately in front Of the altar
chanting they approached the beautiful psalm
"Introibo ad altare Domino"
The acoytes bearing tapers and incense arriving at the
altar they knet tho whole congregation joining in the act
SONS repeated by the officiating priest.
The ceremonies after this Of very interesting
nature congregation most erventiy joined the
prayers which offered to the throne Of for the
living and the dead
The dedcatory service and prayer being concluded
solemn performed by the Rev. Mr.. Hennossey
the worthy minister Of the Mortuary church
The Rev Father STAIRS, Vicar General then delivered
a stirring and logical discourse from the Third Book Of
Kings (Dnoay Bible) eighth chapter and thirteenth
verse'I have built Thee house for Thy dwelling 10 be
Thy most firm throne forever and ever The reverend
pept me
between the ancient Jewish and the present Christian tenn
pcs and he showed with an abundance oi corrcative
of the dedication OF their tcnpc which was but the sign
and shadow Of the greater tSpple 70 come, the holy
him. The promises Of God 70 the Jews only contn
gcnt--,hev we're TO be fully ratified under that
dspensation lie called upon the pcoplcin imitation Of
the Jews of Old the completion OF the Temple, which
was filed by cloud the visible presence OF the Deyto
unite in prayers TO God and to show forth their thoughts
and feelings by their deeds. The dedication of Christian
temple and more especially temple in which prayers
and sacrifices be offered for the living and the
dead OF more importance than the temple Of Solo
mon any other temple that erected. II
the duty Of the Christian 10 rejoice these occasions for
the Jews of old could rejoice in the gories of types and
figures what cxaltaton must be felt by the children Of
the Divine saviour the fulhment Of those types and
fun blaze Of that heavenly light which had been radi
ated 10 the Jewsy
Tho reverend gentleman then entered into learned
and critical exposition OF the doctrine OF the real
presence the sacrament drawing innumerable texts
from the writings OF the Apostles the holy fathers and
said that however difficult might be the doc.
OF the real presence Of the Lord in the sacrament
and sacrifice Of the Mass, IL was no more difficult o.
dcrstand than those other ysterics Of the faith IN which
all Christians believed and he dwc' at length upon the
duty Of all Christians to cling firmly TO that faith which
would not alone afford them consolation ia this life but
would follow them with prayers and ntercessons into the
dark homes Of the dead After very lengthy Grafton,
the Rev Father Starrs thus concluded-Ths chapel IS
dedicated under the OF Lady Of the Holy Rosa
ry and called the Mortuary Chapel Of the Rosaryths
being the feast of the Rosary Let then, beloved
Ir.fl tba and tufer
of the Mother Of God under whose especial patron
are the Rosary has been founded let invoke her TO
present petitions the throne Of and mercy
content that we shall be admitted into the home OF the
blessed.
The special committee the occasion for the arrange
mcnt OF outward affairs consisted OF Mcssrs. Edward
German, John McAuinc, Charles ii. Talbot and John
Lynch. and by their united efforts everything well
conducted that there no room for complaint
The cost cf the entire building estimated ~ o. goo.
and Il has been constructed under the ngpccon aud
by the designs Of Mr. Edward Boyle O Chambers street
The cemetery beautiful place. No more quiet and
tranquil spot could have been selected for the rposc Of
the ashes Of the dead. Already white monuments
sprngng up abundance the hitherto dreary waste,
bnt a viii take many long years 70 hl up the spacious
grounds 50 well consccracd 70 the dead. On many
of the lowly tombs fresh flowers blooming. and
over many nothing but the rank vegetation Of nature
spread covering Many fond but mournful soul might
have been seen bending over the sunken graves, and
while all We'd with the other 10 show reverence 90 The
NAMES VI the departed, no one seemed to forget,
Noctes atquc dics pa,ct ar janua morris.
Dor many hours after tho impressive scrviccs a fcw
thoughtful souls might have been lingering about the
the souls Of their knsmcn and friends, who had be
fore e. the unknown land ~ shadows and darkness.
The benedicton pronounced by the Right Reverend
Father STAIRS, and the congregation quietly disprscd
SERMON BY TIE REV. FRANCIS BURNS,
A ~ n