The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-06-26
ST. soprIIA,s HOME FOR THE AGED.
THE CORNERSTONE OF THE NEW BUILD
ING LAID-PARADE OF CATHOLIC sOCIE-
TIEs-IMMENsE GATHERING OF sPECTA-
TORs-ADDREss BY RIGHT REV. BISHOP
LYNCH, OF CHARLESTON, s. c.

LYNCH, OF CHARLESTON, s. c.
The ceremonies incident to the laying of
the cornerstone Of the new building of st.
Sophia's Home, on the property formerly
known as "Warsaw," bounded by Main,
Harvie, Floyd, and Plumb streets, took
place Sunday afternoon, and were witnessed
by n concourse of spectators numbering
several thousand. The Catholic societies
participating formed in line at Cathedral
Hall at hali-past O'Clock, and with two
bands OF music-Voelker's and Kessnich's-
proceeded to Warsaw" ria Marshall,
Third. and Franklin streets, in the follow
ing order:
Detachment of po lice; Sergeant Angle
commanding.
Voelker's band.
Catholic Beneficial Society.
| Ancient Order of Hibernians.
st. Peters Total Abstinence and Bene-
fetal Society.
McGill Lyceum.
Kessnicb's First Regiment Band.
st. Joscph's Beneficial Society (German).
st. BenedIctus Society Germany.
St. Boniacius Society Germany.
| The procession was very long, and at
tracted much attention along the line OF
march.
Upon the arrival OF the societies the cere-
raony OF laying the Cornerstone was at once
proceeded with, Right Rev. Bishop Gibbons
officiating. He was assisted by Rev. Father
Benno Hcgele, OF st. Mary's (German)
church. and Rev. Fathers Hanley and Ha-
hets, OF the Cathedral, Messrs. Tabb, Frioli,
and Dinneen, seminarians, and number OF
acolyteS.
The box in the stone contained the fol-
lowing articles and statistics:
History OF the Little Sisters Of the Poor
| in our city; list OF names of Pope, Cardi-
nal, and Archbishop; bishops and priests
in the city; list Of Catholic schools; Catho-
| lie population OF each parish; list OF socie-
tics and the presidents OF same; names OF
the principal officers Of the United States
Government and State and municipal gov
ernments: constitution and bylaws and
list OF officers and members OF the Catholic
societies.; and copy OF the first No. OF the
| Catholic Visitor.
At the conclusion OF this ceremony the
Bishop, at the head OF the line OF priests,
seminarians, and acolytes. made circuit OF
the grounds, blessing the same; his follow
ers meanwhile chanting appropriate psalms.
This being done the clerical party ascended
the Dlatform erected on the south side Of
the premises, from which the Grafton was
to be delivered. The platform was taste
fully decorated with evergreens, flowers,
and hanging baskets, kindly furnished for
the occasion by Mr.. John Morton, the we'll
known florist. Over the front or south
side, under an arch OF evergreens, were
SUSPENDED the letters ~. Ii. S." On the
onposite side was similar arch, surmount-
ed by large and beautiful cross OF white
bollvhocks, the background OF white being
festooned with cedar and other evergreens.
After the clergy had taken positions on
the platform, Right Rev. Bishop Lynch, OF
Charleston, S. c., the chosen orator OF the
occasion, delivered most eloquent and in
terestinr address, congratulating the people
upon the interest displayed as manifested
by the vast assemblage present. ne spoke
of the charitable institutions and the hu-
name establishments whose existence had
been twined with that of the Church from
the foundation OF the Christian religion; OF
the noble deeds done by men and women IN
the name of charity; OF the origin and his
tory OF the Little Sisters OF the Poor; OF
the great good already accomplished by the
order. and OF its future of useful promise.
The Bishop, in conclusion, prayed that
..this work, so auspiciously commenced,
NAV be crowned with complete success"
Bishop Lynch is about siXty-tve years OF
age. His aDpearance is venerable and COM
manding and his voice is rich and pleasant
to the ear. His oratory is OF happy order
and his gestures are graceful and effective.
After the Grafton Il collection was taken
up in the crowd by committees from the
various societies, and quite handsome sum
realized
The line OF societies was then reformed,
and the procession returned to their places
of meeting IN the city and were dismissed.
The architects OF the new buildings are
Messrs. Gibson d Carachristi. The build
ings will consist Of centre 80 by 4G feet,
basement and three-story wings crossing
the ends. each 26 by 61 feet. In the base
ments are the kitchen, laundry, heating
furnaces, drying-room, and store-roolns.
On first or principal story there are two
rooms. IS by 90, for the Sisters meeting
and eception-rooms; two dlnlng,rooms'
% bv 25; rooms for, the crippled poor,
male and female, 81 by %; two wash-rooms,
10 bv IL; four water-closetS, two bath
rooms; two side lohbies 10 by 10; halls,
stairs, verandas, and porches. Second
story: Two bedrooms Is by 20 feet, two
bedrooms % by 2G feet, two inhrmarV-
rooms 81 by % feet, lobbies, closets, bath,
rooms, &C., same as first story. Third
story Two bedrooms and large rooms
connected with folding-doorS, bathrooms,
water closets, &c.
The chapel is entirely detached from the
front buildings, is % by 20 feet, with gale
ries, and is accessible from the first and sec
ond stories and from the rear parlor. The
architectural style is Norman. In the CEN
ire OF the front tower is projected and
carried high above the roof, having beau
tiful Norman roof with dormers. The wing
projects twenty-four feet forward OF the
centre and sixteen feet in rear. Ferandas
on each side of the tower are entered Gl-
recting from the three front entrances. In
the rear are back porches, floors to first and
second stories. These are spacious for the
purpose of airing and for connection with
the chapel building. All the outside steps
and the silIs for the doors and windows,
and wide cappings, will be Of fine dressed
granite Cost of the whole, complete, S32, >
900.
The contractors are: Excavation. Edward
Griffin; brick-work, r. Maynard Il Brother
stone-work. Thomas j. Smith; iron-work,
James Mcintyre; plumbing-work, Daniel
O'Donnell; thinning, gas-titting, heating, and
stating, J. L. Whitaker; carpenters work,
George w. Duke & Co.; plastering, James
W. Gilman g. Son; painting, c. & A. Gala
CHAN.
CoNsECRATION OF NEW CATHOLIC
CHURCH. Yesterday morning Right Rev.
Bishop Gibbons, accompanied by Rev. Fa-
theirs Benno and Bernardine, of st. Mary's
church, and q number OF Catholics OF this
city, left Richmond on the S:45 A. NJ. train
on The Chesapeake and Ohio railroad for
Buckner's station, in Louisa county, for the
purpose OF participating in the ceremony OF