The New York herald., 1871-01-02
NEW ST. ANN's ROMAN CATHOLIC CHuRcr.


Solemn Observation-Disclosures Ceremonies--
Sermon by Archbishop McClosSey-Ssrand
InanGurnti0n Mass--The Etusic and the
Programmc.
Yesterday the church OF St AIMS in
Twelfth street, soemnly dedicated with all the
imposing ana impressive ceremonial OF the Catholic
Church. The congregation was very large. but not
uncomiortaby so, aud some OF the most dlstin.
guished members OF various professions occupied
seats-some attracted to The church by the soemnity
of tue occasion some by the fact that Archbishop
McClos&ey was TO preach, and others by the music,
which promised TO De OF a superior character High
Mass was sung by the Very Rev. william Stars
v. G., assisted by Rev. X. L. Burtsell, d. d. dea-
con; Rev. ]. A. Keogh, sub-deacon; Rev. Francis
McNalrny, master oil ceremonies. and Rev. w. q.
Poole, assistant master OF ceremonies. At haf-past
ten O'Clock the
GRAND PROCESSION .4
entered The church, and the Impressive ceremony
o1 The dedication took place. The middle aisle was
crowded with young girls dressed in white, WITH
wreaths OF flowers their heads. The altar was
brilliantly lighted, and the church presented an
interesting sight, The blue and starred roof and
dingy white color OF the columns, however mar the
beauty OF che architecture. Improvement is needed
In the decorations.
At the close OF the reading OF the Gospel for the
day the Right Rev. Archbishop McCloskey delivered
from the altar the following eloquent and appro-
pirate sermon. taking for hls text the first few
verses OF the twenty first chapter OF th Apoca
lypse:-"And |, John, the holy city, the New
Jerusalem &C.
THE SERMON.
II is, beloved brethren, pleasing circumstance a
happy coincidence, that while to-day our foots teps
pressing on the threshold OF year we ent er
for the first time within the precincts OF this
ing ana warm IelicitaIions which ever accompany
this festive season now TO be added those which
are prompted by the special occas Ion which we are
here 10 celebrate and which is one OF so much In
terest and so much JOY 10 all. I his stately and
majestic temple, so symmetrical In all Its parts
fair IN Its proportions, so goodly TO the eye; this
nooe temple, so creditable TO The genius that has
designed IT, TO the skill aud labor OF those who have
executed H. has this day, as you have just WIT.
SOLEMN RELIGIOUS RITES
and ceremonies, and holy prayer and invocation,
been dedicated TO the honor and to the service OF
Almighty God, under the Invocation OF one OF His
most favored saints. You have offered IL. if may
80 say, TO Him as your New Year offering, and He is
made il HIS own; He adopts it as His abode; and
IN q few moments more He will descend, not, In
deed as a bow in clouds OF majesty but with His
divinity shrouded and His glory vailed, upon this
newly consecrated altar, and abide within TINS
sanctuary, TO bless and sancty this temple,
presence, and assuredy may, from this altar and
In this holy place in the first words which address
MOST SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS
j congratulate your pastor who has been privileged
10 tlls which has been truly FOR MN labor OF
love so quickly and so successfully brought TO It's
accomplishments | congratulate you also, VINO by
your generosity have co-opeTated with him, and
have now the consolation and delight Of kneellng
and worsphiping before this Deauteous altar. You
Eeloice-we all rejoice, ana well may Catholic
heart ever rejoice when there is newborn
altar erected for the holy sacrifice; when new and
WIDER gaze Is opened to Gods noy sanctuary, invt-
Ing hose even who are without 1t TO come and
ter IN when new bond OF contact Is gwen between
earth and heaven, and new voices are added TO
swell the chorus OF thanksgiving ana praise that,
ascending lom the temple earth, rises up to
the one above and Is mingled with that which
and perpetualy surrounds the throne OF the LamD
IN Heaven. And thus are we led from the cortem-
platlon which here meets the eye through the pre-.
seDce OF this material temple TO consider with the
eye OF faith ana with the vision OF the soul another
GRANDER AND MORE GLORIOUS TEMPLE,
that OF which the apostle speaks IN his vision
rs Dehed by him. He beheid, he says '.the new
Jerusalem the city OF God, descending from heaven
and adorned as Drlue for her lusDand.n And he
heard voice, saying Behold the tabernacle Of God
with men, ana lie will dwell with them, and they
saa & he als ~ peope no THIS mis- m material , sempe pie Se
i, another temple, not bult by the hands
by the saviour Christ, which, though ever an
clent Is ever new, which VIII never grow old,
Her foundations, as the Psalmist tells us, are
seated on the holy mountains; her walls are
EARTH her SUBMITS reach the heavens. She mas
been placed rsibly to the eye OF all--not hidden
fixed upon her the stamp OF MS own divinity-has
gwen TO her characters and signs and attributes
whereby at all times and IN al places she shall be
known as His spouse HIS bride, His chosen one on
earth.
UNITY OF THE CHURCH,
and first perhaps, and most onspicuous among all
these marks and attributes is that which eminenly
characterizes The Godhead itself-uniy. God one,
Cnr.ss Is one, and the Church is, therefore. enc.
Vast as may be It's extent spread as 1t may be every
where throughout the world, yet has 1t been made
and proportioned that all Its parts are compacted
ana together IN sucn way as TO
present 10 the eye OF the pehoder but
whole II Is then this unity which marks
the Church OF God as His and Ills alone. In unity Is
the perfection OF It's beauty the secret OF its strength
the oKrn OF heavenly origin the principle OF its
sndestructlbe and its undying lre. Ii is not be
doubted for moment that Cnrlst dld found Church
earth. He himself established II and called II by
Pis name and SAID. upon this rock will build my
Church. against that rock the gates OF he'll shall
never prersil.r He did not say that He would build
churches. but Church, and that IL would be built
upon rock. That rock was Peer and that Church
was founded aud was dedicated 10 the founder for
ever. Whenever allndlng 10 II IN the manner which
his fayorite one--that OF figures and sinlli-
fudas-he DESCRIBED it as
HIS VISIBLE BODY,
vel organized We'll arranged in all its parts, and
all suejec 10 one common head. lie spoke oTt also
AS an empire, as a Kingdom, as cry, as house
hold, as sheepfeld and as one nock under one
sahephere. Aud 10 snow how deeply the desire was
IN His heart tnat that Church should be forever
preserved IN UNITY on the very eve oil His
passion, 41 that NOS touching and m9men y1 o., Gus
ciples. 20 whom be was soon to break
the precious bread, He did not forget His Church.
.'He.y Father He said aIogd 10 his apostles, keep
them IN Thy na1e, that they may be one, we also
are one. And not FOR them only do pray, but for
ail those who. tgrough ny word, shaIl believe IN
me, that they also may De one. as thou art In me
ana | In theen Herein was The prayer first for
unity in ihe BODY OF the apostles and Then FOR unity
among An those who, in the course Of successive
ages, through their ministry aud teaching,
should believe in Christ; and tnaJ that
unity should be SO holy and so perfect as
10 be a 1t resemblance even Of tlat existing
between Jesus Christ our Lord ana Coz me tternai
Father aad lurtner, that hissunlty In the apostle
ship and among Deile ers SHOULD become
UNTO THE wOgLD A SIGN
and an evidence Of the DIVINITY OF Chrsts mission
upon earth, and that believing IN that divinity. they
Should also believe In Ills Church. and, believing III
HIS Church, should enter wthI His fold there 10
nVe ana there TO die ana afterwards 10 be saved.
Mark that lie prayed that all those who.
,hrcugh the word and teaching Of the apostles,