Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-09-30
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
an EVENT AT ASHLAND.

History OF the Catholic Church In
delaware and of This Particular
church.
Between l,200 and 800 persons wit.
messed, Sunday afternoon, the blessing
NJ the cornerstone of the Catholic church
in the course of building at Ashland.
There was n general turnout of the
country people auS residents of neighbor.
ing yiileges, and Wilmington sent large
1elepaticna frpfu MI ;ts Catholic churches
The latter came or u special train of
,lyht cars flied 80 full az they would hold
The Blessed Virgin Mary Society. of st.
Paur4 Church. ond the Ancient Order of
Hibernians. attended in body and we're
easily distinguished by their glittering
badges Prominent in the vast crowd
were Harry O. Turner, Esq, Democratic
candidate Cor A'semblymap, Peter N.
Brennan, of the Lobiel Gar Wheel Com.
pnny, John F. Miller, of the Mutual Fire
Insurance Company, and Philip II CLARK
Republican candidate for Sheriff of New
iaatle county.
ri Rev. IflshOp Becker. assisted by
Rev Fathers Kelley, Taylor ard Maerain,
" st Peters church. FtIon, of st.
paus AID Kelly Of =. iJoseph's, Brandy
vine, performed iha highly interesting
unemony The Bishop was vested in
csspock snrplice md stole, ard worc the
mitre. Two ~ the tn gcolytes present
carried his crozier and the professional
cross All the priestN were attired in
black cassocks and white snrp'ices. The
stone had previously been placed In posi-
ton and facing it, with the clergy on his
right. the Bishop began reading, in Latin,
Al. t,rauorthaI 10 IL
occasions by the church, the priests
answering for themselves and the people
during the reading Of the Litany of An
Saints and other portions of the service.
The crowd stood with uncovered heads.
The Ancient Order of Hiberniaps.
stationed within the Foundation walls near
the stone, gave devout attention. Among
The articles deposited in the hollow of the
stone by tine Bishop wns a copy of EVERY
livENtNd nd the opening was then closed
aud cemented.
After sprinkling the stone with holy
water procession of the clergy and
arolrtes WIS formed with The cross bearer
ut the mead and the crosier-besrer in the
center. The Bishop, supported by two
priests, followed, spripkling the foundo-
ton az he proceeded. st Pnuls choir
under the direction of julius Hess sang
tie Niserere as tho procession moved
around with slow, solemn tread.
Returning to the corner stone the final
ceremony was performed, and then the
Bishop hsoended TO hastily constructed
platform, from which he addressed the
4 spectators. He reminded them that the
scored work just performed looked to the
dedication in the future Of church to the
/ service of God uuder the patronage of st.
Patrick whose name it will bear.
The ceremonies were not civil but re-
4 plete with religion. The work was done
4 for the honor and glory of God. In for
npr ages houses were set apart for the
u Worship of Cad in spirit and in TRUTH and
d such was the purpose in the pfesnt case.
n God does not need our worship, il is true,
hut wo reed assistance from him, and are
A obliged ~ have the means to advance to
lin in the manner in which He has
Il manifested Himself
Il The 1t. Row Bishop elcouently urged
n the clei,na Of the Catholic Church as the
AZ supreme teacher Of the Christian faith.
& He know that men might organize socie-
B ties FIR charitable apd philsntbrOpic pur-
Al prte-, or to further tleir own interests,
ii but they can never arise 10 the super
a nalurnl--they will never he able 10 form o
N church; not all the men on the earth can
NJ form church, because they have not the
q divine authority. II IL this authority
N Vhich the Catholic Church Possesses, and,
NJ therefore, her ministers are able to declare
u with certainty that the doctrines which
n hey teach are truths.
n This authority came from Christ. He
n came upon the earth 10 institute society
81 that would command the obedience of
Il men. He claimed supernatural authority
N aud came of the power of God. He was
81 God himself; The Word was made flssh -
a lie came surrounded by all power and
%mnjasty. He performed all manner
Moi miracles the blind saw
II tue lame walked and the dead arose and
81 lie did this to show His divine authority.
A Christ is our teacher and we are bound to
a listen to him We are not to take our
Il own views, but we must hear the word of
N God Christ claims rulership over the
q whole world. Remember who it il that
81 makes this claim the Door child of Nnza-
n reth the carpenters son.
n l}ut lie claimed that lie and the Father
~ were one, and the divine authority which
81 II POSSESSED, aud which He promised 20
VA His disciples was the cornerstone Of the
III Christian Faith. aud the stone blessed is q
%symbol OF it. The authority possessed by
al Christ was conferred upon his followers,
%Rrd the Bishop thought that the only
Education WINS whether Christ had deceived
%those 10 whom He spoke. He
al claimed that the Catholic Church had re-
a ceived its authority from Christ and was q
n heaven society. The command OF
H She Saviour to his apostles TO go into all
y nations Hnd teach his gospel, did not admit
II of novel ideas, no matter from what
n quarter they might come, but extended TO
n all races, all oOlors and all languages.
81 Christ thus instituted this society, and
II the Catholic Church is the only society
IN that can look over the lapse of ages back
n TO the time of the Divine Lord and show
n her authority No other society can show
n it The Catholic Church il one, holy,
#RpoRtOlic The corner stone of new
cnnrch had been laid that more favorable
Mopppriunities might be afforded the people
N of rendering God tho worship he requires.
III Revertipg to the church as divine in
siintioo, the Bishop spoke of its in.
X Observation-Disclosures, Tnere is not a wrinkle
HUn the Virgin brow ard she stands up-
acHanyeabie. She is tlourlshing, particu-
iNlnriy in America, where sue was the first
Nc proclaim religious liberty.
& The Bishop concluded with an appeal
Ito al present, whether of the household
Vol fni Il or not, ia contribute toward the
S&cost of building the new church, for which
Sfhcy certainly would ba rewarded. He
stn,I,d iu pointed and fcrcblr language
thtt b. did no; intend 20 bur'han himself
" i'm IA church ibatchad with mortRnees
He had - fair shatt of such presents, The
WYE upla must build the ehuc ~ aud nay fo,
D. and theu H. would not obi ct 10 reoeiv
iglt.
M He again exhorted the people to SECOND
TN effort of their worthy pastor, Rev
4 Father Dnnaghv, who WAS certainly doirt
Ab mui wntk fnr b II CORD.
M t'ho ras'or, pi'h Jorge corps Of col
M r'urs el.d been hnsv among the Grove
NclnrinR the ceremonies, aud had received
8Miioerai contributions. Father Donagh,
aN was formerly stationed AT Elkton, but IL
fSi hs general change OF pastors severa
fH wenk- ago, he wgs removed from that plac,
FFHr9 gwen Gharaanv r tterarish embracing
the Catholics of Heck, ssin, Ashland
4ortfee Run eal tho immediate vicinity
9s'ra" only church il that nj st. Mary's a
Coffee Run. small 4trnotrr" "@"ahla o
nsGting about 100 persons YeEterds'
sMt'mra wps n fun attend ,pce ~ the congre
#gHiiuu and with every seat fun and tn
4aisle crowded number were forced 4
tlouG OUTSIDE At TIE door.
Az Tho history nf Uatholioity in Delawar
X rs .iAk'd gith this unpretentious aiructur
lhs ui its surroundings II is the odsE
N, Egrho!'r Naurch in Delaware. II wa
t4bu5lt rir- tblv u tpntury and half epn