The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-08-10
OUR HARRIsONBURG LETTER.
DEDICATION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

OUR HARRIS0NBURG LETTER.
DEDICATION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
IMMENSE CoNCoURsE-sERMoN BY BISHOP
GTBBoNs-THE sTAuNToN CATHOLIC CIIoII
POLITICAL, ETC ETC.
HARRIsoNBuRd. Va. Aug. stl,, 1876
Editors Ta1ley Virgiaidw:
Sunday last was a day long tobe remember
ed. not only by the Catholics OF this place, but
by our citizens generally. As had been an
nounced in this correspondence the Catholics
had set apart; Sunday. August 9Th, as the day
on which they would dedicate their church
The members of this devout body Of worship
ers have labored since the war under a mos
serious series of difficulties, owing to the fact
Of their not possessing q church property OF
their own. They Were forced TO resort to leas-
inc different rooms to worship Fin. An iiIcf
fectllal attempt to build WAS made several
wears ago. After the failure of the building eff
fort, twas proposed to purchase the church
property on West Market Street, known as the
''Methodist Church, North.'' The purchase
was effected some months ago. and remodelina
and :eiitting was Immediately begun. The
| building to-day stands in most striking con-
trast with its former appearance. 1t isas near
a new church as it is possible for the best OF
our skilled artisans to make it, and certainly
presents Il very neat and attractive appearance.
The internal arrangements are complete, it
| being beyond question the most comfortable as
far as seats are concerned and decidedly the
best ventilated public building in TOWN. The
altar presents q beautiful appearance, the paint
men, Messrs. Wilkins & Logan. The ornamen-
tation learn was the handiwork OF the Cath
| Ole ladies of this community.
| The most earnest workers in purchas ing the
| church were Messrs. John Donvan, E j. Sulli-
van, James Cavanaugh and Mrs. John Kelley.
They have been most Jealous in their efforts,
not only contributing most literally Of their
own means. but suntiring in soliciting from
those who they thought were kindly disposed
towards the church.
| A number of persons were expected from
Staunton, and the train of the Valley Railroad
| carrying them here was most anXiously await
ed About $3.50 the train arrived, having on
| board the Most Reverend Bishop Gibbons, Faith
er O'Keefe, of Norfolk, and Fathers McVery
and Fitszimmons of Staunton. land Father Muir
ray, of Lexington, accompanied by the choir
of St. Frances church of your city. a detacl-
ment:of about thirty mem bers Of the Catholic
Hibernian Benevolent Society," as WelEas a
| large number of Catholics and other citizens
! of Staunton. The kindly interest manifested
| by the members Of the Protestant dencmira-
! tions Of the town i'll the success of the Catho-
| lies, together with Il decided determination of
many to hear the famous choir, as well rs
doubtless. considerable curiosity, caused one Of
1.-The largest congregations to gather have ever
witnessed in this place. The church was filled
| to overlooking, and hundreds were compelled
| to stand in open air or return to their homes
! The residences near the church were besieged
by persons desiring porch and window ROOM
" est Market Street between German and
High street. certainly presented an9 animated
appearance. The impressive dedicatory SER
vice was performed by Bishop Gibbons, assis-
ted by the Reverend Fathers above named
After the dedication High Mass was celebrated
by Father O'Keefe, celebrant, assisted by
| Father Murray, Deacon, and Father McVery
Snb-Deacon. After Mass, Bishop Gibbons de-
livered splendid discourse, u summarized re-
port of which follows. The discourse Of the
Bishop was well received by the Protestants.
He said precisely what he desired to say, and
! said it without giving offense to- any one. 1t
was q most pleasant disappointment to many,
precisely opposite to what they expected from
a Catholic Bishop, they having formed their
opinions upon ''hear say evidence" as to the
treatment Professionalism received from the
Catholic clergy. The Bishop is an orator, one
| Of those orators that can't help but be elo-
auent. My report [ know will read tame to
those who had the pleasure Of listening to the
| Bishop.
| After reading the fourth chapter Of Paul's
| Epstle to the Ephesians, and the 18th chapter
of st. Matthew, Bishop Gibbon discoursed sub
| stantialy rs follows s'Lord, it is good for us
| to be here's" these are the same words used by
| the Prince of Apostles as he beheld the trans
| figuration of Mt. Tabor, and as he saw the
heavenly angels surround Our Saviour we'll
might they eXclaim sit is good for lis to
be here Let us build tabernacles, one
| for Thee, one for Moses and one for Elias so
we may say it is good for us to be here. So let
| us here to-day, in Thy church for the purpose
| Of taking these steps, from the bottom Of our
hearts say it is good for us to be here, from this
| day forward let it be the centre of the homage
OF the people and may it bestow innumerable
blessings upon them. The kindly spirit eX-
hibited towards this church by the citizens of
Harrisonburg and vicinity. not only OF the
Catholic, but of the loyal and warm interest of
those not of our faith, is certainly to be COM
mended, andmay the blessing OF the church rest
on all such. ] see before me q vast assemDlage
of people gathered together from various quar-
tiers, representing different nationaities, but
all imbued with reverence and love for the one
faith established over 1900 years ago. you
should thank God you belong to the Sainted
church. 1t is Gods desire that We should be
animated by one and the same christian faith;
the last prayer of our Saviour was that all that
believe in Me may be as one, as thou the Faith
er and the son are one III one. st. Paul saws
as we all believe IN one G0Q ana not manV
Gods, one mediator not many meditators
sanctfied by the same spirit not many spirits;
as we all hope for the same heaven, So should
we on this earth be animated by one faith. one
Lord, one baptism, one God and father who
is above all and in all. Our blessed Saviour
established this church for all clinles and ma
tions. He said thou art Peter, and upon this
rock L will build my church, he did not say
churches; it was not His desire to have other
than one undivided undivisable church. The
new testament when read without prejudice
cannot fail to teach the unity Of government
pervading every page OF it. The author Of
Christian religion-our Saviour compares This
church to a kingdom. Now, ask, what is 4
kingdom? the answer is simple, it is a governs
ment by form of laws, and our Saviour meant
there should he but one kingdom. In John.
to a sheepfold. What better idea of entire
unity can suggest itself to the human mind
than sheepfold. All the sheen are there
gathered together in one fold If they are
mometarily separated they are impatient I'm
til they are congregated together, they listen
and obey the voice Of their Shepherd and fly
at the voice of strangers So with our Saviour, |
lie leads lis OF this church to the same pasture,
TO The same brooks-we are guided by the same
shepherd. Again, He compares orr beloved
church to the human body, And [ ask what
more admirable Thought thaaSto compare the
Church to the human frame. 1t is composed