National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-06
KR AND MRS. FTTCHAT CHURCH.

AN OVERWHELMING CROWD AT ST.
BRIDGET'S CHURCH.
The New York World of yesterday contains
the following account of the visit of Mr.. and Mrs
Thomas ". Fitch to st. Budgets church on Sun
day last:
"LieUt. Fitch was brought up in the Eleventh
ward, and was baptized in the church Of St.
Bridget, corner Of Avenue and Eighth street,
which is the first church he has attended since his
marriage. 1t seemed yesterday that every resi-
dent Of the ward had turned out to witness the
event and the gathering, including over thou
sand persons from other sections Of the city, com
plstcly bIOckaded the streets adjoining the
church long before the hour announced for the
grand high nassau orderly, respectable crowd
Ghat stood for two hours watching the front Of the
building, croWding one another in good humOred
manner and without complaint. So great was
the assembIage that they crowded the church
entrance. and despite the eKertiOns Of the police
prevented the exit OF the attendants at the
o'clock mass, and it was only with the aid and
eIhOrtatiUn OF Father Mooney that narrow pas
sage, Just wide enough fer one person, vas made
through the press.
..Shortly before 10 o'clock coupe drove up and
deposited at the vCStTy door lady and gentle
man who were Immediately admitted into the
Vestry. Acting on the impression that the bride
and groom had entered the church rush was
made for places inside. The lam at the doorway
was terrible. Women threw themselves into the
rush with as much recklCsSncss and disregard for
their appearance and welfare Of their toilets as
street gamin. Rapidly the galleries filed TO
Overlooking. and getting seat or even standing
rOom in the aises down stairs was an impossible
ity. Even the passage around the chSncel was
Allied. The pew on the left Of the aisle, which
was set aside for the bridal party, was with
AT II O'Clock q oommotion was visible at the
door. and Here they come" resOunded on all
sides, Clearing passage in the centre aisle re
least FULL five minutes for the party. headed by
Father Mooney, to reach thepeE. The bridal party
consisted Of Mr. and Mrs. Fitch, il, Miss Patter
son, Miss Lizzie Sherman, Miss Philips and MIR.
Thomas Sherman. Hr. and Mrs. Fitch, ST.,
rived before their son, and occupied pew in their
lear. The bride was attirCd in light French
gray silk, trimmed with deep black velvet; the
skirt plain with q little train, the waist
cut en- basque. A hat to match the dress in color,
trimmed in heavy folds OF black velvet, sur
mounted by pale blue feather Of great length,
completed her costume.
"Just before the party s entrance the organ with
GTafulla's band played NendelssOhn's Wedding
March, and at lilo O'Clock the services began.
Twenty-One acOlytes slowly filed in from the
Vestry. They we're followed by the masters Of
ceremonies, who preceded the officiating priests.
The services were conducted by the Rev. Father
Mooney, pastor Of the church, assisted by Father
John kean, deacon: Father John Lynch, sub
deacon, and Father John Salters, master Of gr nd
ceremonies. After the initiatOry services peculiar
70 the Catholic religion, Fsther Mooney an
nOunced his text, st. Matthew XVi=24, % and p:
Then said Jesus unto his disciples eli any man
will come after me, lot him deny himself and
take up his cross and follow me-" The Father
gaid:
h"PTeParstOry TO beginning my sermon. allow
me to welcome this young couple under the
patrOT age OF our patron saint. st. Bridget. l
welcome them in the name OF this vast audience
which has cOngregated here, because 1 know
many Of them have come only that they may tes-
tfy TO the respect and esteem in which they hold
Ale happy young couple now In our midst. What
viii not 4 man give IN exchange for his soul? l
address this question 70 two classes-the high
AID low, the rich and poor. st. Francis Xavier,
tLe young divine and philosopher, when preach
lug in Europe, won the admiration Of kings and
n NV hn
world, until lgnAtius whispered into his ear.
W hat pr0hteth 1t man II he gain the whole
world and lose his own SOUL st. Francis pom
deTed over il, rGvnYed it in his mind and IL Gre
ated such an impression that he abandoned the
scene Of his triumphs and the society of kings and
Of Japan, and hope that my words TO-DAY will
not be lost On you, that YOU ponder over them and
eeage fattening the body for the worms and in
dulRing in vice and Wickedness.
AT the conclusion Of the service the di.tin-
guished party were conducted into the yestry To
await the departure Of the thrOng. Thecbor was
composed Of the following ladies and gentlemen:
SignOr q. Ouch, Organist and leader; Mime A, "A.
JaryOska. soprano: Mines. GersdOrff and Chen
bach, altos; Mr.. BaTkis and SignOr Adam. ten
srs: Mr. Cannon, OF Washington. and A. ElchOrn
bases: SfgnOr G. CaccinOla, baritone, and Signor
Latts tenor. The programme consisted of Mo
zart's Twelfth Mass HendelssOhn's Wedding
March, Handel's 'Hallelujah Chorus, aud No
ZaTt's 'Veni Creator
although fifteen minutes elapsed after the
conclusion Of the service. thousands Of people re-
NAMED in the neighbOThoOd of the church await
ing the departure Of the bridal party. Seeing it
useless to wait for them TO dspcrse, Mr.. and Mrs.
Fitch entered their carriage and were rapidly
driven away, followed by the deafening cheers Of
ba u7u1fffudp