The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-09
RLENSING TIE LITTLE.
An Interesting service In NJ. MlchncIs Church
on Jersey City Heights.

The grand altar recently placed in st.
Michael's Church. attached To- the monastery Of
the Passioni-t Fathers in Jersey Heights. was
blessed yesterday afternoon. Tho final conse-
Grafton will take place hereafter. and is
virtually n conservation OF the church
entire. OF the five affairs in the church.
one in either transopt Is immoMbln being
built up from the solid rock. whore it must ever
remain. The new altar il within the chanccl,
ara is known ~ = portable qlLaf, hH'niIsc The
material Of which It is made having been oncc
consecrntcd may bc removed elsewhere and
used as an altar. Tho base Of tine structure Is
Of costly Italian marble. richly inlnid with
lapis azul and malachite. and was brought TO
this country many years ago by the Rev. Father
Victor. Superior Of the order. Above the solid
marble tabernacle is athrone of polished brass
surmountcd by II lofty cross. On either side
IRE the figures Of angels bowed in prayer. and
in the background. enclosed in inches. are
angels bearing the Inscriptions Lauiare To"
and Bcnidiccre Te." Above forming the most
conspicuous feature Of the reredos. is a
heroic statue Of st Michael overcoming
the Dragon" Over this Is much smaller
representation of the Holy Virgin. and tower
ing above all IL the apex OF tho structure.
n star. tho centre Of which IL a heart. surmount-
ed with a cross and embodied in carnuiiOn.
the emblem Of the order. The groundwork Of
tine structure s dazzling white. driicatcly traced
with gold. Tho architecture IL in harmony
with the Roman architecture OF the exterior Of
the church. though traces of the Corinihinn are
disc.rnihle Tn" church ~ Il reproduction ot
s. Peters. on n reduced scale. Massive pillars,
adorned with liie-s'z' figures OF tho saint md
APOSTLES support the arches Of the ROOT. Bril-
liant frpsD oing covers the walls the colors he-
INK set hy furnishing process, which mako
them indrlbe. The church's interior beauty
has been rrcatly enhanced by its now addition.
The ceremony wis nude Additionally inter
csting by the fact that Father Fidelis llormerly
the Rev james Kent Stonel was heard for the
last time h'ior" sailing Tor Europe on Il visit OF
soon after midday thronSg Of persons who
| had found their way there from TINS c.ty ana
| BROOKLYN. as well rs from Jersey CITY and lio-
! hokon. gathered on the spacious green lawn
from which rise the granite walls o. the church.
The broad Wow ruiuWandei from the cntrnnce
| Of the church Includes the full width OF the
| North River. and New York from Hurlem To- the
| Battery. The marble walls and spires Of 81.
| putrirks Cathedral. rising mHIest,eally above
| everything around IL. IRE plainly In sight
Al o'clock. ihe hour f4r tho c9nsecraiing
| service. the uews were all filed and seuts had
been placed in the aisles. Accompanied 10y M
| outbur~t from the organ. the procession LED
lace robes. entered the chancel through
| drnped entrances at each side OF the
| he was INSISTED by Father lldephonsus and
! Father Antony rs deacons. They were followed
! by u long procession OF priests wearing hhck
| iunics and white satin capes with golden en-
| brodcry. and bearing pure white SILK banner
wrought with passion flowers While anthems
| and psalms were sung the priests remained
seated in scmicirclcs Vt the sides Of the chanccl.
and the rcleNrunt aud his dra'uns. supported
! hy the acolytrs. knctled before the altar,
| Frank incense Was difuscd about the altar, aud
| all bowed while the celehrunt mounted the loty
| steps and raised the blessed sacrament from
| the tabernacle tho throne. Choral singing hy
| q large choir OF boys followed the recoslug OF
| the tabernacle. \ prayer chantei hy all the
| priests kneeing closed the service and the
! procession moved slowly out OF sight amid loud
! bursts Of music. large portion OF N" c"ugrc-
| cation advanced 10 the rail and waited 20 re-
| celye tho bless ing Of the Passsionist Fathers.
| The reception rooms IN the monastery were
! came TO bid him eood-by and receive a parting
| blessing He has been summoned TO Rom, and
| expects TO be away at least two yciTs.