The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-22
Conservation Of Bishop McNierney at St.
Patrick'S Cathedral.
A GREAT RELIGIOUS PAGEANT.
Eighteen Bishops and Over Ninety Priests
in Attendance Great Rush for Admit
lance to the Sacred Ediflce-
Splendid Music and
Gorgeous Scenes.
BISHOP BAILEY'S SERMON,

st. Patrick's Cathedral was yesterday morning
crowded to its utmost capacity with the thousands
who attended the conservation Of Bishop McNier-
ney. From nine O'Clock until half-past ten, the
hour for the opening of the service, the people
continued to fock to the church. eagerly demand
ing admission. Police officers were stationed at
the gates on Mott street to keep order, and here
there was
A CRUSH AND RUSH
for entrance that must have proved hazardous and
fatiguing to the thrOngs Of ladies seeking admls-
sion. At ten O'Clock nearly every pew IN the
church was filled, and yet there were thousands
outside hoping for chance to get In. Around the
Mulberry street entrance numbers of persons had
also gathered; but though admission was here next
to an impossibility, except for those provided with
official passes the walters were rewarded by get
ting good view Of the dignitaries who were to
off1ciate at the ceremonies as they arrived The
venerable prelates, who had come from all parts OF
the country to testy to the faith that was In them,"
by their presence at the conservation thus formed
cynosure for crowds OF men and women, who
focked around them almost unc0nsciously. Only
very few Of the preates were known to the people,
and all that could be done by the crowds, therefore,
was to admire the venerable appearance Of
THESE HEROES OF THE CHURCH
were, and hem them In as long as they could. On
the arrival of Father McNierney he was met by hun
dreds Of his old parishioners whose murmurs Of
good will the promoted priest responded to with
smiles and tokens of recognition. AS the venerable
Archbishop McCloskey appeared the crowds rever-
emily stood aside and allowed the holy old man an
easy passage to the steps leading to the sacrisy.
In fact the street the vicinity Of the Cathedral was
full of the leading divines of the city, the pastors and
most OF the assistant pastors all having come to
participate in the service.
The scene inside the church was one of those that
be only on gala days in Catholic churches,
when priests and people alike are excited about
some great event. The priest who was about to be
consecrated bishop was SO long and favorably
known in the Cathedral parish, having spent seven
teen years of his life as minister there that this
in no small degree added to the great anxiety felt
to witness the ceremony by which he was to be
raised to the episcopacy. The arrangements for the
pews were so well executed that but little con-
fusion occurred inside the building,
THE SEA OF FACES IN THE CHURCH
appearing to be simply in complacent expectation
Of something very grand. The three affairs were
especially decorated for the occasion and pre-
sented most gorgeous appearance, though nothing
gaudy tinsel-like offended the eye The
lights surrounding the sanctuary were quite
SUFFICIENT for effect while the clusters Of lighted
tapers, in richly gilded candlestcks Of massive and
elegant designs, that illuminated the principal altar
showed fine taste in their arrangement. Over the
tabernacle q gold cross rested in bed Of flowers
and natural and artificial flowers were elegantly
arranged among the lights all the affairs, giving
the entire sanctuary most brilliant appearance.
At half-past ten O'Clock the procession began to
from the sacrisy: first the cross bearer, fol-
lowed by acOlytes; then number of boys dressed
in red, black or white cossacks, all Of whom 0ccu-
pied places in the sanctuary, and after these the
priests, two by two. The priests after genunecting
before the blessed sacrament went down the mid
die aisle, where chairs had been placed for them,
and as the last Of them had emerged from the
sacristy the bishops vested in simple rockets, fol-
lowed and took their places in the sanctuary. Then
came
THE BISHOP ELECT
supported on either side by the two assistant
bishops next came the deacon and sub-deacon OF
the mass, then the assistant priest and finally the
Archbishop, having his deacons Of honor on either
side Of him. While the procession was coming ont
and getting arranged the organ was playing and
the effect of all this pomp may be easily imagined.
BISHOPS AND PRIESTS PRESENT.
The officiating prelates and priests were :-Cele-
brant and consecrator, Archbishop McCloskey; as
SStant priest, very Kew. Dr. STAIRS; Deac0nS or
Honor to the Archbishop, Rev. Fathers Preston and
QUINN Deacon of the Mass, Rev. Father McManee;
Sub-Deacon of the Mass, Rev. Father Kane, AS
sstant Bishops, Bishop Loughlin. of Brooklyn, and
Bishop Baker, Of Portiand Chaplain to the Elect
Rev. Father Richard Brennan; Master Of Ceremo-
MES, Rev. Father Kearney; Assistant Master Of
Ceremonies, Rev. Father Mcdowell.
The Bishops present were bishop De Groesland,
Of Burlington, VI; Bishop Williams, Of Boston
Of Hartford; Bishop McQnaid, Of Rochester; Bishop
Ryan, of Buffalo; Bishop O'Hara, of Scranton;
Bishop Shannahan, of Harrisburg; Bishop Woods OF
philadelphia; Bishop McCloskey, of Louisville,
KY; Bishop Becker, of Delaware; Bishop Farrell,
of Hamilton, Canada; Bishop Horan of Kingston,
Canada, and Rev. +. Wadhams, Bishop elect Of
Ogdensburg.
The priests who attended numbered over ninety,
and among them were some from Brooklyn, Jersey,
Montreal and Albany. From this city nearly all the
pastors were present.
In yesterdays HERALD full description OF the
conservation service was given, so that it is nm
necessary here to repeat 1t. The service In all
its parts was most solemn in the extreme. Much
of 1t was concluded before the gospel. the new
Bishop having by that time been consecrated with
the oils.
The appearance of the bishops in their purple
dress, the glittering vesments of the officiating
bishops and priests and the pretty appearance OF
the attending boys In cassock and surplce all made
up almosta
RELIGIOUS PANORAMA,
so constantly varying were the different parts OF
the ceremony and so strangely solemn were they In
the earnest and devoted manner In which they
were performed. scarcely had the oath been taken
than the familiar mass went on, and then came the
solemn scene of the prostration and the singing oil
the ltanes the responses to which were given ny
all the priests along the entire centre aisle. Then
there was the stu more impressive ceremony OF the
amounting OF the elect with oils and chrism, AFTER
whice he was led to a side altar, his forehead
swathed in some white cloth. The familiar mass
again continued, one going on at the hlgh altar ny
the Archbishop and another at St. Joseph's altar
by the elect. Then there was the blessing
OF a croZier and Of the mitre; the assumption OF
both by the new bishop, and after all this the Arch
bishop resigned the episcopal throne and the new
bishop was placed upon it. Then Bishop McNierney
was led down the centre aisle, as 1t We're in tri
umph, and while he was making the circuit of the
church. scattering his fresh episcopal blessings,
TIE Deum was sung by full chcir The mass was
concluded by the Archbishop, the new bishop off,
catng also at the high altar
These few leading scenes out of q number OF less
prominent ones will readily show
THE CHANGING BEAUTIES
in the service the Church uses in the making OF
bishop From first to last there was either a touch
ing act Of humiliation and faith or the chanted
prayers of the Church for one about to be dignlned
or the ever-solemn parts OF the never-tiring mass
ara ope nd hur of