New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-21

the largest in the city-certainly, they are
the most imposing.
Within the sanctuary there is a semi
circle of smaller pillars. OF simpler design,
supporting gallery around the altar.
Above these pillars are four square pedes-
tails, which, if we judge correctly the
ardor of the reverend pastor, will soon oe
surmOunted by statues OF saints hlgh IN
the Catholic hierarchy and dear TO the
Catholic heart Everything within the
sanctuary itself is necessarily in an unfln-
ished state-the altar being E. temporary
one. and the floor, which is to be laid IN
marble, having now merely brick fOunda-
ton. Everything in the sanctuary speaks
of space, Of grandeur, and when art shall
have laid its majestic and finishing hand
upon it's decorations, it will be noble
shrine for the religion whose sacred Offices
are to be celebrated within It, Grand as
seen now, uncompleted, how far grander
will it be when the full designs OF Father
Moynihan, aided by the science OF the
architect, shall be embodied. The new
church is still in the rough; but, already,
through it's pillars, cornices, pediments
architraves, illuminated windows. decOra-
tons and enrichments, can be seen the
future magnifcence of the whole OF this
latest addition to the Catholic monuments
of New Orleans.
The new altar, which will be finished as
soon as possible, will be thirty feet high.
the side affairs of the Blessed Virgin and St.
Joseph being proportional to it: Father
MOynihan, who, in his own genial fashion,
speaks often of his birth in the country
around Cork. has long been resolved, when
the church which was to signalize his priest
hood, in the most unequivOcal manner, was
to be erected, to get the altar and the adorn-
ments of his sanctuary from Cork. In
structiOns have been < iven to the manutac-
turer in that city to make the new altar
correspond in grandeur with the church
itself.
The new organ, which has been ordered,
and which will soon be placed in position,
will come from the celebrated mandatory
of Henry Esben, of New York. This organ.
which will be the largest in this city, will
certainly be in place by Easter.
We hear something OF chime OF bells,
but as we know nothing positively OF the
same. we prefer merely to announce the
fact. without vOuching for 1t.
Surely it is something of which the city is
in need.
In figures, the church is "a feet wide by
l68 feet deep; the height within, from floor
to ceiling. is IS feet. The nave is 10 feet
wide; the aisles 6 feet each the windows 50
feet high, standing 3l2 feet from the floor.
capable of seating six persons with ease.
Projection Of tower, Is feet.
TIE PROCESSION.
In accordance with the programme pub
lished, the Hibernian Benevolent Associa-
ton, branch No. 4, Of St. John the Baptist
parish, met at half-past eight o'clock, at st.
Johns schoolhOuse. After forming, they
awaited the arrival Of Branch No. 8, after
whom they had sent their band to escort
them to the church. The two branches,
having united, marched down Dryades
street, through Triton walk to Carondelet
street, and through Carondelet to Poydras,
through Poydras to st. Charles, and then to
the square, presenting a splendid appear
ance. After a short delay they were joined
by Branches Nos. l, 9 and 3. and at ten
O'Clock they proceeded to st. John Church,
the home branch leading the line, in the fol
lowing order:
Branch No. 4, seventy-tive strong, ID. A.
Mullane, president: j. McGrath and j. j.
Heally, vice presidents; J. c. Murray, re-
rectary; Francis johnson, treasurer, and
William Smith, marshal.
Branch No. 8. Of st. Francis parish. forty
strong, under William German, president.
Branch No. l, of st. Patrick's parish, 100
strong. Marshals-J. O'Neal and Hugh
Flynn.
4 strong delegation from Branch No. 3,
Of St. Joseph's parish Philip McCabe, pres
dent, and another strong Delegation from
Branch No. 2 of the Third District.
Having reached the front of the church,
Branch No. 4 having opened ranks, the as.
sisting branches passed through the line
into the nave. where chairs had been pro-
vided tor them, the members of No. clos
ing after them.
Long before the societies had arrived,
however, the interest that had been excited.
not only through st. Johns parish, but
through the neighboring parishes. by the
of the approaching benedle-
ton of the splendid structure that, even in
its uncOmpleted state, had commanded gen
eral admiration, had gathered an immense
that filled every available point
within the spacious walls. Here, are few
buildings in the city large enough to have
contained the thrOngs that succeeded IN
getting into the church. There before
immense III numbers, strong
in faith, composed, moreover, OF representa-
tives of various creeds, and embracing
many of our most respected citizens, com
menced
THE DEDICATION CEREMONIES.
In order to impart to these BETTING
solemnity, Father Moynihan had invited
the presence of several OF the most eminent
Bishops of the South The only one whose
duties allowed him to be present. however.
was the Right Reverend Bishop Quinlan, of
Mobile. In special Difference to the pastor
of st. Johns, of whom he entertains high
opinion, the eminent and venerable Most
Reverend N. l. Perche, Archbishop of New
Orleans, had consented to bless the church
which is destined to be one Of the orna-
ments of his diocese
One of the largest clerical delegations
which We have seen for long time was
present Among these, We noticed IN the
sanctuary Reverend Fathers Smith, of St.
Joseph; Cornelius Moynihan, Of st. Peter;
Kenny and Massardier, of St. Theresa; Allen
and Hesslin. of st. Patrick; Sheean, OF ST.
Michael; Murphy, S. j.; and Reverend
Father FOote, acting as master OF cere-
monies.
At eleven o'clock, all the clergy in attend
ance, with the acolytes, went formally in
procession to the presbytery to escort his
grace, the archbishop, to the church that
awaited his benedictiOn.
At this time, the scene, even without the
religious Accomplishments that, for the mo-
ment, were absent, was most imposing
one. One dense mass of humanity i'll the
central pews, even to the distant door; a
strong array of the Hibernian societies in the
grand aisle, with their rich banners and
their uniforms: around and about each
colossal column, another dense mass of hui
manity, mingling its hues and lending GER
tain sOttness to the base of each; and above,
gallery lined with still another dense mass
of humanity, all toned down to the most eX-
uuisite and decorous hush. The new church
may often, hereafter, be crowded within all
its spaces, vast as they are, but it will prob
ably never see SO imposing an assembly as
that which attended its solemn dedication.
The Archbishop Perche and Bishop
Quinlan having entered the church, pro
ceeded to the sanctuary, where prayers ap
propriate to the occasion were lntoned
The two prelates then, attended by repre-
eon+atirns of the Catholic church. hest