The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-03-20
ST. MARY'S.

The Catholic church claiming its or
igin far back in the history of the
world and to type its priesthood ''af-
ter the order of Melchisedek," is no
less proud of its ancestry perhaps than
its monuments. Its edificeS tower in
grandeur the world over. Its chart
ties are monumentaled in noble struc-
lures. Its asylums, like banyans, are
rooted and re-rooted in grand extern
sions to embrace all classes of peo-
pie. 1t is church of universal con-
Germ for humanity. Its devotees
brave war, pestilence and famine |
in their world wide mission; |
and the communicates of no |
other denomination are more noted as |
a body for unfagging fervency at the
church SANITARY. Certainly the Cath |
Ollie population of Austin are to be
commended and Austin as city is to
be congratulated upon the fact OF the
erection of so fine an editice as the
new Catholic church which is soon to
be dedicated here by Bishop Gallagher:
The dedication will be on the 2Oth OF
April, which will be on the first Sun
day after Easter, the services COM
mencing at 10 o'clock in the morning.
THE ERECTION OF THE BUILDING.
was commenced about ten years ago,
but the foundation not being suitable
had to be changed at considerable ex-
pense and delay in the work.
The length of the building
proper is 1876 feet, 10 inches
and width SO feet with a clearance OF
46 feet between the walls and 81 feet
from the altar railing to the vestibule.
There is a space of feet from the YES
tibule door to the entrance or main
door of the church. The height of the
building is in good keeping with the
other dimensions so as to present
grand and symmetrical proportions as
whole. The main steeple rises 175 feet
from the ground to the top OF the
spire. and the smaller oneis hundred
feet in height. The belfry will be in
the main tower, which is designed
TO HAVE A CLOCK
with several dials. Ample room is
provided for a grand organ over
the vestibule of the church. The
peWs are of ash with walnut finish, and
| will seat over SIX hundred persons.
They will doubtless all be crowded
at the dedication services, and those
who want to be sure OF getting seats
should go early. When completed and
furnished, the expenditures on this
beautiful edifice will amount to about
$4,000. N. j. Clayton, OF Galveston,
| is the architect of the building. John
Hart, of the same place, has superln-
tended the stone construction. Harry
| Delyin, also of Galveston, is the con-
tractor for the wood work. Among
| 1fo CO for I1oa6n Ski KIM
| for stone work and $4,000 for wood
work. S1.4OO for stating and 81, 1857 for
the peWs.
THE SEATING CAPACITY.
of the church can be readily enlarged
on account of the height of the CELL
ings by the addition of galleries,
commensurate with future increase
of membership when necessary. The
entire building is of rock, of Gothic
structure, with interior finish to cor
respond.
The roof is deliberately arched and
fiuted, and well supported from all
sides. 1t is covered with slate which
is handsomely tessilated with devices
representing crosses. The gable ends
are surlnounted, as will be the towers,
with large crosses of rock of the
Maltese pattern. The large rose win
dow. twenty feet in diameter, which
adorns the front of the building, is a
model of beauty, being entirely OF
rock and divided into sections by
radii from the center. Such is the
outline OF the structure, which GER
tainly speaks well as an enterprise
and monument to the hberality and
devotion of the Catholic population
in city of the limited size OF Austin.
THE CONGREGATION
of st. Mary's church is composed of
about I2O families, under charge of
Rev. Peter Lauth, who has added
largely to his flock during his minis
try here of less than two years. The
lSlnday school attendance averages
about $50 scholars. The current ex-
penses of the church are kept well
paid up. The Sunday plate collec-
lions, which go to the support of the
pastor, amounted last year to $lOO9.
Father Lauth is of family of six
boys and four girls. The brothers are
all priests except two, one of which
latter is teaching private school, and
the other is married and in business.
Three of the brothers, Peter, James
and John, are, the one here,
the one at Galveston and one
at. Taylor. OF the girls, three
are now sisters of the church-one in
France, and two in Indiana. A truly
Catholic family.
UNDER THE AUSPICES
of the church is fine school, known
as st. Mary's Academy, which has an
attendance at present of about $50
girls and 65 boys, who are instructed
by corps of highly competent teach
ers, both in the useful and ornamental
branches of education. The aim of
the lady superior is to admit only such
pupils as will reflect credit upon the
school, and the school is pat
roniZed by the parents of chill
dren of all denominations. Like
Catholic schools generally it is noted
for the istrictest attention to the for
native habits of the pupils; and no
effort is spared to direct them in the
proper channels. Its students are
from all parts of the country, but only
a limited number of pupils is desired
| FATHER LAUTH
| takes quite an interest in the school,
as he does in all the interests of the
church. His efforts have been es-
pecially earnest in the work of build
Ing the new church, and his congrega-
ton and numerous friends in this city
rejoice with him at its near compile
ton. THE STATESMAN wishes him
all success,