Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-18
LOCAL NEWS.
1T. PATRICK'S CHURCH.
Old and New.
History Of the Church.
"Reminiscences OF Old Times.
Description Of the Proposed New
shurca.

NJ tht otklhnlllg OF the present century. when
ashlngton wss IN its infancy, with a popula-
ton of but siN or eight thousand persons only.
mere were bat four places 81 worship within the
corporate Iimts-an Episcopal church. located
near the foot OF the Capitol, in charge OF Rev.
Mr.. Mccormick; a Presbyterian chapel. IN
charge OF Rev. DIR. LOwrle. an the building on r
street, adjoining Wiiliard's hotel, and 81 late
years used a. the billiard room OF THAI houSs: A
Quaker meeting house in the First Ward: and A
small chapel ON BuEEsrd's Point, in the south
CTn section of the CITY, used hv the Catholics
As the city extended westward and the popula-
ton increased the Catholics found IL necessary
10 provide a larger church, in a move convenient
location, and Rev. Father Caffrev, early iu the
present century, purchased from the COmmis-
>loneH of W ashingtOn three lots Is. o and Z in
square 56l on street, between 9th aud l0th
streets, upon which St. Pstrick's church uoW
stands. Father Cafi'rey decided the property 20
the Archbishop Carroll) at that time in charge
OF this diocese. Adjoining property On 4. 10Th
and G streets was subsequently purchased AZ
varioJs times by Rev. Father Matthews, who in
1873, decided the whole of 1t TO Archbishop Ec-
c'eston Archbishop CarrOlls succeSSOrl IN fee
simple. These deeds were for lois :. q. 10, a. IL
IS, II and Is, in square SIC. At a subsequent
date Archbishop EcclestOn decided 10 Father
Matthews life estate in the property to be used
for church purposes. Shortly after Father Caff-
rey purchased the three lots above mentioned a
small frame church was erected. i'm which IN.
Catholics worshipped for some years: but their
congregation grew so rapidly that il Was soon
necessary to tear down the frame building To
make room for a larger one. Accordingly the
Inst portion OF
THE PREsEST BUILDING
OF brick, was erected and in after wears add
tons were made to il until it reached it's present
size. Father Gallery was the first pastor OF the
new church, and Was succeeded i'm 1904 By Rev.
asher Matthews, whose history il ~ well
known in this community. he remained i'm
charge OF the church until his death. April 3lth
III lie was ever foremost in all good work
and his zeal in establishing schools and other
wise caring for the poor is well remembered by
our older citizens. Within the walls of ST
Patrick's Church thousands of the best cit zenS
OF Washington have wOrshipped God during the
present century. Upon its baptIsmal records are
the names OF hundreds who have become emi-
Dent in the various walks OF life; before its
altar the hands Of many a young aud happy
couple have been Joined together. and over rs
sacred threshold the remains of loved ones have
passed TO their quite resting place under the
sod, while the bell toned a solemn requiem Tor
the departed On the 10Th Of May, 1878. the
sacrament OF confirmation was first administer
ed IN St Patrick's Church. Bishop Marshall
then ofhciated, and Of the many who were CON
hrmed on that day, our tellOw-citizen, MIR.
Nicholas Callan, is the only one now living.
The hOungs, Brents, CAROLS, HObans, and
others, who knelt with him at the altar rail have
passed away. One of the largest funerals which
ever took place from the church was that many
years ago, OF Senorita Onis, wife Of Don Onis
the Mexican Minister, then residing here
Upon two occasions have the impressive or,liDa-
ton ceremonies been held i'm 81. Patrick's
The hrst was conducted by Bishop Duharge OF
New Orleans, afterwards elected Cardinal
when Mr.. Mudd was ordained. and the second
time Bishop LannOn oficiated when Rev. .Jere-
miah Kelly and Rev. John Smith were or
dained.
The old church edifice has been
CRUNBLING AWAY
Tor the past fifteen years. In 1850 the roof was
found to be very much decayed. and Archbishop
kendrick directed Father Walter TO repair the
building, which was done. About two wears
ago another examination was made, when il was
found that the floor timberS were 50 rotten a. to
a Of he
floor under one OF the galleries did sink some
inches, and Father Walter recommended that
the building he vacated. Archbishop Spalding
conceded with Father Walter, and directed that
Carroll Hall be Immediately lifted up, O. be Oc-
cupied by the congregation until a new church
could Ice erected, which was done.
The commencement of work upon
THE NEW CHURCH
has been deferred from time TO time, on account
OF the want of means, and because OF an idea
entertained by Archbishop Spalding aud Father
Walter Of selling the valuable property now
owned by the church, 10 erect with the proceeds
large church in a more central portion Of the
parish. Ii has finally been determined not to
leave the present site-which il in the south
west corner Of the parish-and arrangements
are now being made by Father Walter 70 begin
work on the new church early in the spring, it
being his intention to lay the cornerstone on
the 18th of March neNt-St. Patrick's day.
The new church will front on 10th street. adj
joining the pastors residence. IL will be cruel
form, with a front OF 10 feet on 10th street, ex-
tending back $50 feet. Ii win stand back from
the street about 10 feet, and the rear wall will
be within 10 feet OF Carroll Hall. Ii will be OF
the Gothic style,Sf architecture, Of blue gneiss
with light stone trimmings. The front will be
OF dressed stone aud the other walls ranged
work. The walls will be 2H feet thick, and il il
the intention Ia complete the whole exterior OF
the church before commencing work upOn the
inside. The foundations will be Of concrete in
making which all the material i'm the old church
will be used. Special attention will be given 10
the ventilation and acoustic principles and IL
Will be heated by steam. There will be no sid.
galleries, but gallery for the orphan children
OF ST. Nlncents and St JOseph's asylums will
be constructed across the west end of the church
and above this viii be a smaller gallery for the
choir The spire will be about 20 feet high
and chime OF bells Will be placed therein
There will be three large dOCrways on I0fb
street, and niche over the center for life-siZt.
statue Of St. Patrick. The projections or arms
OF the building at the east end, TO he used for
Sacrlsty purposes, viii each extend - or - feet
from the main building. The sanctuary will be
one of the largest in WashingtO i'm which will
be located the main altar Of marble, with two
smaller ones upon either side, one OF which will
be the present altar used at St. Patrick~s
There will be three aisleS, and six rows of new,
numbering IN all about 800. The altar viii be
in the east end. By having the church front ou
10th street instead Of +, the noise from the
stone paving Of the latter JhOr0ughfare will be
avoided. When completed the church viii he
one OF the finest Ina Washington, finished ina the
best manner with frescOea walls stained glass
windows, &c. The new building will not be
completed for four or five years il being the
intention to pay for the work as il progresses
and not incur any debt.
FATHER WALTER,
the present pastor of ST. Patriek's was appointed
to that parish in April, 1860. Rev. Father BOYLE
now pastor OF st. Peters, was his assistant al
first. After Father Boyle was assigned TO St
Peters, Father McCarty was appointed assist
ant pastor, and remained there until the church
OF the Immaculate Conception, ct the corner OF
stn and streets, was erected, when he was
appoted pastor thereof, and Rev. Father Keane,
the present assistant pastor OF st. Patrick's,
ceeded him. St. Patrick's congregation Is now
one OF the largest and wealthiest In the city.
The impression entertained by some, that
4 LARGE CATHEDRAL
Is to be erected on the site of St Patrick's, IN
erroneous, rs such a structure cannot be placed
there unless Washington should be detached
from Baltimore and made q separate fiocese
cathedral Is attached to the residence OF A
bishop, and there is no probability OF washing
ton ever being made separate diocese, as the
diocese Of Maryland has already been decreased
by the detachment OF ths Eastern shore section
from IT, and the attaching OF it to the diocese of
Wilmington.
ATTENTION is called 10 the sale OF a very val-
liable lotto take place on Monday afternoon at
o'clock-situated on the south side Of Penn
syivania avenue, between Sd and AZ streets.