Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-08-17
FIRST EDITION!|
LAYING A CORNER STONE
DEM CLUB MEETING.
the NEED OF the new SCHOOL.
AN INTERESTING EVENT.
LAYING OF THE CORNERSTONE OF THE GERMAN
CATHOLIC CIrURCfI-AN IMPRE5
slvE oCoAsION-A LARGE
Arnuc A,IaAA fnr

CATHOLIC tCHURCH-AN lMPRE5
slvE oCoAsION-A LAR0E
ATTENDANCE.
Yesterday afternoon the corner stone of tie
German Catholic Church, Mt the northwest corner
of Tenth and Madison streets, was laid with I'M
prcssive ceremonies ir the presence OF II large
concourse OF people. This event had been looked
forward to for some time, and the various Cath
Ollie Societies OF Tho city made arrangements Tor
lending their presence to the affair."
The time for commencing the services had been
fixed at four O'Clock, but long before this hour
large numbers of people assembled in the vicinity
and patiently waited in the hot sun, fol the arr
val OF the Societies. aud of those who were to
duct the ceremonies.
A large stand had been erected close to the
corner stone, winch was tastetully adorned with
flowers and evergreen ,9set oil nicely by two
fine pictures. This stand was occupied by Bishop
Becker and the clergy, their alcolytqS. or clerks,
and number of ladies and children. In addition
10 the Bishop, the following Catholic clergy were
pre- sent: Fathers +. Reilly, John A. Lyons, NJ.
X. Fallon, Matthew Mctirane, Dollard, OF Elk ton.
Sorrentni, Prof. Ilophkape, OF Berlin. and
Father Meyers, pastor OF he new church.
About four twenty o'clock, the Societies came
down Madison street, and advancing upon the
lot, assembled around the stand. They came iu
the following order:
Baltimore Society escorted by the Sodality of
st. Peters Church--1l0 men.
About 20 little girls from the st. Peters female
School.
st. Mary's Temperance Cadets, with fine banner
100 boys.
st. Peters Temperance Cadets, with similar
banner-60 boys.
st Pctc,s Sunday School Scholars-abcut 100
st. Peters Beneficial Soclety-lO0 strong
ST. Joseph's Beneficial Society-7S strong.
st. Marys Beneficial Society-55 strong
~. Mchaels Total Abstinence Beneficial Society
NJ strong
Shields Library Association-100 strong.
nnlr T,f Al hath nia
l25 strong.
St. Mays Total Abstinence Beneficial Society
lis strong, with beautiful new green
silk banner.
large number OF citizens and children.
Alter these IN the procession had assembled
around the stand, Bishop Becker arose aud made
q address.
He said they hal met to-day for the purpose
of laying the cornerstone OF church, which
ii the house of prayer and the pillar and
ground of the Truth He alluded to the fact
that Christ did not send out his disciples to be
taught, but to teach, and to teach the truth to
all nations. The Reverend gentleman further
alluded to the promise of God that His church
should last till the contamination of the world.
This promise has surely been fulfilled, and is
still maintained. The foundation of the
church is so plain, that no man can believe
but that il was the intention of Christ that the
church should last forever. He referred to
the past history OF The Catholic Church, and
deiied any other religious society now existing
to trace It's origin back to the time of Christ.
The influence of the church on civilization,
| and its effect in beneftting and advancing all
| men, materially, as well as spiritually, were
then alluded to, and the Bishop closed by eulO-
giving the Germans, who. he said, as q race,
| are brave, patriotic and religious They are
| remarkable for their adherence to their reli-
gon, and, as good Catholics, they are mod
els.
The Eishon then repeated his address in
| German. for .he benefit OF the Germans pres
| ent, and then introduced Father Meyers, the
pastor of the German congregation, who also
| spoke in German.
| A basket collection was then taken up,
which amounted TO between 500 and $500.
| The Societies then formed into line again, and
| marched back to their respective starting
places, and the large congregation slowly dis
persed. 1t is estimated that the number pres
| cut reached between four and five thousand.
Tho corner stene is OF the usual character,
of white marble, and two-and-a-half feet
| cube. On its top surface, in the centre, is Il
heart, Immediately above which Is a cross
| Around these are inscriptions, In the follow
ing order;