Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1875-04-26
FIRST EDITION.
Church Dedication.

nave iiau no cnurch especially Tor their nation-
| ality, but have been members OF the English
speaking churches Yesterday, fine and spa
cious now editice, tho Church of the Sacred
Heart, on Madison street below 10th, was ded-
Gated, the preaching in which will be in the Ger
man tongue.
The binding, which will be. when completed
the largest place of worship i'll Delaware, was
begun last August, tho corner stone being laid
in September. 1t is not yet in a finished condi-
tion, only the basement being now used for wor-
ship, and year more will probably be required
to complete it. AT an early hour, yesterday, a
large portion of our Catholic population was
astir, making preparation for the
GREAT EVENT OF THE DAY.
Shortly after O'Clock tho Baltimore train ar
rived, bringing delegations of the knights of St.
Michael from that city and Knights of Sc. George
from Washington. A train from Philadelphia
brought large number of visitors to witness
the ceremonies.
The Societies of Knights referred to made
very imposing display. The knights OF st.
Michael wore black suit, with military brass
buttons, blue sword belt white silver stripe down
the pants, cockade hat, with white feather.
The knights of st George. wore black suit with
military buttons. gold stripe down the pants, a
red sash and sword belt in which was a straight
sword, and cooked hat and feather Each So
ciety carried German banner and United
States flag. AT the approach Of the
HOUR FOR THE CEREMONIES,
the church was filled to it's utmost capacity,
$500 persons being estimated to be present
The Knights of St Michael aud st. George ell
tered first, bearing their swords drawn, and
were followed by the Philadelphia visitors, who
wore dark dresses aud badges. Then came the
following
St Mary's Temperance Cadets Sc boys.
st. Marys Total Abstinance beneficial Society,
76 men.
St. Paul's Total Abstinence Beneficial Society.
The shields Library Association, G6 men.
The Temperance Societies wore their costly
and beautiful regalia, and all the societies car
ried handsome banners and other devices demo j.
ting the respective orders to which they be-
longed.
The rising steps leading to the altar were
occupied bya large number of Sunday School
girls, dressed in white and enyeloped III white
wells.
AFTER ALL HAD BEEN SEATED
for whom seats could be provided, and all the
standing room occupied, there were hundreds Of
others who could not get inside and who con-
church trying to catch the echoes OF the sweet
music, and hear an occasional response from
the priests. The choir was composed
for the occasion from the several Catholic choirs
in the city, and WAS led by Professor w. II.
Cayanaugh, with Otto Becker presiding at the
organ.
The opening chorus was from Marcadanti and
Millards Mass, during the singing OF which the
Priests with their attendants entered. Bishop
Becker led and was followed by Fathers Reilley,
Meyers. and McGrane, clothed in rich sacerdotal
costumes. Bishop Becker, as he proceeded
sprinkled tho surroundings, of the altar
with holy water, and then led in the
itany of the Saints while the choir sang Mil
lard's Kyre. The Bishop then performed
THE INTERESTING CEREMONY
of incensing tho altar the perfume filling the
whole church.
The Bishop then performed the solemn and
impressive ceremonies of the Pontitical High
Mass, after which Father Meyers read portion
of the Scriptures in German, and addressed the
congregation in the same language, giving a his
tory of the new church, its progress thus far,
and its future prospects,
The choir then sang the Mercanti Credi, dur
ing which the offertory was made, and followed
by Memorie, a solo sweetly sung by Miss Mag
gle Magee.
One Of the most solemn parts of the services
was the representation of the elevation of Christ
upon the cross, during which a Dell was tolled,
to call the attention of the congregation. Then
followed in regular succession the Pater Nos
ter Agnus Deli tho solo by Miss Mary Ca
ruthers and the Papal Benediction by the Bsh-
| op.
BISHOP BECKER COMING To THE FRONT.
stated that az there were many persons present
| who did not understand German he would say 3
| few words in English. In reference to the new
church he said il was the largest house of wor-
ship in the State, and reflected honor and credit
upon the order of St. Benedict by which 1t wat
built and by which it was intended to be takeT
care of. He said that wherever Catholic
church was built it forever remained dedicated
| to the worship of God, unless another took iii
place. There was no such word as failure in the
| building of Catholic churches. The Catholic
church fas lived to see other churches grow VI
| like mushrooms, but she keeps steadily on her
| way. In tho Fatherland n
| FUTILE ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE
| to check her growth, but Catholics could affort
| to laugh at it, and will yet bury the men who op
pose her. and We who are here shall assist at tilt
| funeral.
In free America the Catholics bave found al
asylum where they can have freedom of though
| and where nothing checks their onward progress
and the man must be II fool who does not SCI
and know that the Catholic church is diyinel,
inspired.
A century ago there was only one Bishop il
| America aud few French Catholics principal
" in the Southern states. The number has beei
increased until i'll tho Metropolis of the ma
tion a Cardinal has been created, and we noN
have a voice in the Apostolic chamber. Ih
church has grown by immigration from derma
ny, but to the
CELTIC RACE BELONGS THE HONOR
of keeping alive in this country the religion o
the Catholic Church. The Irish Catholics hav
never faltered or failed. The church is mot on
ly increasing by immigration but she is addin
to her numbers from the rative population.
The Bishop proceeded to say
WE NEED SCHOOLS
in which religion in Its purity is taught and nc
excluded, as at present. He paid glowing tr
butte to the order Of st. Benedict and other oi
. ders which had sent out 30 many self-sacrificin
men to build up the church, and while spuriou
| religions are totteripg and falling, the true Catl
Ollie religion stands like towering oak amidt
all the storms. The church labors and prayi
i and pays as she goes, and lays up treasures l
Heaven. The monk cares not Tor oppositiol
He goes into place where he wants to estabhs
D a church aud he does so.
Q He cong ratulated the earnest. hard workin
Father Meyers, who had pushed the work on t
, | a SUCCESS when others must have failed. ID
then encouraged the people to continue contrit
uting to the structure. After which he al
nounced that the Benediction and vespers woul
7 | be held at o'clock
[rhe reporters of the press are under oblig,
tions to Mr. Eising for accommodations durlii
y the services
t THE NEW CHURCH
has heretofore been described in the CoatMEl
! cIAL. Ii is of brick with marble trimming
|, fronts &C feet on Madison, and li0 Oh 10Th
Tho tower will be 175 feet high. There will
:. three front entrances, to the main auditorium
4. and inside 2l6 pews, giving seats for HOO pc
J. pie. The sacristy is 80 feet deep lighted with
dome windows. A gallery crosses the West Ell
of the auditorium, which is designed mainly f
=, the choir. The basement is OF the same dime
u sion as the upper room and also has its san
v tusry. 1t is TO have thre, rows OF pews, al
will comfortably seat HOO people.