The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1874-10-24
IMPOSING RELIGIOUS CEREMONY.
CONSERVATION and Dedication OF the
Church Of the Assnmption.-A
Splendid Edifice..Solenan and I'M
teresting Cere1moniss and Magnift.
cent Street Demonstration.

Sunday last, the 18th inst, witnessed
the finest and most imposing religious
demonstration in St. Paul ever seen in
Minnesota, the occasion bsing the con-
sccration and dedication Of the new
German Catholic Church on Ninth
street, near St. Peter.
The edifice itself is the finest and
largest in Minnesota, and with but one
or two exceptions in the Northwest,
having depth Of 185 feet by 81 in
width, and in its construction
has occupied four years of
time with large force of laborers. 1t
is built in the seven old Roman styles
of architecture, of stone in the rough
with cut stone columns and facings.
Over the front are two great towers "a
feet square and 154 feet high, from
which rise two spires 80 feet in height.
The windows are of stained glass, pre-
sented by members of the Congrega-
ton. The building has two roofs, the
first 80 feet above the floor Of the au-
ditorium and the second 60 feet. As
it now stands it has cost about $780,
600, which will be still further increased
in the finishing up.
The congregation to worship in this
splendid structure is one of the largest
in the State, and is presided over
by Rev. Father Clement Sta ub
to whose personal popularity and ener.
gy much of the credit of carrying the
project through, is due. with an able
corps of assistants.
The ceremony OF conservation and
dedication commenced at 7 o'clock in
the morning, Right Rev. Bishop Grace
officiating, and was not concluded until
4P. N. The conservation itself occu.
pied until 10 A. N. when the doors we're
thrown open and the public admitted
to the dedication. Outside Of st. Paul
organized Catholic societies were pre-
sent from Minneapolis, Still
water, St. Cloud, Hastings,
Chaska, Shakopee and New Ulm,
with friends accompanying numbering
about three thousand. They arrived
by special trains, and were met at the
depot by the St. Paul societies, where
a procession was formed, and marched
through the principal streets to tho
| church. In the procession were some
twenty. different societies, with five
bands of music, and with its many rich
and different colored banners, flags,
scarfs, etc.. made one Of the finest
looking, as it was the largest, process
sions ever seen in St. Paul. Not less
than three thousand people were in tho
line of march, while tina streets through
which it passed we're crowded, and
around the church awaiting its arrival
were several thousands more.
The church had not been seated,
and during the services it is estima'
ted that from four to Ave thousand
people crowded into it. The services
consisted of an addre: in German by
Right Rev. Ruper Seidenbush,- and in
English by Right Rev. Bishop Grace.
Pontificial mass, followed by Vespers
AID Confirmation, and with the grand
music Of the occasion, were particularly
solemn and impressive.
! The services ended, visitors were en-
tcrtained by the St. Paul people, and a,
o'clock escorted back to the trains tt
return them to their homes.
Throughout nothing occurred to maj
the pleasure or solemnity of the occa
sion, and it will long stand as an i'm
portant era in the history Of the Catho
lie church in Minnesota.