New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-21
THE DEDICATION OF ST. JOHNS
CHURCH..

ouT Guy was the OeOlcatlOu OI tuc lew
church of st. John the Baptist Dryades
street, between Clio and EiatO, on Sunday,
the seventh instant. For more than a year
past this church has been building up from
foundation stone to turret. As it progress.
ed the parishiOners of st. John were en-
abled to judge how stately was to be the
temple in which their prayers were to be
uttered, and even strangers passing that
way saw in its vast extent and in its lofty
walls conclusive evidence that it was des-
tined to he one Of the architectural Orna-
rival New York in the number and beauty
of its churches. In an almost unprecedent-
ed time, considering the solidity and
strength of the entire structure. the church
was completed sufficiently to allow of the
celebration Of the dedication ceremonies
within thirty months from the time Of the
| laying Of the corner stone. The recognized
zeal and earnestness of the pastor, the Rev.
Jeremiah Moynihan land he may well stand
| as a type Of these two qualities), would
| certainly have prepared our community for
such a result, but the speed with which the
| church of st. John was erected and made
| habitable for the sacred uses of religion
| surprised even those who most trusted IN
his energy.
Before describing the splendid temple in
| which, hereafter, are to enshrined the de-
votions of the Catholics of the parish OF St.
John the Baptist, it will be well to say a
| few words of
THE OLD CHURCH,
which has been held to the service Of more
| than generation of Christians. A PLAIN,
unpre tending structure of wood, it's hOmely
walls, its simple altar, its floors we'll worn
by the steps of many and many devout
worshipper, it vet had sutficed for the
spiritual wants Of men and women who
are dead, and who died blessing the little
wooden church in which their sins had
been confessed and absolved-Of those
who were children when they first made
confession, and who are now fathers and
mothers, and filling we'll their duties as
citizens and Christians. More than a year
before the new church had begun to rear
its stately head, this little church had
been scarcely visible from Dryades street,
upon which it had frOnted for years. Hum
BILE as it was, it had symbOlized for thou
sands of reverent souls the sacred mystic
ries of their faith; and neglected, as it is
now, for its more massive successor, 1t
shall remain associated with the spiritual
memories of those who have knelt and
prayed within its walls.
Twenty-onc years ago this church was
built by
FATHER JEREMIAH MOYSIHAN,
the pastor of the parish OF st. John the
Baptist. Those who see that pOpulOus thor
oughfare, Dryades street, would not find it
easy to imagine how desOlate was the church
square on January ], 1850, when this ener-
getic prest-then a young man-was as
signed to St. Johns parish. He was priest
with q flock, but the flock was without
church-withOut property OF any kind.
through the lberality of p. Irwin, Esq, a
citizen who is closely identified with the
prosperity of the entire section. Mr.. Irwin
bought the ground on which the church is
now situated. which, through the then
Archbishop Blanc. was presented to Father
Moynhan. The rest was left in hands that
have held firmly to every work demanded
of them. On the first of May, 1851. the
cornerstone of the wooden church was laid.
On the nineteenth of November following,
it was dedicated the Very Rev. Stephen
Etienne RousselOn, Vicar General, cele-
brating mass, and the late distinguished
Father j. /. Mullen preaching the dedica-
ton sermon.
The parish growing in population, Father
MOynihan erected in 1855, at cost of
$4,000. the st. Johns school. substantial
a thousand pupils. Still DESTROYS OF dedi-
eating the unoccupied ground to the service
of religion, he designed and erected, In 1861,
the ST. Mary's Dominican Convent. lnvOlv-
ing an outlay of Sl7 600. In this he placed
the frs: colony of nuns that had come from
Cabra Convent, near Dublin. and who.
since then, have steadtastly worked to the
greater glory Of God. and in the higher IN
terests of education. These successive
buildings rearing themselves where, ten
wears before, there had been empty grounds.
might have seemed to fill the measure of
duty for the most Jealous and earnest OF
priests. But Father Moynihan did not
think so, and so soon as he could, he ap
pealed to parishiOnerS whose generosity had
never failed him, and to others whose assis-
lance had been always freely extended, for
aid to build church that. in its grandeur
and magniicence, would be worthy of the
God whose minister he was. The appeal
was generously met. The foundation OF the
new temple was laid on the twenty-fourth
of June, 1869. In two years and
half from that date, the mystic and
solemn Christmas midnight mass was
celebrated within it, In two weeks
afterward it was dedicated. From the date
of his assignment as parish priest to that of
the MISUNDERSTANDING only period OF
twenty one years--a vast field OF usefulness
has been opened, religion has received pow
erful impetus and education has been largely
fostered and developed by the systematic ac-
ton and untiring energy OF one man. Few
human lives in SO limited sphere have been
as rich in those works that benefit humanity.
We have, in this connection, the pleasure of
announcing that since the dedication of the
ssveuth of January, Rev. Jeremiah MOyni-
han has, in connection with the Revs. }. j.
Flanagan and H. TumOine, been raised by
Archbishop Perche, as special mark OF re-
cOgnitiOn for their services, to the dignity OF
Canons, and as such, Privy CounsellOrs of
his grace. Hereafter these distinguished
priests are to be officially addressed as
Very Reverend
THE NEW CHURCH
is of the early Renaissance order Of archi-
lecture. In its proportions the first impress.
sion produced on the beholder is that OF
great solidity-of massive strengthen i'm.
posing majesty. The tower, which has been
nearly completed, and the fact that the
upper part of the steeple has not even been
begun tend to strengthen this impression.
But, with this strength, there is, in the per-
feet harmony of all the parts, beauty
that presents much of the Renaissance
grace and lightness in the ensemble Extern
ally, the church is massive without being
clumsy. The walls are unusually high from
the ground, and the buttress-like bell-tOwer
adds greatly to it's general picturesqueness:.
superb specimen, altogether, of style Of
architecture that, if not as elegant as the
Ionic or Doric, is the mother of many noble
and majestic structures. The tower itself
is one that must be universally admired. 1t
is as strong as the famous Tower of St.
| Jaques-as bold as buttress of St. Ouen.
The church (Mr. Thomas Mulligan
being the designer and superintcnd-
| Ing architect) has three arched en-
frances, the main oAe being in the
centre of the tower, and the two
others on either side. Above this central
entrance is niche, upon which is to be
| placed statue Of the tutelar saint of the
parish, st. John the Baptist. Above that is
to be large circular Illuminated window