New-York tribune., 1879-05-23
DED1CATI0Y or THE CATHEDRAL.


PREPARATIONS FOR THE SERVICES.
| PRESENT CONDITION or THE BUILDING-oF WHAT
| THE CEREMONIES WILL CoNsIsr-rHE PAlIiCI-
| PANTS.
| The formal opening and dedication of the
new Roman Catholic Cathedral in Fiftavc. VIII take
place Sunday morning This promises to be one OF the
| finest Roman Catholic ceremonies ever held in this
cirv Since the close OF the great fair which was held In
,bo buildng during last October and November, small
army OF anics has been work finishing the inte
ror The attention Of the men was first directed 10 the
construction OF the marble altar which stands in the
centre of the sanctuary THIS altar with the reredos
was dcsignedby Mr. Renwlck the architect OF the Ca
hedra and was made in Italy at cost of about $780,
OOO The table OF the altar is OF white MARBLE divided
into and panels its Sides the inches contain
Ing statues and panels basreefs representing the
Passion The tabernacle is brilliant With mosaics ana
precious stones and has brOnzed door. spre fifty
feet high rises from the reredOs Tho two Ranking towers
have containing the statues Of Ss Peter and raul
Between the central towers and those at the corners o
the screen the spaces divided into six inches con-
tanning Il cures OF seraphm bearing shields with en-
blems of the Passion. The reredos Is thirty-wo feet
wde In the centre of the platform on which the priest
stands TO celebrate thero Is circular mosaic
about eighteen inches in diameter It was taken from
one OF the Oldest churches in Rome, and is priced very
highly.
Four other atars have also been placed in position In
e ransepts and viii be caledhe altars OF the Blessed
Virgin Of ST. Joseph Of the sacred Heart and OF the
Holy Family large throne sixty feet In height lor
the cardinal and his two assistant priests has been
but the gospel side OF the sanctuary. Behnd the
throne there are small organ aud stalls for the choris
ters The body of the edince has also been greatly
changed since the public admitted last FALL Pews
made OF ash have been constructed which divide the
church into five ases, the middle aise being ten feet
In width. The seating capacity OF the pews Is 26OO;
but about 900 more persons can be accommodated III
the church. In the choir gallery there has been placed
the large organ from the Church Of St. John the
| Evangelist. All the stained glass windows, seventy In
ALL are in position and very little work is needed to
complete the interior. large force OF workmen was
engaged yesterday covering the wooden flooring aud
steps OF the sanctuary with carpet of green color
The dedcatory services Will begin at 10 a. M and will
last about four hours one Of the principal features OF
the opening service will be the through the
four streets which surrounded the structure, and
through the various ases the interior This process
sion Will form IN the sacristy, although the priests num-
berng over $50 will march from the residence Of Father
Mcmahon which is In Madisonave., directly opposite
the cathedral The procession will be led by priest In
full robes carrying large golden cross and attended by
two acolytes with candles There will follow thirty
altar boys in red cassocks and white surplces the
| sanctuary choir composed OF 100 young men-boys;
and number of cergynon and forty archblshops aud
bishops in capes and mitres. Last OF oil Will be the
cardinal dressed In his riches robes followed by train
bearers cross beares and youthful attendants. and
assisted by VcarGenera Preston first deacon OF honor
the Rev. A. j. Donnelly, OF ST. Michaes Church. second
deacon of honor and Vcar-General Preston assistant
priest Among the prelates who will be In the process
sion are following archbishops: James Gibbons. of
Baltimore John j. Williams. Boston John l.. Purcell
| Cincinnati James +. Wood Philadelphia j. j. Lynch
Toronto Canada Michael Harmon, Halifax Alexan-
der Tache, st Bonfaee, Canada. some OF tue bishops
are Becker, Wilmington Chatard; Iudianapolis Cor
S,Gn TsSn neTa Hasl PoPtand Gross ssyanmah Hem
dricken, Provdonce Kain. Wheeling; Louehlin: Brook
sscra,nion, o'Reiy, sprngheld aQuinan, Mobile /;
| Ryan. 81. Louisi Ryan. Buffalo shanahan: Harris
burg SpaldinG, Peoria Twigg, PlttsbuTgj Wadllans
| Ogdensburg; Lynch. Cnarlestoni Gimour' Cleveland
and Kean, Richmond. ,,,
building, in fun view OF the con creation; while SIX
priests intone the Psalms OF the BLESSING When tho
Fifth-ave entrance ts reached the procession Will pass
out into the street. and turn down the avenue TO Ff
be YiI s6rpkie il With holy water ana perform the
blessing ceremony. While the priests and choir chant
Flftieth-st., then through Madison-ave. aud Ftity
hTs-st until the main entrance Is again reached Dur
inq this the Cardinal VIII sprinkle the walls with
the chorisers Will chant the Litany OF the Saints,
until ali the clergy within the sanctuary. Then will
follow the blessing Of the affairs Ihe Cardinal and his
attendants viii advance to The bottom marble step OF
Inc grand and kneel until the itanes sre finished
After the blessing OF the great altar If hnlshed the
Cardinal viii sprinkle with holy water the the remainder
all the acoytes, chorsters priests and pTelaes VIII
aIslcs OF the Cathedral, while the Cardinal sprinkes
| the walls with the holy wafer When the procession
will return the sanctuafy and the dedlcatory services
| will nave been ended -
| McCloskey being the celebrant, DR.. McGlynn, OF ST.
Stephens Church. deacon, and Father Mclean. OF the
| Church of the TTansiguratOn, subdeacon. Father
FARLEY, the Cardinals secretary, and the Rev john f.
Kearney, OF the old Cathedral in Mott-st;, Will be
Masters OF Ceremonies The mass VIII proceed as usual
| 10 the Gospel when Bishop Ryan, OF 81. Louis, VIII
| deliver the sermon. The music OF the mass Will oe
direction OF W. f. PcCher the OrGanist OF the
| mo at HayunS
be sung double quartet ana chorus or 100 male
and female voices The first quartet and solo parts
Will be taken by MIss Amanda sarTltt, soprano; Miss
MARITIME alto Mr. Frltsch, tenor; and MI stein
buch baritone. The ntrOit gradual and some OF the
responses Will be gwen by the male sanctuary chOlr 10
the GregOfiau chau AT the close OF the mass grand
Gregorian TIE Drum Will be given by both organs ana
ia A feature Of the mass Will be
the solenulty o. the conservation. The altar VIII Do
surrounded by altar boys with lighted torches and forty
| prelaes aud 300 priests with burning tapers.
Those have charge OF the ceremonies declare that
the most beautiful will be presented at the evening
service. The whole building Will be Illuminated aud
| the sanctuary will blaze with hundreds OF lights. Sol
cmn POnucil yespeTs Will be celeb ated by Archbishop
| Gibbons of la imOre, assisted by the Rev John j.
Kcan aud the Rev Michael j. Farrell. on the episcopal
| throne will be seated the Cardinal attended by hi. AS
sstant priests. Boys scattering incense from richly
| wrought ceusers, numerous acoytes bearing burn
| ing torches chHnters dressed In costly cOpes
singing the psalms and the presence OF many prelates
in full robes, Will add much 10 the effect or the sancu
arY. The chancrl choir Will sing the psalms " DX
Domnus" I" JOnfitebOr TiDi, Domino" Beatus Vlr,"
"Laudate Pueri and " In Exltu Israe" The gallery
choir will sing the Magnhcat" by Emerich. The YES
pers III by the singing OF R0sslns Bsnedictus"
and the "Tantun Ergo for SOLO and full chorus. Bishop
Keau, Of Richmond, VIII preach.
| --
COMMENCEMENT AT HAMPTON SCHOOL.