New-York tribune., 1868-06-22
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL OF
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

BISHOP MCLOSKEl-AN IMMENSE ASoEA-
| BLAGE AND IMPOSING CEREMONY.
| The ceremony of laying the corner stone OF
the new Cathedral Church of the Immaculate Conception
took place Yesterday afternoon in presence OF vast
assembage Of people numbering perhaps $4,000 and re-
presenting nearly every Catholic congregation, and
nearly every Catholic Civic Association in Brooklyn
New-York and Jersey City. The space occupied by the
| new Cathedral ia bounded by Lafayette, Vanderbilt
CermOnt and Greeneayes., fronting on the iormeT ana
the position il one Of the commanding in the city
surrounded almost by churches Of fine architectural
finish, representing different Protestant denominations
The walls OF the proposed edice which designed To be
one OF the largest cOmmOdious and perhaps the
finest in architectural finish and adOrnnents on the
American continent raised To the height OF about SIX
The inclOsed space, AS 1t now ls, affords standing
room for about 10000 persons and every portion was
occupied. In the over the spot where the sanctuary
is to be erected raised large tent ioored ana pro
vided with benches soping upward and outward from
the cross IN the cents rom "ilCu tne ~ ~ h
memoratye of the occasion was delivered by ths hlfn
At o'clock D. m precisely the religious ceremonies
from the robing the Nanderbaye. side OF the
wall, marched into the ncosuTe in the iul9wlng order
The crOssbearer with two acOlytes Tearing lighted can
dies the Clergy 10 the number on 49, Two Dy Wo among
them were the Rey Fathers lIicl Gleason lHTnef Ma
Curran Cassidy, Doris, Kecgan, Mooney Fitzpatrick,
and Srcbbsho1 McC'loskey of New-York The Bishops
according TO seniority. consisting OF Right Reys McFar
land Of Providence, Il L. ConrOy OF Albany, n 4; VII
Iiams OF Boston, Mass Bacon of Portland, Me, and
Woods of Philadelphia, Ia. The Rev Father Gardner Of
st. James Cathedral, Master OF Ceremonies Bishop
Laughin. with assisting minister's wearing his cope and
mtrc and carrying his crOzieI in the left hand.
The procession marched in the above order TO the cen
ter Of the pavilion where the sanctuary IS to be erected
and the Bishop spunled the SPOT with holy water the
choir singing dnhphon and psalm meantime following
with the prayer Domino Deus by the Bishop. Ilchce
procession moved 10 the cornerstone ana the Bishop
blessed IT, repeating "Our help Is in the name Of the
Lord, who made Heaven ana earth blessed be me name
OF the Lord and forever. The stone which the
builder rejected is the head of the corner Ihon art
Peter and on tins rock VIII Dud my chureh HloIy oe
the Father and To the son, and To- the Holy Ghost AS
IL was IN lns fe no" In ryr and
the stone was laid Upon 1t was the following inscrp
the honor Of God Invocation Of the Blessed Virgin
Mary conceived without stain John Lougn Bishop OF Bfoo. e
m John McCcv Ieng Archbishop NevYok. Andrew johnson
h Pres lent otfe United States Reuben Futon being Governor
OF fNewYok Marlin Kabh being MAYOR Of BFookn and Patrick
Charles Keeley being architect and Francs ,aran bille ,
The contents OF the box, hermeucally sealed which
placed IN the stone were a. follows cory each 1i
Ihe Metl2Po1' Rceord Se lorh ~ fFe,,g's % 5 g2"na ,
NEw-YoRK TRIBUNE, hpaid. World and Times beside
The ceremony OF blessing the foundations OF the church
then performed. the Bishop and priests making
and reciting appropriate prayers while the customary
psalms were sung by the choir After the conclusion Of
and reCtcd prayer when the procession OF priests re-
turned 20 the tent aud Archbishop ascending the nlS
Of Ezra, 30 chapter, commencing At the l1h
verse, and concluding with the chapter, ne
Catholic Church and faith. chaIactcrizing u a. The
purest, the best. and most universally adapted o the
spiritual wants OF mankind. lie observed that no Church
had made such steady progress even anna pcfsccoLs
in monarches, In desposins ana nreubcs alike While
IL had encountered the opposition of foes IN All climts
and under all forms of Governments. lie alluded To TIE
fact that he was born n the CITY oi B0okyn ana ne re-
his father what then known as Hck,s Ferry
to NrygYork fo worship u old ST. Peters Church, n
Barcayst There was Catholic Church here then, and
little did he dream That on TINS occasion he
should stand this spot 20 congratulate the
Catholics OF BROOKLYN on such a grand cOusummatOn-
the beginning OF grand ending. lie little thought Of
witnessing ,ch spectacle To see the foundation erected
and the laid by Bishop ol Brooklyn, sur
rounded by prclacs aud numerous clergy ifpm dr ad
near. and such numerous coueoursc Of people TO take
part I'm such % goIiDus work They here be- said 10
rear mp monument Of Catholic faith generosity zeal
and genius catholic architectural taste and -kil and
adding newer beauty ,s pewST g9y' bn dS a%d @noigs %
source on pride 10 Nhat WIS diItsu9 ii ~ ~
the CITY Of Churches; lhcy had Ihld ue Iouu" .ios
broad aud deep order that they might rear upon Them
u massive pile TO endure for the days ana generations IN
the far on future yet To come u was an ,es, o 'Ie
holy deeds yet reserve IN the bosom VI the iuuit III
conclusion the Archbishop pronounced the Pontlhcml
bcncdcilOn upon al present. ana the vast "'''HDdse
dispersed. ...,.,....,. ~, .,. ,.,, ,,,ro,,.l .b
avenues iu the immediate vicinity Of the Cathedral, there
was large representation Of civic societies forming a
ceties Young Mems T. A. B Societies. lIborers Union.
Lougshoremens Societies, aud various church societies
The police arrangements, which were under the mmcd
ate charge OF Inspector Folk, were admirable. Capt
Waddy OF the 4ih Precinct had charge OF the dedch
order
The following description Of the building: The ed
fee Will French Gothic style Of architecture Of the
18th century, selected Offering the greatest scope for
supplying modern wants, while retaining the breadth and
beauties Of the most perfect period of pointed archec
fbr rear Of the chapel is 35l feet; length from front en-
trance Of tie apse 2 feet extreme breadth at
the Tauscp $50 feet extreme breadth OF nave ana aslcs
9s The large chapel viii be 40 feet wide, and 30 feet
long, the frontage Iafayetc-ayc The large
front 10 be 80 feet square al the base ana Will
De $50 hight from the surface TO the top Of the
the small towers at the tanset are q ee at the
base and will he ls5 feet IN hight The top 0 the nave
roof will be 2 feet high above the level OF the street IN
front The aisle walls viii be 81 feet high aud the nave
and transcept ceilings will be sj feet high above the
floor; aisle ceilings, So feet. The cmef pc
cularitics Of the interior arrangement will be
the great hight and importance given the
aisles The church will be lighted chiefly from those
which, instead OF being low sheds rs they Often are III
modern Gothic churches, VIII Dc Hgsoe, ana almost
as lofty the nave itself The sanctuary VIII be * feet
deep aud s8 feet wide The nave wlll terminate 10y hn
apse sides, under which the high altar VIII stand
The ases will terminate with small chapes ana aiaIs
archways will open from the arms OF the uahseps INTO
the large chapels The main portion OF the WORK VIII DE
built of blue granite in courses OF broken ashar varying
from eight 10 SIX inches hight All the exterior Trim
dow tracery and decorations VIII be OF ONO bun iree
stone mixed with Beeve gray ffeestone The pillars
of oak timber covered with the best quality OF slate
The floors viii be paved with encaustlc ne me IuTn-
ture will be of oak, dressed with black walnut inc
glass The altars, aredos and tabernaclcs VIII
he made Of the best quality OF marble. Inc plan
consists Of large front towers set dagOnay win te
church through which there will be two wide entrances
The western Will contain the CLOCK ana laiec peu
and the eastern chime OF bells STAR ana t1f-
asceudcd 10 height Of feet. large Ycstbue con
meets these towers the front win Two slnal chapes IN
the same, 10 DE baptsty ana the Otner marriage
chanel The and aseS are 10 DC gted by IA lhBe
windows The small towers a the angles oi the tfanscPt
will have the "augeus" bell in one, and me Fesper Del
iu the other The frOnt VcslIDues VIII nave panelcd
ceiling supported by moulded arches and enriched cor
bels an decorated IN pOlychrOme. The Windows VIII he
~ stained glass with representations OF The Fan OF Man,
ing will be lighted with gas ana heated Dy stcani ahI
when an is finished the general effect VIII De superb ana
convey the mind combined ldea OI maghI'uue' h"s
siycEcss and splcndor.
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