The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-09-29

W
THE ~MAeJe CITY" OF TIE SOUTH.
BIRMINGHAM, ALA.,, Sept. 16, 1872.
Editor Morniag Star and Catholic Messenger:
From this much talked of, much to be won>
dsred at city, of magical growth, among the
Jefferson hills, we send you q friendly greet
ing. As in sorrow our overburdened hearts
seek sympathy, SO in happines we
desire to share the abund ance Of our joy. And
We, Catholics of Bir min CHAM, have cause for
happiness. Henceforth the 18th of September
upon which fell vest erday, the sweet Feast of
the Holy Name Of Mary. will be kept rs the
feast of the dedication of our first Church,
under the patronage of the great Apostle Of
the Gentiles, st. P au1. 1t is due to the Rev.
VIM. F. MeDonough that we have the largest
and the only complete Church edifcs in the
city; it, being both the admiration and tho
envy of those differing with us in religious
belief. 49,, -. nt ...- ,lar
more beautiful day could not have been
desired it was 80 cecil, so calm, so bright"
Tho glorious autumn sun reflected in its
cloudless splendor the happiness of the hearts
Of the faithful, whose labors and hopes were
to be crowned on this glad morning and, as
the surrounding hills echoed for the first time
10 the Churoh's grandeold Gregorian tones,
ehanted by the priests aud choir, as, in solemn
procession, led by tho eross-bearer, they made
the eircuit outside the building, we thought
how, in the future, there may be time wh en-,
upon every hilltop, there shal be q conaecrst-
ed altar, raised over which the emblem Of our
salvation shall oatoh the first rays of the
rising sun, ere yet his light has shone apon the
lower plains.
Blrmin CHAM Is situated at the crossing Of
the A. and C.. Railroad, from Meridian to
Chsttanooga, with the North and South Road,
from Montgomery to Decatur. Special trains
from Tuscaloosa and Blount brought in large
numbers of persons; Montgomery and Selma
were also we'll represented, As were all points
pie patiently awaiting admission into the
building, LONG before the time for the oerene-
nies, was immense.
. Prior to the issuance Of the procession from
the Church, Father MeDonough, within whose
mission Jefferson county il included, addressed
the assembled multitude from the porch,
words of regret, Of thanks, Of apology, and
of promise" OF regret-thas, by the nature
Of the ceremonies, they had been kept waiting
outside; Of thanks-to the Land Company,
for their magnificent gift of the ground upon
which the Church is bnilt-to tho inhabitants
of Birmingham, for their generous response
when he appealed to them for help-and
especially to the laboring men upon the North
and South Road; Of apology-because of the
incapacity of the building to accommodate so
great q, crowd; and of promise-that, if the
city should continue to grow with the same
wonderful rapidty, there should be erected,
within three years, a grand temple in which
all may be comfortably seated.
The ceremony of dedication was then per
formed, according to the solemn ritual of the
Church, and the Mass celebra by the Very
Rev. A. d. Pelliccr, V. c., assisted by the Rev.
D. Manucy of Montgomery, and the Rev. C..
F. oCallahan, ofMobile. Rev. Father O'Leary,
of Selma, who also was present, brought his
choir for the occasion. The three gentlemen
composing this choir sang the Mass with fine
effect. The ceremonies throughout were of
che most imposing character. This being the
first celebration OF o Solemn High Mass, in
this pert Of Alabama, it was o novel sight
to the greater number oven Of the Catholics
present. The Church Is we'll Constructed for
s0und, and the rich tones of the oelebrant's
voice were never heard to better advantage.
The sermon was preached by Father Manu-
cy. After reading tho promises made by
Almighty God, to Solomon, UPON the compile
ton Of the Temple, tho Rev. Father described
the magniAssnOe OF the RrSt Temple, eompSr-
ing the types OF the Old Law, with the glorious
realities Of the Christian Church. All Father
Manucy's sermons whether in explanation of
Christian doctrine, or in exposition and de-
fence of Catholic tenets, are within the COM
prehension of all GLASSES of his hearers, and
are instructive aAd interesting to tho highest
degree; whilst, occasionally. an original ex-
precision, or qusiut idea, like clarion note,
or the stroke of . sIedse-hamuseF, recalls wan.
deriuG thought, and inPresseS his pelntH
deeply IN the mind of his listener.
Wo0Id that my pen were equal to tFe tack
of giving a synopsis Of his discourse, which
we were told, occupied An hour aud three
quarters, and "a which we would willingly
have listened for as long AGain. Would shat
the non-CaSholiss preSept might be prof q
by tho good FS$hers instruction. that Shel