Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1869-03-09
81. MARY'S CHURCH At WEST
DAVENPORT.
The Magnificent Edifice
Nearly Completed.



Finish.
Esolesiastiesl as.hiteeturs has ever been
favorits study with the Catholics. and in
oil parts sf the world where civilization has
extssded, temples for their worship have
been erected With bountiful generosity, and
. careful attention to the esthstic - we'll
as the merely useful. External influences
tell with effect upon human nature, ar the
dim religious light Of the cathedral, doubt
less prepares the soul for solemn thought.
In sarly times, the Church was the pat.
ron Of the arts; and the sculptor, the archi.
teet, the painter and the mason were called
to aid in the adornmsnt Of ito al,ars and its
high places.
In England, the Reformation destroyed
many magnificent ediices and irretrievably
mutilated Others fs- the zeal Of the Puri-
tans was squallsd by their barbarity, and
they took ~ much pleasure in destroying
priceless works Of art. - in getting rid Of
all forms OF prayer and regularity Of wsr~
ship. However, many Of the finest spesi.
linens Of medieval architecture remain, and
exoites the curiosity Of the ignorant and the
admiration ofths levers Of the Beautiful.
In that country, as in ours, the frst
places Of worship we're Of wood. and many
wears elspsed before the chissl and the
trowel, the skill Of the carver and the in-
dustry Of the mason. were called to make
psrpstuity . quality sf the house Of prayer.
Soon after the csnvsrsion of the Ssxons,
the venerable Bsde records the building Of
stone churches at wsarmouth and Jarrow
about the year ESQ; portions Of the one At
Wsarmouth arc still extant, being built in.
70 the more modern enc, erected A. d.
1876. Bede, himself, in his life Of the Alb
bot Wirsmuth. thus speaks Of this church:
"A year after the monastery Of Wearmouih
had been built, Benedict crossed the sea in
to Gaul, and no sooner asked than be
obtained, and carried tack with him ma
sons to build him stsno church in the RoA
man manner, which he had always ad-
mirsd.'
II was thus In Davenport, the first rude
structure for Catholic worship was erected
on Maine street, BY Father Pelamerguss,
and was characterized BY primitive sim
plicity. The last one 10 yet 10 the hands
Of the artifcers, but rapidly approaching
and will be an ornament to the
city and credit 10 the religious body which
has erected it.
We alluds to the handsome brick struot-
urs ~ the western end Of our city. This
building consists Of tower eighty feet in
height. prepared to receive spire. and
pierced for large clock . center and Two
side aisles. ohancel and sacrissy. The total
length Of the church 10 100 feet unbrsksn
length Of the nave, 76 feet and breadth, "a
fec. 10 inchss the central roof has an ele-
vatisn Of 40 feet. Al the tower end an
organ loft 16 feet broad 10 placed, having
pansled front, and which is to receive an
instrument Of large sizs aud remarkable
power. The ebsnesl is divided from the
body Of the church by three arches in the
early Norman style, in conformity with the
architecture ofthe building. The windows
are long and narrow, round headed
openings, consisting Of single lights,
withou. nouldings, in thseamc early style,
and the roof 10 groined to receive them. Six
Of these windows are Of gorgeous stained
glass. One. donated by the Rev. II. F. Fla
vim. contains = st. Patrick. with border Of
vines and the panss filled with
tracery and mosaic work geomet-
rically displayed; the menogram 1.
II. 8. being in tho lower compartment
with . foriated cross above. Opposite to
this 10 another containing the Nsdonna and
Child, the Paraclete and . vase filled with
the typical lilies Of Israel. Another one,
donated by Mrs. Judge Mitchell. displsys .
. font, . bequet Of roses, and tho Alpha
and Omega. Opposite to this is one DO
mated BY special friends. bearing in brilliant
tints the sacrihcial lamb, boquets Of flowers.
and the ineffable sign Of the triuns divinity.
Two others, the gift Of various friends Of
the church, whose names are emblazonsd
10 The lower panels, are ornamsnted with
crowns, the keys, the chalics and wafer,
etc.
The cbancel 10 ceiled 10 cerulean hoe.
studded with stars; on the walls ere
painted in frssco, by our homo artists,
Ficks and Winner the Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin after Raphael. and two
inches containing statues Of Ste. Patrick
ana Bridget. On the walls At the tsrmina-
tion Of the side sisles ere frescosd q St
Joseph and child, and the Annuuciation,
both after the old mssters. Tho interior
Of the church 10 painted . quiet stone color
blocked cot into mason work; the roof
10 richly osnsmsntsd By frssco painting.
The psws ere Of white.Weod, with black
walnas elbows. Alt0gsther THE editice h
ooo Of the most ornamental II the city. and
spssks volumes Ter the energy and libsrslity
OF the C>thelles il eur community, Whe
have - generously given Of their worldly
wealth 70 sesct % Lasting and handsons
msmefisl Of their faith and practice.
Many minor additions remain to Be for,
nishsd, bat any oas whs knows the spirit
Of the UAthelic Church in our city, viii not
doubt bat it will, when completed, vie With
many Eastern churches, iu cities Of far
greater pretensions than Oavsnport.
OPENING OF rHs cauIcs.
This bsautiful building will b opened
for publ, worship on St Patfisk'e day,-
tho 18th inst. From what ~ learn the
ceremonies upon that occasisa will b Of
most imposing character. A grand pre-
esasion will b formed at, and start from
ST. Anthony1 Church. corner of Main and
Fourth streets. at . A. H.. and meat Of the
Catholic societies connected With the sever.
al congregations Of that faith 10 The city,
will Join Ia it. A full band will accom-.
pany them, when after marching through
ssme Of eur principal streets, they will
reseh the new church in time to b present
at high nass q half past ten o'clesk. It 10
undssstood that from twelve to fitesn
clersymsu from various parts Of the State
will be present. The mass viii bs said
with "dsacsr, sub. deacon, master Of cor.
msniss. 10. We are net yss isfeeaed %
to who will preach, but presume the scr.
men win b au eloquent one.
The occasion will be the grandess and
meat tmpoaine eosnected with th6 hintorv