The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-06-04

DFDICATION OF ST. JOINS (CATHOLIC)
CHURCH, ALToONA.-As previously an
nOunced in these columns, the dedication of
the magnificent church edifice recently com
pleted by the English-speaking Catholics of
Altoona took place on. Sunday last. For
many months past the congregation looked
forward with hope and anxiety to the graft
flying event which has just been consumma-
ted Literally and generously have they
contributed to the erection of building
which will long stand as An ornament to the
Mountain City, n credit to themselves and
their posterity, and an enduring monument
to the zeal and uuselfsh devotion of their
beloved pastor, Very Rev. J. Tuigg, V. G.
THE DEDICATION.
Long before the time announced for the
commencement of the exercises, the street
in front of the church was completely filed
with people anxious 70 avail themselves of the
first opportunity to secure seats. About half
past 10 o'clock, RI. Rev. Bishop Domenec,
accompanied by fourteen fit cen priests
of the diocese, among whom were to be seen
the venerable Fathers Bradley, of Newry,
and Walsh of II Hollidaysburg, Fathers Tracy,
Gibbs, Mccarthy, Bigham, Gallagher, Me-
Keever, Devlin, Farren, Murphy, ScheII
KuntZer, and several others. The outside
walls of the church were sprinkled with
holy water and prayers and responses were
. recited, after which the J0th psalm (Miser-
ere) was sung and the procession entered
the church, sprinkling the interior walls
in like manner. At the conclusion of these
cermouies the people fled in, filling the vast
building almost to its utmost capacity. Sol
emn High Mass was then sung, corat, ponti-
flee, by Rev. J. Tracy, assisted by Revs j.
Schell and q. p. Gallagher. a fter the gos-
pei Father Wall, President of ST. Michael's
Seminary, Pittsburgh, assembled the elegant
pulpit and delivered an eloquent brilliant
and convincing discourse. which of course
it would not be possible for to publish,
even if we had the full text of the sermon,
but of which we heard a competent judge of
such compositions remark that it was the
finest effort he had ever listened to. The
choir, too, consisting of Mrs. Annie Bradley,
orgauist, Mrs. Kate Gurley and Misses Mag
gle Cochran, Belle Ruoff Maggie and Ella
Garrity and Lizzie Luckett, sopranos, Mr.
James Curry, tenor, and Messrs. James
Cation and VI. Guetirrey, bass, did remark
ably we'll and made for itself an euvable
reputation.
In the afternoon of the same day the Rt
Rev. Bishep conferred the Sacrament of
CONFIRMATION on 407 children and adults,
some Al of whom were said to be converts.
and addressed rhc recipients both before and
after the ceremony. r.
In the evening n bountiful supper, com
prsing all the delicacias aud subsrantias of
the season, was served TO the Bishop and
clergy in the spacious dining room of the
beautiful convent of the Sisters of Charity
adjoining the church, and we cannot resist
the temptation of telling our readers that
we were one of the favored few, albeit not n
cleric who sat down TO that sumptuous feast
placed before
Following the elegant supper came Sol
emn Vespers, at the close of which the Bsh-
op assembled the pulpit and delivered a bean
tiful discourse, dwelling at some length up
on the objects for which churches are erected
and maintaining he doctrine of the Real
Presence by several new arguments we'll
presented. The music during the evening
very fine. plainly eviucing the fact that
with little more culture majority of those
COMPOSING the choir would become finished
artists. The Benedictiou of the Blessed
Sacrament closed the exercises and ended a
day lonr to- Ina remembered in Altoona.
Beautiful Spriug! il is ofthee we would
sing, although we confess that your gentle
careSs is u rather coquettish thing; and yet
il is true if it were not for yen the styles and
the SHADES, the textures and grades COM
prised in the stock heap and new so finely
displayed, SO neatly arrayed on we'll fflled
shelves at Oak Hall, would not be so rich,
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annual call. Hess & Bros Oak Hall Cloth