The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-01
ST. ELIzABETH,s ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

u
Mt Fort Washington-The Picturesque SUR
roundings-Imposing Ceromonies-Scrmon
by Rev. j. Il. INSTRUMENTATION by Arch
bishop NcCloskey.
The progress OF Catho1city on this Continent can
not be better calculated than by the growth Of It's
churches. week ago the Church Of St. Rose OF
Lima was dedicated; yesterday was laid the corner
stone of another in the upper end or Manhattan
Island The locality Is at That part OF the Kings
bridge road where 1s7th street is marked on the
maps lying at the Office of the Department of Pub.
lie Works. This would, however, be poor indica-
ton at present, for
18TH STREET Is YET MYTH,
and likely to be 80 Tor some years to come On
the Kingsbridge road. about q winding half
mile from the bank OF the Hudson, and under
the shelter, as it were, Of Washington delights, the
future Church of st. Elizabeth OF Hungary will
stand The large plot of ground is the joint dona-
ton of Mr.. Joseph Fisher and Mr.. James Gordon
Bennett. The residents OF the lovely nelghborhOod
are mostly Of the weltodo class and hence Is not
surprising to note the names OF many prominent men
among the chief subscribers to the church fund.
One princey gift may be mentioned illustrative Of
the rest that OF Mr.. Charles OConor for $4,000.
The work of laying the foundation was
COMMENCED TWO MONTHS AGO.
The church will be 100 feet long and SO feet wide
Ohio stone trimmings. Aparsonage IS also in course
OF construction the same plot. The whole
will cost about $4,000, ana the dedication is
expected to take place the first Sunday In October
Rev. Henry A. Braun Is the indefatigable pastor
whose best recommendation will be found In the
work he has done.
The day was all in auspiciousnes that the most
devout Catholic could wish-a clear blue sky warm
sunshine and gentle breeze laden with the delicate
perfumes OF the
that clad the plentiful fruit trees IN their frosted
silver garb The scene at four O'Clock the moment
OF commencing the ceremonial, was perfect In It's
picturesque grace. There were not less than two
thousand persons present. and these grouped all
over the ground, concealing Its IRREGULARITIES,
roundlngs The bright dresses OF the
LADIES. The earnest faces OF the men, about sixty
girls in white carrying virgin lilies, the roOed
priests and acolytes, the venerable Archbishop in
full pOA:ifcals and the purple robes OF another Arch
bishop present formed the centre OF
A VERY REMARKABLE PICTURE
OF active" religion The groves beyond the road In
clad in forest green to their summit behind and
tue santng sun setting the leaves on fire with his
On q temporary platform at the back OF the church
the officiating clergy Were seated, when Father
Hecker, OF the Paulist Fathers. came forward and,
reverentially kissing the Arcnbisnop's hand, ad-
dressed the multitode
His text was from the Psalms lxxiii., $50, Lord
OF Hosts, my King and my God.n lie proceeded
II there be any spot where nature could suffice for
mans religious wants here IL Is TO be found by the
IN PRESENCE OF THE BEAuTEous SCENERY
seen everywhere from Its heights. But however
conducive this may be to mans pm sical MOMENT
when man lives with nature alone 1t Is but natural
happiness that he seeks. The distant hills, tue crys-
tai rivers, ,ne SONGS OF oras cannot SATISFY mans
OF God and the truth and grace revealed
by Christ. In these only can maa md
peace, JOY and perfect happiness. You must enter
the house OF God and take part its religious
snip. There the soul nnds
JOY. PEACE AND HAPPINESS.
This 1t was tina! made the Psalmis cry, Holy Is Thy
house." Yet there are men who wish to be con-
was not wise IN mis- Christianity. They see
10 necessity for the expensive machinery
OF His church. Let every man, they say, De his
Can find Christ for himself. But, my brethren, the
Church Is a divine institution. II You wished to
build a bridge over the Hudson. from Washington
Heights TO the Jersey shore, you would mold meet
lngs. select men, OBTAIN char.er elect president
raise capital, employ labor ana then
YOUR BRIDGE COULD MADE.
Unity Is strength, anu this accounts Tor the flct
that great esterprise mas succeeded without
combination. II Is the same with commerce, with
government. Ii was the same with our loreathers
on tins so they have lett Us iree No great idea Is
operative until 1t becomes the subject OF unity ana
cooperation. christianity Is the greatest OF all
IDEAS aiming ut the greatest OF all iniereststha OF
By unity AMI cooperation. The Saviour knew all
things the conditions OF human life and action lie
Incorporated Ills religion, and gave it form. IL Is
absurd TO think, IS one apoosist says. that the
Church is voluntary grouping or individuals Its
mission Is to teach the people; not to be taught by
them. IL does not derive Its power from them, but
from God. Ihe reverse Is as absurd a. trying to
rest pyramid upon Its apex. II religion, II Chris
tIanity 10 be left to every mans desires, 1t
sensible as that every man should be his own rail-
road, his own army, his own United states or
HIS OWN POST OFFICE.
No, my brethren. Without the Church there Is no
Christianity. When Christ came on the world II
was q colossal pagan power. Left to itself now
could II have wthstood the fierce Daroarism from
the north OF Europe2 How In the sixteenth century
amid hnTn no fhn "
OF Turks who threatened TO iced their
horses on It's altars2 Could Individual excrtions
dreaming; you nave lost your senses and your
Christianity. Let me ask you what Is watert A
tricitys A subtle iuid. Yet. place u wheel IN
a stream aud the water becomes mighty
power; put the steam IN Doiicr ana you have an
agent capable OF making anything; connect the
electricity with wire lay 1t Dsneatn TIE OCEAN and
you have most wonderful means OF coaimunica-
Iion. These are lessons OF combination. 1ut tue
Church Is q divine Institution, which Is cvinced IN
the fact that Tor nineteen centuries 1t has existed,
gathering to itself
MILLIONS OF ALL RACES.
In all lands minlling opposing human elements in
its BOSOM For nineteen centuries have Tue sacred
the soil of China to-day as was In Rome IN the
FIRST century. There, too Is the roll OF saints and
goes on increasing the world rolls, while Moham-
mechanism, buddhism, Professionalism and ali the
It Is certainly the grandest institution ever wit
messed on the earth, but IT Is ali the
RESULT OF HUMAN sA9ACfTY.
Notwithstanding, however. TINS human sa gacty
belief OF theirs, these men will sit and tneorlZc IN
their meeting houses and profit IN worldly goods by
the blood OF these martyrs the sanctty OF the saints
and the sanity missionaries they scon ut, although
they would scatter before q real persecuuon DO
Catholics, l ask monopOliZe al the genius OF
the worIig Our modesty prevents us from claiming
30 much. Macauley, Charming ana Bancroft
say so, but I do not believe either one OF these.
POpery is grand, but II must fall Is their old song
Yet the Church marches on more united and more
powerful than any age. But In this land OF Tree
dom OF education they say 1t must fall Lot us take
New York Island. In the beginning OF the century
there were about three hundred Catholics herej now
there are four hundred and fiy thousand. THIS Ii
the rate at which
WE ARE DYING UUT.
The first Catholic church was dedicated one num-
drcd years ago. now there forty fifty churches
This makes the climax; for now we have churcnes
from ST. PETERS by the Battery to st. ElizaDeIhs by
Spuyten Duyyi creek. Our work In future will only
be to fill up the chnks. From heaven our fore
fathers OF old ST. Peters down town Will look down
on you and encourage You In mis- noble work, Wncn