The New York herald., 1870-08-01
NEW JERSEY CHUR GEES.
Dedication OF a Church at Pnterson--sermo


by Rev. Father Byrne.
1t Is characteristic OF Catholics in every quarter OF
the globe 10 labor reigiously In raising up and
embeIisbing temples to the living God, and to show
forth TO present and future ages the impershable
monuments of then zeal. Such an ed!ice-the most
magnificent, perhaps. IN New Jersey-was dedicated
at Paterson yesterday by the Right Rev. DIR. Wood,
OF Philadelphia. Five years ago the OLD
Church OF 81. John the Baptist was promising
TO become TOO small for the congregation,
which was multiplying daily The reverend pastor,
Father McNulty, thereupon conceived the brilliant
idea OF erecting, at the corner OF Main and Grand
streets church which would prove inferior 10 none
in the diocese. The estimated cost was $500, 600.
more than half or which has already been subscribed
by the parishioners. There yet Is much to be done
stone tower 2l5 feet high is TO be Duit further
painting and long labors will be performed, but the
PRESENT ASPECT OF THE STRUCTURE
sufficiently attests It's worth. 1t is RECTANGULAR 175
feet long by eghtyeight feet in breadth, and sixty
feet from the tip Of the roof to the noor. The
walls, which OF brown stone, ascend
erect to q height OF forty.seven feet whence
an arcned roof springs. The style Is the
English Gothic Of the sixteenth century, and was
successfully proposed by the architect, Dir. Keely.
The ceiling of the roof is adorned with paintings in
OIL as are also The SIDE and sanctuary walls The
windows are OF richly stained glass. with stono
sashes and presented by various societies and
individuals, whose respective names appear in
golden letters at the lower verge OF each. An ade-
quae description OF the interior would require much
space; sunce 1t to say that on entering yesterday,
everything was combined which could please the
human eye.
Al hali-past ten clock upwards OF two thousanG
persons were IN the building, while vast thrOng OF
citizens lined the sidewalks oil Nam and Grand
streets to witness the pageantry along the line OF
march. A procession Oh some twenty priests, pre-
ceded by acoyes and youths in surplice and soutan
was formed at the pastors house and moved
towards the church These were followed by the
bishop, in embroidered cope. mitre and crozer.
after whom marched Numerous train, including
MEMBERS oF THE TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.
The procession Lalted at the Main street entrance,
whence the bishop, with his attendants walked
around the four walls during the 1citation OF me
usual prayers The entire throng teh walked IN Orders
entered by he western door. The itany or the
Saints was sung the bishop intonlng the versicles.
and ali the fathers chanting the responses. At the
'Peccatores the celcbrants arrived at the foot OF
the altar aud all fell PROSTATE before tho
ended. His Lordship was then led 10 "tha
bishops CHAIR Oh the episte side OF the sanctuary,
where he assisted at the holy sacrifice. The cross
bearer thuriier acoytes and other attendants soon
issued from the vesiry, followed by the Rev. Father
Senez, who celebrated solemn mass the Rev. Father
hennessy. OF Jersey CITY, ana Father Garvey. Of
Hackensack, officiating az deacon and subdeacoR
respectively. The organ and choir sent forth the
adorned and lllumined, became dim amid
CLOUDS OF INCENSE
| it was an imposing sight to behold the paintings
on either side, surrounded with lamps, contributing
! TO the sOlemnlty OF the scence In the sanctuary
during mass The day itself was auspicious and the
sunbeans had struggle to obtain admission through
! the heavy C0lors Of the windows. The congrega-
tion was oppressed by the heat, the rays being
/ neutralized by Inc thick solid stone OF The walls.
After the gospel the Rev. Father Byrne, OF Cam
den, preached an eloquent sermon, taking his text
from the iith chapter OF the second book OF Para
| llpomenon. Like the Hebrews OF Old who had as
sembed to crown with the choicest gifts OF earth
the hailowed precincts in which the ARK OF the c0ve
nant was to he placed they too came to consecrata
| q temple to the Lord-to witness the august cere
mony Of religion and TO perform ti yisiDe act OF
labored long raise that church, for iney were
merely toiling for Jesus, who loves TO dwell IN the
tabernacles OF men and thence to bestow the abund-
OF mis- riches on the people. 1t was not, there
fore, be wondered at that the ministers Oh the
Catholic Church have never failed IN any age To
combine the genius ana beauty OF Egypt ana Rome
THE IMAGE OF THE DIVINITY
! on the labors OF their hands. 1t might safely be
argued that II the immuiable and eternal God
did not continue ., 10 animate the, the children
| in vlvifylng manmate nature and showing
forth perpeiually that sermons might really be
them made with that OF few years previously.
Then architecture itself seemed dead; There were
no gorgeous cathedrals NO zeal to erect them; but
TUE GENIUS OF oATHoLIClTy
landed on cur shores then and Then alone did the
leap to living lorm; then there churches
wherever u catholic was to be found and the de-
serted plains o. the country gave way to the tower
ing and cross crowned spires.
! The speaker related an incident OF the wondrous
influence which the present Cathedral at Philadel-
phia exerted on Protestant lady, and concluded by
drawing beautiful parallel between the material
temples OF Catholics and the spiritual one, In which
all are united, and The still grander one in the su-
! blme sphere of eternity which awaits us.
AT the close Of the sermon the Impressive ceres
monies Of the mass succeeded and at the "Le mtssG
est' the Bishop addressed few words OF congratu|
! laion to The assemblage and concluded by bidding
them fear not though there be clouds now on the
/ horizon II a storm should visit the Church Will
I go by, as Others have done. He tnen blessed tne
congregation, and mass was over.
| The choir under Mr.. Davis, rendered ample justice
TO selections from Milliard, Farmer and Mcrcadante-
| The immense lhrong then moved slowly from the
church, and they frequently made the proud Doaso
that the Church OF ST. John the Baptist VIII Do
the delight OF many a soiourner when other towers
and churches throughout the diocese shall nave
cIumDleo iniu ruins.