Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-07-30
CHICAGO LETTER.
IpopdeuCo Public Ledger
OHIcAoO. July %. 1881.

/
CHICAGO, July 26, 1881.
Yesterday was one to be long re
membered in the hearts Of the Roma
Catholics Of Chicago and vicinity.
was the occasion of the elevation
the Episcopacy of a clergyman niue
beloved by all who know him-th
Very Rev. John McMullen. He wa
consecrated Bishop of Davenport
Iowa, with the usual attractive cere
monies that attend such sacred events
His Grace, the Most Rev. DR.. Feehar
Archbishop Of Chicago, ofiicated a
eelebrant and consecratOr; and Rev
| D.. j. Riordan. of the Holy Nam
Cathedral, acted as master OF ceremo
MES. A host of distinguished priest
assisted at the ceremonies; and nu
merous others, some from distance
witnessed the grand tribute to theil
most worthy brothers. AND ever!
nook and corner of the vast edifice
the cathedral ofthe Holy Name, wal
packed with members of the church
and those of other religious denomina
tions, all anxious to witness the honor'
being conferred on one so deserving
of such exalted recognition for in
this region no name is more house
hold than that of Rev. John McMul.
len. The ceremony of consecrating a
Bishop is next in order to that of en-
veloping Pope with his sacred office,
and is most impressive of all
ceremonies in the Roman Catholic
church, and was, on this &C.
casion portrayed in all its
magnificent and intensified sacred
ness. The salient features of the
conservation consists OF one of the
Bishops informing the celebrant Bish-
op that it was the wish of the mother
church, made through the Pope, that
be was to confer the sacred Office of
Bishop on the Rev. John McMullen.
Then the papal bulls were read to that
effect. Then the Rev. DR.. McMullen
knelt and took the obligation, which
is an oath to obey the mandates of the
Pope as TO church matters, etc. After
this he kissed the book of the gospels
and arose. The candidate had already
gone through a rigid examination as
to his qualifications for the sacred
Office, his power and wish to conform
to all the requirements of the Roman
Catholic Church, etc. After kissing
the consecrating Bishops hand, the
new Bishop was led to st. Jaseph's
altar, where he received the pectoral
cross, the state, tunic, chalmatic,
chasuble aud sandals; then, ascend
ing the altar, read the mass. The
then informs the elect that
the duty of Bishop is to Judge,
to interpret, to eonsecrate, to ordain,
to offer, to baptize, and to confirm.
The elect tn IN prostrates himself on
his face, and the consecrator and
assistant Bishop sing the litanies of
the saints. The elect then assumes a
kneeling posture, and the book of the
gospels is placed on his neck and
shoulders and the consecrator says:
Receive thou the Holy Ghost, and
concludes with a prayer. Then the
elects head is bound with linen, and
begins hymn which is continued by
chanters. After this the consecrator
dips the thumb Of the right hand into
chrism and anoints the elect, saying.
May thy head be anointed and con
sscrated with heavenly blessing
in the pontifcal order" The
then takes a crumb
Of bread and rubs the chrism from his
own thumb, and then makes the sign
Of the cross on the palms of the elect,
as Samuel anointed David, king and
prophet. Then, after prayers, the
blessed crosier, or staff, is reminded
by the consecrator Of the holy duties
levolving on him. Then he is pre-
sented with the blessed ring, and re-
,eives the books Of the gospels. The
,onsecrator then gives him the kiss of
peace, and the assistant Bishops do
likewise. Other ceremonies follow,
hen the elect salutes the consecrator,
md wishes him 4 long and happy life.
The kiss Of peace is again given and
The ceremony concludes with reading
he gospel according to st. John.
Thus was Very Rev. John McMullen
mpressively invested with the
lacred robes and Office of a
Roman Catholic Bishop, a transition
most pleasing to his thousands of we'll
and no doubt very welcome to
himself. In the evening a countless
number Of prominent ladies' and gen
-lemen, members of the new Bishops
ate diocese, met in the cathedral and
him with tokens of their es-
Gem and love. The gift of the ladies'
consisted Of Bishops elegant chap
oeiie, costing $500, and consisting &C.
he saborium, chalice chandelstick,
yold cruet, two "hOly oils" and a DO
EN-, all in beautifully chased in gold
ind engraved box. The testimonial
or the gentlemen was purse contain
ng $1,000. lAnd Rev. Il. w. Gaver,
If Waukeegan, Illinois, presented
handsome gold chalice, beautifully en-
yraved.
The new Bishop of Davenport is a
hearty specimen of humanity, of me-
iium height, wiry OF muscle, quick,
,elf reliant, and of dignifed demeanor.
His mind is we'll stored with literary
ore ofthe richest order, and thorough
y versed in everything pertaining to
he Romish religion. He enters upon
MS new duties at a healthy age. being
only forty eight years on this terrestrial
sphere, having been born in the year
1893, in the town of Ballanaheich
County Down, Ireland. His family
eft his native country in 1887 for
Canada. After remaining there a
short time they removed to New York
State, and from there to Chicago, in
lai. Hi. father established one of
the first hotels in Chicago. When