Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-11-10
THE PLENARY COUNCIL.
The Opening Ceremonies In Baltimore
Yesterday.

AN IMPOSING PROCESSION AND IMPRESSIVE SERVICES.
The third plenary council Of the Roman Catholic
church In the United States was opened yesterday
In the cathedral at Baltimore with impressive re-
hgfous ceremonies From an early hour the streets
In the vicinity Of the cathedral were thronged with
spectators and shortly after ten O'Clock the semi
narians, about 900 In number and the visiting and
city priests and the the0ogians Of the council who
had met In St Alphonsus hall. two squares away,
TO put on their vestments, marched to the arch
bishops house The prelateS then issued from the
house. and the line OF march was taken to the ca
thedral In the procession of the prelates the mon
slgnort came nrst then the abbots. ten In number,
mostly Benedictines. and many wore long boards.
Next came the bishops, numbering over nifty and
wearing rich red and golden copes, amice and plain
atiired as the bishops, and then Rev Edwd. McCol,
gan, g., assistant priest to the archbishop. Next
came the apostolic delegate with his deacons OF
either side. The apostolic delegate, Archbishop
GIBBONS, wore an aInice, alb cncture red stole and
red cope. beautifully figured in gold and silk. His
inter was OF white, Ornamented with gold, and In
MS hand was his croser or pastoral STAFF. In the
procession two large crosses were borne. Behind
the train OF their gowns keeping them out of the
Dirt On the way to the church the chanters sang
"veni Creator spiritus" and "Ave Maria Stella"
TIE SCENE IN THE CHURCH.
Entering the church the procession moved up
the middle aisle, and while nearly all the clergy
men took seats In the front pews the prelates
entered the sanctuary and were ranged in regular
lines on each side OF the altar The apostolic dele
gate took his seat on the throne, attended by the
all in their places the apostolic delegate went up
the altar steps and reclted q short prayer in Latin
Of ST the
the apostolic delegate. Looking down from the
gallery the effect was that Of some rich mosaic,
some grand historic picture, glowing with all the
tintS Of the painter.
IMPRESSIVE MUSIC.
The music was rendered by two choirs One
composed OF the Official chanters OF the council
sisted by forty seminarians from st. Supice under
the direction Of Rev. G. Andre and Rev. w. E.
Bartlett. 1t was stationed IN the sanctuary. The
Graf, In the organ loft, was composed OF eighty
voices, the regular chorus of the two CecIlian
Cecilian and Palestrina school, in strict harmony
with the rules OF the Catholic liturgy. The grand
At the conclusion OF the mass the pulpit was
brought forward, and Archbishop Ryan, OF Phila-
delphia, delivered the sermon, selecting as his
the words from Marthew-28th chapter, 18th, 10Th
and Goth verses
THE COUNCIL FORMALLY OPENED.
After the sermon the ceremonies proper to the
opening session OF the council began. An antiphon
and psalm were sung by the choir, after which the
OF the altar. The Htany Of the Saints was then
chanted under direction OF Rev. VIM E. Bartlett,
of Baltimore. After another short prayer by the
apostolic delegate the Rev. ID. E. Lyman read from
the scriptures and the choir sang "venl Creator"
The apostolic delegate then, from seat in front OF
the altar. read an address in Latin formally OPEN
Ing the council MonsignOr COrcoran, chief secre-
tary OF the council, then read the preliminary de-
crees regarding the rules to be observed in the
council. and called the roll Of membership. All the
members or the council then made the profession of
faith by advancing in pairs in front OF the altar
and kissing an open copy OF the scriptures. The
secretary then announced that the next session OF
the council will begin at 10 a. m. to-day In the
cathedral The apostolic delegate then gave the
papal benediction, concluding the services.
THE MOST IMPOSING ECCLESIASTICAL GATHERING
EVER ASSEMBLED IN THE NEW WORLD.
The council which was thus formally opened was
convened by order of the Pope and includes all the
bishops, archbishops and mitred abbots OF the
country, numbering between eighty and ninety.
These with their secretaries theOlOgtans, etc. will
make the most imposing ecclesiastical gathering
that has ever assembled In the new world. In fact
this council is the largest that has ever been
vened since the great Council Of Trent In the six
teenth century with the single exception OF the
Council OF the Vatican, which adjourned in conse-
Quence OF the occupation Of Rome by Victor En-
manuel on september 20, 1870.