The Portland daily press., 1884-11-10
THE PLENARY COUNCIL.
Opening Service of the Third Ses-
sion, in Baltimore.
An IMPRESSIVE AND INTEREST
ING sPEATACLE.

BALTIMORE, Nov. 6.-With all the pomp
and circumstance, form and ceremony which
have been associated with the Catholic church
for centuries its third plenary council in the
United States opened this morning at the
Cathedral in this city. The minor clergy and
alty who were to take part in the procession
assembled st St. AlphoDsns Hall about two
squares distant, and then marched to the
Archbishop's residence to join ia the ceremonies
proper, and the streets G. rough which the
pageant was to pass to the Cathedral we're
htled with spec atore. AS the cross bearers
carrying the professional cross was seen lead
ing the procession, the faithful uncovered or
made pious penufiectlon. In order then there
followed secular and regular clergy, seminar
ians, theologians, bishops, archbishops and nit
red abbois all in the full pamoply of the T
sacred office. Slowly swinging his censor aud
spreading around an ooor Of frankincense came
the censor bearer and then briugi0g up the
rear the apostolic delegate, archbishop Glib
bons, while preceding him walked with
feeble steps the venerable vicar general
OF the Diocese Father McOalgan, and then
came the Archbishop supported by his deacoDs
OF homer, Rev. Fathers Lee and Devine re-
specively, his secretary and Chancellor, with
q thousand Of devotees bowiDg their heads
Even those who looked on the spectacle as q
passing show were impressed with its beauty
and its harmony. The church was reached,
aud as up the long aisles they came with
stately movement, the altars abazs with
light and the deep diapason of the organ swell
ing up to the dome in peals of thunder, the
voices of the choir added TO the melody aud the
services began On reaching the Sanctuary
the archbisbops occupied seats to the right of
the altar, and the abbots and provincals 10 the
lett; the Bishops occupied the recess of the al
tar of the Blessed Virgin, while the Seminari-
ans occupied the recess OF the altar of st Jc-
seph, aud the priests occupied chairs in the
aisles aud in front of the sanctuary.
Archbishop Gibbons occupied the throne
and near him was the Very Rev. Edward
McCalgan, Vicar General of the Archepiscopal
See.
The man altar was adorned with svergreens
and white blooms. Most Rev. Archbishop
Kenrich of st. Louis, celebrated Grand High
Mass, assisted by Rev. Dwight Lyman as de a.
con and Rev. j A. McCallsn / s., was ma
ter OF ceremonies. The choir consisted of up-
ward of fifty vocalists under direction OF Rev.
Father Graf and the music was of high o.
der. Besides the choir the seminariaus acted
as chorlste1s and with the clergy aud
higher dignitares ckanted litanies. After
mass Most Rev. Archbishop Ryan of Philadel-
phi a, presched on "The church and her coun-
es," selecting for his text Matthew, 28: the
18th, 19 b. ana 20th verses In the course OF
his Sermon the preacher said that ne attended
the council held eighteen years ago. At that
council foity-six Bishops took part; now there
ara over seventy, and closed by saying: She
he Cstholic cburch) Wil call all people in 10
ner embrace. She III SIG abolished slavery in
England and in 1903 liberated all the English
slaves in Ireland. Because Christ WAS the
great regenerator of Humanity, the church las
followed him IN aiding the poor and ia aiding
humanity At the close OF the sermon, the
Most Rev. Archbishop Gibbons descended
from the throne and proceeded to the GENRE
Of the sanctuary in front of the main altar,
where he offered the inaugural prayer for the
plenary council.
Following are the officers: Most Rev. Arch
bishop Gibbons, Apostolic Delegate presiding;
Ohanceliors, Revs. John Foley and George
Devine Promoter, Rt Rev. Bishop Kahn, of
Wheeling; Secrt tares, Mgr. Corcoran of
Phiiadelphia, Rev. Mr.. Gabr. els of Troy, Rev.
Mr.. Mesmer of Newark, and Rev. DIR. O'Con-
nell OF Richmond Notaries, Rev. Messrs. f.
Deaugustius; Masters OF Ceremonies, ReVs. j.
A MeCallen, Thomas Broy derrick and Nj. f.
Kelly. The Apostolic Delegate took his seat
On raised dais in front of the altar, with
Bishop Kain on his right and Rev. Mr.. De-
vine on his left, after which the roll was called
by Rev. DR.. O'Connell. The Promoter then
asked the presiding officer if it was his plea
sure that the decree OF the Pope authorizing
the third plenary council should be read, which
was answered sffirmatively, and Mgr. Cor
coran read the authority. Several other de-
crees and orders were then read in Latio.
The Promoter then asked that all
acts OF the council be completed by Mgr.
Baton of Newark which was ordered. Chau-
ceIlor Foley asked if the second public session
of the council shall be held at the Cathedral
on Sunday, 10th inst aud it was SO decreed and
commanded All the members of the council
then made profession of faith In front of the
altar which concluded the ceremonies.
The daily business meetings of the council
will be held az the seminary of St. Sulpics on
Paca street, beginning tomorrow.