The New York herald., 1869-05-31
RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN TEES CRY.
CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY.


The foundation stone of the Church OF the Epiph-
any, on Second avenue between Twenty hrst and
Twenty second streets, laid yesterday by Arch
bishop McCl0skey, in presence OF several thousand
spectators. As religious demonstration 1t was
perhaps the most impressive that has occurred In
the city for many years; for it was marked by
lemnty that cannot be forgotten by those who wit
messed it, and 1t Will accordingly be chr0Dicled q
great event In the annals OF the Roman Catholic
Church. Indeed such popular display Of the kind
has seldom been seen, that. too, characterized
by Q decOrum that Enthusiastically manifested the
deep sincerity OF the participants. sea OF human
faces was rvetted to the spot where the reverend
pre,ate planted the seed that to sprout ana
blossom and spread forth it's sheltering branches
protect the faithful. Anon a simultaneous prayer
arose to heaven, and the solemn rite performed
The limits OF the new parish are:-Seveneenth
street TO Twenty fifth street, running from the East
river to Fourth avenue. The overcrowded state of
the Church Of the Immaculated Conception presided
over by the Rev. W. p. MorrOgh d. d., necessitated
the erection Of another temple. temporary church
fitted up in the Demilt building, corner OF Twen-
ty-third street and Second avenue But as the flock
Increased 1t became evident that spacious church
In the vicinity an immediate want. MEETINGS
were accordingly held and site see cted at the
place above mentioned for the erection Of a suitable
ed,fce The present prospects OF its completion are
most encouraging, and before the snow OF the CON-
ing year shall cease to fall splendid church will
rise as a monument to the peoples devotion and
lberaity. The front OF the edi1ce Will be no less
than seventy-six feet wide on Second avenue; the
design being In the style of the ecclesias archl
lecture prevalent In Northern Italy during the
twelfth and thirteenth centuries known as the Lom
bard STYLE and OF which there are but few examples
III 5s sa e ~ nc intended that na the 5
structure OF ONO and Bellevie sandstone. The
tower at the southeast angle win be
feet nigh from the basement The size Of the build
ing win then be 60 feet WIDE by l45 feet long. A
wide hight OF steps will lead to open porch, IL
feet deep ana 80 feet long, supported upon arcade
piers and giving access to the main story. The In
strncted IN M conformity with the Design m WHICH Se I0 #
carried ont, will afford great accommodation TO the
pc m as IS IS ,ne rc ,hs5 the
IN IT'S entirety, viii accommodate over 1000 persons.
The design, BY Mr. lie iGun, the architect, promises
evidently TO make as c0mmOdlous and at the same
time az beautiful q church as possible. Certainly
inaugurated yesterday. The hour set down for tue
sacred rite three O'Clock. but hours before That
streets. Admission was by ticket but admission by
any means was difficult The scene, while bearing
eiess exceedinrIy pictsresoue FaSs and banners
waived from every quarter around the entire cir
cumference OF the place, on the walls and from
the windows, conspicuous being the national en-
biem, the Irish nag, religious devices belonging
to the religious societies. among which were the
bers 0f the immaculate Conception St. Brdget's Tem-
perance societies. and their junior branches, number
ing over 2O0O They were all arrayed with the badges
OF their different orders and were accompanied by
bands Of music Numerous as the members OF those
societies were they made but fragment OF the I'M
mense assemblage Far as the eye could stretch the
upturned faces appeared. From every window
from every house top whence the slightest view could
be obtained spectators appeared Moreover, the
Ianed their groups, and however insecure the posi-
lion OF many might have been al first, IL
rendered doubly so by rapidly increasing
numbers. IL was truly brilliant scene-a grand re,
giOus pageant worthy the occasion and the cause.
AZ the upper end OF the ground wnere the altar VIII
u handsome awning, bearing the inscription ''wel-
come" The front seats were arranged for ladies,
yet scarcely sufficient to accommodate the large
number anxious to witness the ceremonies. Up to
The present time the multitude had been sway
ina to and fro each person trying to settle
himseU as best he could. but suddenly the mum
ceased. Every head was uncovered, IA long process
siOn Of hundred maidens belonging TO the Sodality
Of the Holy Angels slowly advanced to the platform
solemn stiffness prevailed. Then came the pro-
cession Of the clergy, with the Archbishop, with his
dies feeling Of awe and reverence was mani
rue Very Rev Dr. starr, v. g., assisted the Arcn.
bisnop; the Rev. DIR. Mcsweeny oniciated deacon.
Francis xcNirney master Of ceremonies lies \ \ large
number Of clergy took part ln the proceedings.
soong Sse e Rev. oepe M s aeS mr. mr. q
Boyce, OF st. Teresa's the Rev. Mr.. Cuminins,
The Kew. Mr. Hughes, the Rev. Mr.. Larkm,
Rev. Mr.. Mccarthy. The Rev. Dr. Il. l.. Burtsel the
pastor, assisted by Mr. J. j. 1raynor, superintendcd
ihe arrangements. rhe procession after moving
around the churcs proceeded 10 the platform sing.
ing the SD Psalin-'liow beautiful are Tby dwel-
hngs.n Ihe prayer OF dedication was then said by
having sprlnkled the stone three times with holy
water, the Ltany Of the Saints was said after
which. the Archbishop having performed the
tomary rite with the trowel and mortar. previously
placing beneath the stone "a box, containing
American silver dollar, with coins O other countries
n copy Of the NEW YORK HERALD and y few other
Journals. portraits or the Pope, Cardinal Barnbas,
hrchb,shop spau'ding' archbishop ScSiosAey, the
those Of the President OF the United States and tue
Governor OF the STATE The clergy then moved IN
returned singing the Yeni creator Spiratus
The Hcv. DIR. Morogh then delivered an address.
He said II was no unusual circumstance thai had
brought such large concoursc OF people together.
Ihey mad come to he present ut the laying ol cor
ner Stone OF new temple TO pe erected Ia honor Of
tod Ihey were stimulated 10y worldly motive, but
they were actuated by the spirit Of faith which lived
IN their hearts. Already han the corner stone been
prayer Of the representative OF God there me pre-
late had laid the foundation Of the new temple under
the peculiar and beautiful title Of the Epiphany. The
stone had been laid of q temple 10 God "A temple 10
be erected, indeed, by the hands OF man hut onlv
ttkc the temple OF ola erected by Solomon, Jo he
hereafter blessed by the presence OF God b,nseN
tn the holy sacrament. IL was to be house of
prayer sanciiied to .iod, where, a. he promised
prayer OF those who duplicated INN In that muse
bniit by order. 80 also would this new temple he
house Of prayer where 20 supplicate the mercy Of
God, where His ears would he always open 10 hear
the prayers Of the faithful In times of old there
was nut one temple where a sacrifice acceptable to
tou was offered Under the new law--tne law of
love OF charty-god willcd not that that sacrifice
snouiu oe confined to one LOCALITY, but wished u TO
bc spread throughout the whole world and that no
spot on thc lace OF the earth should be without that
pnre and unpolluted sacrifice. The reverend gentle.
man eopucntlv diated upon the spread of reslon
throughout tue world, aud concluded by paying
Ipule 10 the xea energy aud learning OF the pastor
o the pew church. the REV. DIR. Rurtssll The Arch
bishop having pronounced hened,ctlon the ccre.
monies we're brought 20 close The soc,etIes tbep
mUelc al their