The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-06
BLESSING A CORNER STONE
Very Beautiful and Impressive Services Con-
Quoted by vicnr-Gcnerni Quinn.


Very Beautirul and Impressive Services Con-
Quoted by vicnr-Gcnerni Quinn.
The corner stone of st. Francis Xaver's
Church in Sixteenth street. between Fifth and
Sixth avenues. was laid in 1850. The church
was built and the services In II were conducted
by tho Society OF Jesus For several years 1t
has been too small 10 contain the worshippers
who iocked to 1t. New pews have been con-
structcd until they have crowded close on the
chanccl rail. Yesterday the corner stone OF
new church. to be by the side Of the old one. was
laid 10y vicar-G General Quinn. in the absence in
Europe OF His Eminence John. Cardinal Nc
Closkey. 1t will hold $500 persons.
flooring had been built on the foundation
walls in preparation for yesterdays ccrcmo-
MES and. although tickets Of admission wcro
sold at dollar apiece it was filed with Catho-
lie clergy and laymcn. The money thus OBJ
tanodN to he used TO- aid IN the completion Of
the work The additional money necessary II
10 be derived from donations. The rear wall
has boen erected. II was decorated with paint
ings Of ST. Francis Aayier. and Ot 81. Peter
Fayre in the act of giving the Holy, Commun9n
20 the first companions % ~. lgnatlus. the
founder of the Society 81 jesus. There were
also suspended from the walls two large Amer
ican flags and smaller flags u France. Italy.
and other nations. Tho gilt harp On a green
h"ld contributed T. the brightness oi the de o.
rqtons From rasn oi 'hS ,alI 1rSnGs ,9r rrnS ing
strcamcrs. which showed TIE STARE and stripes.
Four Of these eight strcamers extended acrosA
the street the tips being fastened to trees on the
30 societies had been invited. Nevertheless.
many members Of various organizations were
on the spot, but not in regalia. These INCLUDED
many members of the Ancient Order OF iber-
.n In hs sssSsma9 Da mere oEn SGS ss
he LIE Si Plus Us lX.;% PrasIdeqt HcsIS q the
Georgetown near Washington: Father Patrick
F. Dealy, President OF the Xavier Union and Of
tho Xavier Alumni SOdallty the Rev. John
Prendereast, Vice Pres dent Of the College OF
st. Francis Xavier. and others OF the clergy.
Mr. Neault wns the master OF ceremonies. Over
the spot where the altar is TO be a large slate
colored cross had been erected,
At ten minutes past four o'clock a,proccssion
lego boys marched over the front wall singing
and carrying banners. They We're followed 10y
onr Boys BOY pegrns on bn er bos o be- psd IN
the corner stone. At each corner OF this box
was a small bouquet, At thG head OF these
one OF the studenF. bearing large bouquet.
After these came Vicar General Quinn. Vicar
dsh "a s eoc zee tSS Rev by 0 McE
pastor Of the church Bishop Lynch Of Charles
Ton. and a long line Of Catholie clergy marching
plices. Bishop Lynch Yor. purple ,cassofk
red, purple. and black ca-socks. wore ranged in
a aseniicircle about the curved wall Of the future
chancel. After ritual services hai been read
AMI Sh4pled me PROCESSION ION, tS,9rmed r i ana
stone, which was in the Il lrtlwr-t corner Of the
building II was suspended hy g heavy chain
from thr arm Of II crane short distanc above
the bed ~ masonry whcrr it WIS 20 rest. Vicar
General Quinn read prayer as,lnE blessing
on the building, and lhsh shlhklrd ,he flointe ite
ho marked n cross on three faces OF the
stone. indicating its length. breadth. and
worIs' Tn the name name oi the Father and
q tho Son and of the Holy Ghost"
OF the clergy present. He next recited the l2Gth
Psalm. After this he laid his hand on the stone
whilo II was being lowered into position, At
this point he made three signs OF the cross on
the stone, while hr uttered the words; In the
faith OF tho Lord Jesus Christ wa place this
first stone in its foundation in the name OF the
II""1lHyV GEH"''st. EH''t that tho true faith and the
fear OF God and fratcrnal charity may
flourish here" The Vicar General took II
silver trowel with golden handle from 2
silver salver held by an attendant, and touched
the mortar that had ~ the moan tlmc lccn
placed about the cdges OF the stone by mason.
Then with mallet made oi Costly wood, ne
struck The stone 9s Il to cause # to seltlr inio
place He sprnklod II "A second time with 'holy
water. while he ,recited verse OF the 5Dlh
Psalm. Then Father Caseau took the box that
had been cnrricd by the four boys and put
II into u rectangular cavity that hhd been cut
parts Of the relies Of many saints possessed by
the Jesuit fathers They consist mostly OF very
small that they could Dc held on tho tip OF
a ilnger-naii. While tho box was being
cemcnted in the stone thH l26h Psalm
in vain they labor who build r. was
chnnted. Tho words foated softly from tho
rear Of tho church whore they were sung by the
choir of tho College Finally the procession
formed again, and returned TO the large cross,
Vicar, General Quinn sprinkling the side wall
The street Get was packed with spectators and
every window in the houses opposite was filled
with heads. Many persons Witnessed the cere-
monies from neighboring, roofs ~
The Venerable Right Rev. Patrick N. tiynch.
Bishop Of Charleston, assembled carpetfd dais.
and delivered an address. He SAID M nearly
twenty-scycn years ago. when the old churnh
WI aonicauu ,yho o nnppnsided over The diocese
had recalled TO his mind the time when there
was only ono bishop in the country. Now there
aud moro than 5000 priests. He impressed on
his hearers the idea that TO them church was
not n hall in which one man was TO proach,
though preaching wns n"Geos@Gy N0r %"S wos IL
necessary. 1t was built for the purpose OF wor-
ship. The earliest worshippers had built altars;
The Catholic Church preserved the bacrilce oil
After tho address an original chorus in Latin.
composed by Sgnor Francesca fanciulll. WAS
sung This closed the ceremonies.
on tho face OF tho corner stone@is cut the
name. st, Francis Xayier." ina sunken horl-
aontal, Between tho first and last name y |.
raised Maltese cross The nrchlect II fatIldk
and the front OF n light-colorod granite.
strengthened with columns in tho Roman stylo.
The Latin memorial enclosed IN the corner
stone ends with the following npostropho:
Hail, Francis, Brotherl
Grandcr Temple
WIN wsasSs Ts"asrss Ess,ST: %.'SS as s"e Slys: w:d
Assist, Cherish, aud
Poster