The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-07-26
LETTER FROM INDIANAPOLIS.
Laying of the Cathedral Corner Stone.
INDIANAPOLIS, July "A.

Editors OF the Journal:
The most imposing "~demonstra-
lion " ;. that has been witnessed here
for many months occurred on Sun
day last. Laying the cornerstone of
the Catholic Cathedral, on Tennessee
Street. was the occasion which called
forth this grand display. Special
trains on four of the railways which
center here brought two or three
thousand strangers to witness, or par
ticipate in, the grand pageant. Every
Catholic family in the city and sub
urbs turned out entire from the
week-old baby to the octogenarian
grandsire. Streets, squares, vacant
lots, yards, windows, balconies, roofs,
trees and every other place or object
to which a human being could cling,
and from which n might hope to
get a glimpse of the procession or the
site Of the Cathedral were crowded
with dense masses Of eager expcc-
tants long before the hour announced
for the performance to commence.
THE PROCESSION.
According to programme, the pro-
cessiou formed at St. Mary's German
Catholic Church, in the following
order:
l. United States Flag.
2. Brass Band.
3. German Catholic Benevolent So
e%ieties.
4. Children of St. Peters Congre-
cation.
5. Children of St. Mary's Congrega-
ton.
6. Children of st. Johns Congre-
z. st. Johns Sodality of the Bless
ed Virgin.
Every inducement had been made
which could conduce to the grandeur
and magnificence of this pageant, and
to those who know anything of the
customs of the Catholic. Church it
would be superfluous to say that the
procession was a gorgeous stream of
beauty pouring through our streets.
Space would fail to describe it in detail
or to follow it in its winding way
the reader will therefore imagine it
to have arrived at it's terminal point
the foundation of the Cathedral.
THE CORNER STONE
was laid by Bishop St. PALAIs. ac-
cording to the ceremony prescribed
in the ritual. In the cavity of the
stone were deposited the following
articles: Copies of the Journal,
Herald, FTeemdn's J urnat, Cathotic
Telegraph, and other papers, samples
Of United States coins, etc, and the
following, in Latin and English, re-
corded on parchment. The English
version will suffice:
d. O. NJ.
On the Dist day of July, in the year
of our Lord 1867. Pope Plus the 9th.
by Divine Providence, being Pope;
Rt. Rev, Maurice de St. Palais.
Bishop of the Diocese of Vincennes;
Andrew johnson, President % the
United States;
Conrad Baker, Governor of the
State Of Indiana;
Daniel Macauley, Mayor of Indian
apolis;
d. a. Bolen, architect. and
Michael Hyland, builder, This cor
per stone of the Church of St. John,
the apostle and evangelist. was blessed
and laid by the aforementioned RI.
: Rev. Maurice de St. Palais, III the
presence ana WIN the aSSlStauce OF
Rev. August Bessonies. first pastor OF
the Church and councillor to the Ri.
Rev. Bishop;
Rev. Patrick Richard Fitzpatrick,
second pastor of this church;
Rev. Cornelius Smarius, Priest of
the Society of Jesus, and widely re-
nowned missionary, who preached on
the occasion;
Rev. P. Bede O'Connor, of the
Order of st. Benedict, chancellor of
the Diocese of Vincennes, and council
Tor to the Rt. Rev. Bishop.
Rev. Simon Siegrist, pastor OF St.
Mary's Indianapolis;
Rev. Joseph Petit, pastor of St.
Peters, indianapolis;
Rev. Aloisio Nunnenmacher, as
sistant priest at st. Mary's;
Very Rev. Julian Benoit, Vicar
General of Fort Wayne;
Rev. John Bapt. Crowley, of An
Jacksonville;
Rev. Henry Peters. of Corners
vile;
Rev. Lawrence Lamour, of Union
City;
Rev. John Paul ellis, of Greens
burg;
Rev. John Bapt. Chase, Of Terre
Haute.
The grand event of our days is the
anniversary Of the martyrdom of st.
Peter and St. Paul, who eighteen
hundred years ago believed with
their blood the city of Rome: aud