The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-05-17
Pic Mono College, Macon, as.
LAYING THE CORNER STONE.
Condensed from the Macon Morning Star.

Sunday, May Sd, 1874, will long be remeu,
| bered rs marking q new era in the history Of
our beloved old commonwealth and com
memorating one of the grandess and nobles'
| events that has ever transpired within the
| limits of Georgias farSamed central city
Proudly have our people. from the seaboard tc
the mountains, illustrated their State and GOV
cred themselves all over with glory in days
agone upon the battlefields of the nation, but
/ the elimination of their grandest achieve.
ments has been reserved for the times when
/ a fortitude unparalleled in the annals of any
other race or country we have withstood the
shock of war and emerge triumphant from the
desolation and blighting influences which fol-
Art and Commerce, instead of dwindling into
insignifcance, have been fostered and encour-
aged into growth of colossal proportions to
which we can proudly point and of which we
can boastingly proclaim.
All nationalities and all sects have ombined
to aid in building mp our ste-places and of
elevating the tone and character of the people.
and hand in hand with religion, she is de-
stroying the bulwarks of ignorace and rearing
In their stead monuments of learning on every
hilltop and in every valley throughout. onr
State and section. In the propagation of the
good work, the sons and daughters of Georgia,
if with one accord, responded to call
made upon them, and with the first blush Of
desirous of paying tribute. by their presence,
to the cause of education, came teemng from
every direction and in every conceivable way
into our city. Every city, town and hamlet
as early as I've O'Clock our streets were dotted
here and there with the many.colored regalias
and flashing uniforms of visiting associations
aud Uilitary men.
Men, women and children gaily attired in
the habiliments of spring were seen vending
their way to the general passenger depot to
meet the happy throng of guests as they ar
rived by the various trains from Augusta, Sa-
vannah, Atlanta, Columbus, Milledgeville, and
other points along the line of railroads leading
to this city. The refreshment saloons in the
following the crowds that made their way
through the portals leading to them, were
pleased to find that nothing was left undone
which would In any way serve to crafty the
appetites or tastes of our stranger friends.
At 10 o'clock the church bells announced the
hour for religious service, when the Irish Vol
unteers again assembled at the armory, and
forming line proceeded, with their band in
take part in the celebration of a grand mill
tary High Mass.
The crowd in attendance at the church on
the occasion was simply immense. and was
composed of persons attached to all the diff
circuit denominations of the day.
At the Mass, Right Rev. Bishop Gross assist
Rev. L. Bazin, assisted by Rev. Vim. Pende-
CAST of Savannah as Deacon, and Rev. P.
LaRocque, of Key West, as sub-deacon. Rev.
VIM. Hamilton, of Augusta, acted as Master
| Bishops throne were the Rev. C. P. Gaboury
President of Pho Mono College, and Rev. j. l.
Finucane of the same institution. In addition
to these clergymen already mentioned, there
were present Rev. Meesrs. Cheletti of Atlanta
Msstingly of Dalton, Butler of Augusta and
others whose names We failed to obtain.
The, musicians, supplied from differen,
churches throughout the State formed a choil
which cannot be excelled in point of ability
and the excellence of the music which was
rendered.
Dat A.
seemed the very soul of song, her solos
throughout the mass being su blimely beautiful
and inspiring. He rendition of the Gloria in
Ercelcis will long reverberate through the halls
of St. Joseph's and be remembered when per.
| chance she may have passed away to join the
angel choir iu that land beyond the skies.
The services of the church being brought tc
a termination, the large crowd in attendance
sought their homes, temporary and permanent
and whiled away the time until two o'clock
when the procession was formed on Fourth
street in accordance with previous announce
ment.
The procession numbered twentv-seven diff.
erent orders and organizations, ard was with.
ont doubt the largest and most imposing body
that was ever in the city, if not the
State. Our well known fellow townsman, Col
james T. Wilkinson, acted as Marshal of the
day, and was ably assisted by Messrs John
Griffin, Dennis Sheahan, s. NJ. Nealon, John
T. Roman of Savannah, and Mr.. Mulheran OF
Augusta, all of whom were moupsed on richly
caparisoned chargers. Arriving at the juno.
GlOu OF SOiieBe StEeeb anu 6eOrRl3 avenue
the young ladies and children of the different
societies left the procession and proceeded tc
the depot near st. Paul's Episcopal Church
where q train of cars was in waiting to convey
them to the College grounds
just at this time the clouds, which had fol
length of time gathered over head, gave uu.
mistakable signs of the heavy fall of rain
which subsequently followed.
Nothing daunted by the unwelcome shower
the procession continued its onward march,
and reached its destination as thoroughly
drenched as it was possible to conceive.
The thousands who had by this time Assem-
bled in front of the stand proposed to be occu-
pied by the Bishop, Clergy, Mayor aud Coun-
Gil, were seeking shelter from the angry ele-
mente, and by the time the distinguished pre-
late in full canonicals, appeared, there were
but few hundred who, in defiance of the
storm had remained to witness the laying of
the cornerstone of Pho Mono College.
TIE corner stone was then blessed by sprink-
ling holy water, when three signs of the cross
are made with trowel, after which is recited
an Oremns, followed by a Litauy of the Saints
! and the 126th Psalm.
This stone was placed in position, and the
Bishop blessed portion of salt aud then bless
cd portion of water in which the salt was
Iplaced. A large silver cross was then erecked