Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-12-23
CATHOLICISM.


WIS lhlu WIN Impressive III Lue pres
ence of an immense concourse OF people, at the
corner OF Fourth and jackson streets. Work on
the building has since proceeded with great reg
ularity and rapdty, and It is now ready for occu-
patton, and was yesterday formally dedicated to
God.
The building is III feet in length by Ga feet in
width, and has a lecture room 10 the basement
and the large audience room, or church proper,
upstairs. 1t is built Of brick and has a brick
tower 10 feet high, which is yet TO be surmount-
ed by ste eple, which will make II about 100 feet
high. The pews OF the body of the church will
hold $40 people, and the galleries, not yet finish
ed, will hold q considerable numter more, max
ing the capacity Of the church ut least 900.
The edlhce Is Of no particular style OF archtec
ture, is quite plain inside and out but withal very
comfortable. It was built under the superlntend-
ence of Mr.. Chas. McCioskey, who Is generally
compmented on the solidity and thoroughpess
of his work and the rapidity. of Its performance.
As the church is not yet entirely paid for 1t was
merely dedicated yesterday, and Is yet to be con-
secrated 1t being contrary the laws and usages of
the Catholic church to consecrate any building to
God on which man has claim.
Though m admission fee of one dollar was
charged to the dedicatory services yesterday, the
church was crowded, and the collection at the
door amounted to nearly $1,000.
At quarter past 10 the Bishop, Priests and
Acolytes entered the church and passed In pro
cession up to the altar, where they said the "Lit-
any Of the Saints" The officiating ecclesiastics
were -
IT. Rev. Thomas A. Becker, Bishop of Will
mington, Father Plunkett, of Portsmouth, Va,
Arch Deacon, Father Kelly, Deacon Of the Mass,
Father Fallon, Sub-Deacon, Fathers Kelley, and
M. A. McGrane, Deacons OF Honor, Fathers
Thomas, OF Baltimore, aud Peter McGranr, of
Wilmington, Masters of Ceremonies. All wore
the rich vestments of the church and the scene as
they gathered around the altar, brilliant with
flowers and lights, with the numerous richly
clad acolytee, was an impressive one to every de-
vout Catholic.
After the Litany of the Saints quartette in the
choir sang an save Maris Stella" after which
the celebration of the Mass commenced, splen-
did choir consisting Of the combined choirs OF St.
Peters and 81. Mary's churches with John +.
Miller, ESQ, at the organ singing Mozarts Twelfth
Mass. At tho oifertory :" Tantum Ergo" by
Rossi was sung, and again after the benediction
they sang n " TIE Deum," by Lloyd. These who
know anything of either OF the choirs united on
this occasion need not be told that the music was
grand and well earned the thanks the Bishop
gave the choir ct the close of the service. The
Bishop read the prayer of Solomon at the dedica-
ton OF the Temple ut Jerusalem after which he
commenced,
THE SERMON
by an alusieu to the brief time that had elapsed
since the corner stone of tho ediice was laid
said the erection Of this house showed the regard
Of his hearers for the service OF God and the
decency Of worship, and their appreciation OF
the need OF more room for Catholic services 10
pirate selection than that which preceded the
discourse, as he had read the beginning OF the
chapter at the laying of the corner stone last
June. The building and the ground whereon II
stood were to be sacred. and the chapter showed
the local sanctity thus attached to the Temple OF
the Jewish Church. That church was the mother
of the Catholic church, within 1t was the only
true religion nj that time and 1t was infalibe
until the coming Of Christ That church had
recognized the local sanctity of the Temple and
even of the ground around about it. Christ came
to fulfil and not to destroy. He went up to the
Temple as q man. and joined In the sacrifice for
sin which typi1ed the shedding of his own blood;
In that Temple i had been promised that GOD
would dwell until the coming of Him who was
to fulfil all things our Messiah God. But not
merely did a local sanctity attach 10 that spot,
but it was dedicated not without magnificent
ceremnnies and the worship therein was conduct
hood This was a standing rebukc to those who
think that sweetness and simplicity and Kindness
of heart are all that are necessary TO the service
of God. Christ had joined In the splendid services
Of the Temple and thereby set the seal oil MS
approval upon them.
But Christ had come TO make new sacrifice
which was to take the place OF all others, he had
said "as God go TO atone Tor tne sins OF a
stained world, but meek and lowly as ne was ne
had not di.approved OF the ceremonies OF inc
Temple. But not merely was the Temple holy,
but particular parts where more holy and such
was the sanctily of the Holy Of Holes, that
any unauthorized person passing the vail was
struck with instant death. He had those shown
the magnihcence of the religion first established
of God and the sacrcdness of It's holy places; that
religion was the mother Of the Christian church,
and the only true religion before Christ. :.
Christ came rs High Priest not according 10
Aaron, but of the order of Melchisedc. dc came
for all, and died TO give opportunity for salvation
to every mau IN the world. He chose to descend
from his throne on high and became as liltle
child. AS he came to establish true priesthood,
and extend salvation TO all the people OF the
earth, holy place ceased to be satisfactory 10
God. and he would no longer have the sacrifice of
bulls and goats but would Institute sacrfce
which would be offered up everywhere. Christ
on the night of his betrayal In his character OF
priest instituted this one sacrifice, breaking tne
bread and passing the cup, and this was the only
act he had performed in his priestly character.
His body and his blood are still offered up IN ms
sacrifice wherever there is q Catholic church;;
Here is a religion at whose affairs four hundred
millions bow--a religion with arms that embrace
the world. Thinking men are beginning 10 SEC
that all men must 20 one way or tue other. IL
must be Christianity or inidelity, and II Christi
apity, catholcity ms there is no Christianity the
crowd Of vaccilatlng sects, the followers u men,
we see around us. Christ came MS High Priest,
rs pointif to fulfil oil the sacrifices and to unity
them and to make them for oil, no matter what
their condition, nationality, complexion or race;
He had had Instituted valid priesthood and
given il authority, dni thus ia derived the author.
iiy of the High Priest now Pontiif. lie had said
to his priests .he who hears ye hears me, and he
who hears me hears Him who sent me-" There
has never been n religion without sacrifice or
without priesthood. The Catholic Church mas
both. The sects around us have neither, but
merely ministers or servants. There was but one
church of Christ, and that was the Holy Catholic
| Church, and its altar built here will stand Tor
ever. The people had done well in building tins
church. He would make no exceptions, lot nc
knew that those who had not done their best
would vet do more, and so he would invoke ON