The New York herald., 1875-08-23
LAYING A CORNER STONE.

WEST PoISr, n Y, August q, 1878.
Since the arrival Of Father T. J. Farley in the little
Roman Catholic parish OF Highland Falls the constantly
increasing number of his congregation has made evi
dent that larger building necessary for their
modaton The old Church OF St. Thomas can hold little
than one-hth OF its parishioncrs, and the little
chapel in West Point attended by Father Farley
small for the Catholics there. These facts de-
tcrmined the pastor to erect church largo enough
satisfy the wants Of both congregations for many
years to come
The new church dedicated TO the Sacred Heart
this afternoon by Bishop McNerncy, of Albany.
The foundation was laid about the beginning of June
and the work has been steadily progressing since
The edihce which has just been dedicated is about
mile and half from West Point, at the entrance
to tho village of Highland Falls. The es-
timatcd cost is about $4,000 The length
is seventy-1ve and a half feet, the width
forty-fvc and half The chance adds further depth
OF sixteen feet The spre will measure about 100 feet
to the top Of the There TO be three aises
The basement Of stone is very capacious ard will be
used for low masses, Sunday school and societies.
The height of the main building above tho basement
will be about forty feet
Your correspondent had pleasant interview last
evening with Father Farley, his in Stephens
Highland Falls Hotel He has not yet pastoral resi-
dcnce prefcrrng to finish his church first Bishop
McNcrncy arrived about nine O'Clock the evening
train from Albany. This morning, at halfpast nine
Father Farley said in the little chapel at West
Point The church unpleasantly overcrowdcd and
single glance fully showed the necessity of getting
some larger place OF worship At quarter past eleven
Bishop McNicrncy said in the old Church Of St
Thomas, which likewise filled. The Very Rev
Vicar General, Thomas S. Preston who preached the
sermon the occasion, arrived shortly after the rain
had commenced.
The ceremonies attending the laying Of tho corner
stone began shortly after four o'clock the time ap-
pointed Boards had been laid the beams Of the
floor that the congregation could stand within
| the walls This extemporzcd platform was well
crowded, and many witnessed the ceremonies
| from the road and from under the trees
| the mountain side. IL there is any faith
| saving principle in the Church that is
here The foundations for the church literally
| blasted out OF tho solid rock From some Of these
| rocks at the Of the building little
scaroldlng OF three or four planks had
frame OF Bishop McNicrncy he supcrintcnded
the placing Of the in its right position.
tin box placed in the stone, containing copies Of
the NEW YORK HERALD, Telegram and other pa
pcrs A manuscript put in giving the date Of the
dcdcaton the names OF Pope Plus TX, Cardinal
McEoskey, Bishop McNerney, Father Farley, the pas
tor President Grant Governor Tldcn the architect r.
j. OBrien and the builder James Dunn. Some and
specimens Of beautiful paper currency also put
in The top part Of the stone then placed
over the box and sealed Father Preston ad-
ton. His remarks very brief in
deed and aflcr he had ended them the
concluded The prayers laying oil the stone and
mon took little moro than one hour Among the dlstin-
guished persons present beside those already mentioned
Father Galaghan, from Cold Spring, and Mr..
0Brion, of Brooklyn, cousin Of the pastor II is
pected that the dedication will take place before the
new year. The pastor intends hold service in the
church by next winter.