The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-11
The German Catholic Conventiop-Grand
Pontineai High Mass-Imposing CeremO-
nies-Address OF Archbishop MeCloskeY:
Prom the New York Tribane. lth.


PontiAe.i High Mass-ImposIng CeremO-
nies-Address Of Arehbishop MeCloskey:
IFrOm the New York Tribzns. 4thl
The German Catholic Convention now in session
in this city has, as Gdjnctd TO its proceedings the
grsndest ceremonsls that ever were seen in the
history OF the church in this city. The imposing
procession and the solemn high mass on Sunday
last were simply the insugurating ceremonies. On
Monday temporary organization Of the conven.
ton was Effected by the selection of the venerable
John Ament, Of st. Louis, as chairman, and ad.
dresses touching the various object sought 70 be
accomplished were delivered. But yesterday the
permanent organization Of the body was CON-
pleted. In the morning, shortly after O'Clock,
the Independent Rifles. q fine looking German mil
itary company under the command Of Capt. Bear.
man, drew up 10 line opposite the Church of the
Most Holy Redeemer in Third street, whence the
officers proceeded in nine open barouches to the
residence OF the Most Rev. Archbishop McCloskey
in Thirty-sixth street and Madison avenue. Here
the archbishop, accompanied by his secretary the
Rev. Father McNierney, entered one of the car
riages, and the party then proceeded to the Ger.
mania Rooms, Bowery, where the delegates from
the different German soc cites formed into pro-
cesson, wearing the insignia Of their societies and
carrying their banners. The entire party ad-
ysnced thence in procession. escorted by the
Rifles, to the Redemptorist Church, Third street,
led BY Loescue's Germanis Band playing national
airs. On arriving at the church, the archbishop
and his attendants passed under q splendid can
opy into the convent adjoining, where they were
vested In their ecclesiastical robes the archbishop
IN full pontitcas, wearing the inter and carrying
in his hand the crozier. the insignia of his high
dignity. At about ii o'clock the procession Of
ecclesiastics emerged from the convent and pro-
ceeded down the middle aisle of the church
In the following order: Pioneers with drawn
sabres, marching two and two the lay master of
ceremonies bearing his wand Of office; Thur.
fer, escorted by two acolytes on either side
cross-bearer, escorted by two scoytes on either
side; eighteen little boys 10 surplice and scarlet
sontane, two ard two. The United States stand.
ard, borne by an officer of the Rifles. guard
Mounted Rifles. il f1Il dress cooked hats. gold
epsulettes, ivory hilted swords, drawn, marching
two and two. Their names are Capt. Bearman,
First Lieut.. g. Gore, Second Lieut.. Braun, Third
Lieut.. A. huth Fanrich u. Nundecker, Zunkers
3. Shsnerdeyrer, Phi. 6teid l.. Muller and 8.
Prengenzer. Twenty priests 10 surplice and SON.
tame, two and two. Cross bearer, escorted by
two acolytes. Six priests In cassock and surplice
Vicar.General STAIRS. Archbishop McCloskey,
attended by his secretary the Rev. Father Nc.
Neirney, beneath q rich canopy, borne by four
delegates. The deacon and suO-deseon. Youths
carrying the rchbshop's inter, pastoral staff etc.
Twenty young girls OF the no bis of Les Seurs de
Notre Dame, attended by two Of the sisters.
As the procession passed up the aisle toward
the grand altar, the orchestra and organ pealed
forth q iriumphal march, and on reaching the
altar rails the military halted and fell to either
side. and as the archbishop passed through the
line so formed they saluted again. They then
drew up In line fronting the altar, the stan lard
bearer in the center. the pioneers on either flank
As ne, with his attendants, passed between the
lines Of soldeTy, the archbishop was ssluted la
Tntttdtre by the officers, and with a flourish of
uumpets by the orchestra. The delegates &C.
cppied seats reserved for them in the center aisle
Except the portion Of the edifce so reserved, the
church was throDged almost to sufocstion, aud
two or three ladies tainted during the service
from the pressure and excessive heat. The grand
altar and the two side affairs were decorated in
that itch and striking manner which Is par er.
oeaence the distinguishing characteristic of the
Church OF Rome. On the right of the altar, was
unfurled the banner Of Pope Plus TX. The ban.
Ders OF the different societies were fixed at inter.
ysls through the church, producing fine effect.
When the archbishop, with the deacon and
subdeacon on either side, reached the foot of the
altar inside the sanctuary, he commenced the
Intfoi0o dd dhdre Del, and at the same time the
choir pealed forth the Hyie in Mozart's grand
Twelfth Mass, the harmones of which resoundng
through the vaulted aisle stirred the emotion in
every Catholic soul, and riveted the attention of
the vast number of Protestants who had kindly
been provided with seats within the sacred edi.
fee. The solemn High Mass was then continued,
the archbishop being the celebrant; the Very
Kew. Dr. STAIRS vicar general, as assistant priest;
the Rev. Father Weyrich, as deacon; the Rev
Father 0'D0nohue as subdeacon. and the Rev.
Francis McNierney as master ofceremonies The
musical portion of the mass was grand. In al.
clifton 10 the organ there was an orchestra Of
tw enty eight pieces, Prof Spoth organIst OF the
the Twelfth, always a fsvorite among musical |
amateurs, was given with great effect. The |
solos were sustained by Mr.. Trettler, basso;
Miss Miller, soprano, and Mr.. Riess, tenor.
After the reading Of the first gospel, the Rev.
Father Miller, OF Jefferson City, No., assembled
the pulpit, and preached an eloquent sermon in
German, his subject being the power and author
ity Of the Catbolc Church. During the celebra-
ftor If tha mas at ha of
when the host was elevated. the military drawn
up in front OF the altar ssluted with flashing
swords, and the American flag was lowered and
waved three times each-at the conservation of
the bread, at the conservation Of the wine. at
the Domino non sum digRus. and the bishops
kiss of peace, the par UObiSc,Hl. The DORd nObiS
pdceIR-the CONCLUSION of the dgniS Dei-was
given with good effect by the choir (; the grand
harmonies Of Mozart, as embodied 10 that great
musical conception, holding the vast audience
spell bound. When the macs was concluded the
archbishop advanced to the altar rails and ad.
dressed the delegates and the vast cOngrega lou,
He welcomed the former 10 this metropolis, say.
iug he regretted that he was not able TO address
them In the language which was most familiar to
them. He had, however, one consolstion-he
was able to address them in a language common
10 ell Catholics In all lands language that they
all understood; one that speaks alike 70 all Of
language of the holy mother, the
Church, voice that has never changed and
never will change. He congratulated the Ger.
mans upon their open, public aud reverent de-
Of their religion. and implored them
TO hold fast TO II. After complimenting the dele.
gates on the msnuer in which they had evmced
their real for religion he closed by wishing them
all health and happiness in this world and an
eternity of JOY hereafter. The great procession
then reformed in the same order as when ii ec-
tered the church. the orchestra and organ mean
while sending forth a triumphal march, and pro.
ceeded up the middle aisle to the front entrance,
whence il turned into the Convent, aud the dele
rates proceeded 10 Germania Assembly Rooma 10 /