The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-10
TIE PLENARY COUNCIL.
A Gorgeous Procession and Opening Cere-
monies at Baltimore.

in the midst of brilliant sunshine with thou
sands of eager on-loolzers and fervent worship
ers, aud with all the pomp, pride and circum
stance of form and ceremony of the Catholic
Church, the third plenary council in the United
States opened this morning at the Cathedral in
this city. From early dawn the streets
in the vicinity of the sacred building and of
the archepiscopal residence were filled with
people. Carriage after carriage left the arch
episcopal residence with priest or bishop Clus-
tiers of people stood around the doors of the Ca
thedral, and in the sacristy and robing
rooms altar boys, seminarians and mas
tiers of ceremonies kept up con
slant change of light and color. It
had evidently been determined that
in brilliance and in numbers the opening
services should exceed any religious event in the
history of the country, and certainly the result
went beyond all expectations. With thirteen
archbshops, sixty-fve bishops, scores of abbots,
monsignori, vicars-general superiors of
religious orders, rcctors of seminarles
and theologians such a procession and
spectacle has not before been seen in the land
Old men and old women went home exclaiming
''Now have seen Thy salvation" The minor
clergy and the laity who were to take part in the
procession assembled at st Alphores Hall,
about two squares distant and then marched to
the archbishop's residence to receive the great
dignitaries of the church.
The streets through which the procession was
to move to the Cathedral were filed with spec
tators, reyerent in attitude. AS the cross
bearers were seen, all uncovered, Catholics
adding the genufection. In order followed the
secular and regular clergy, seminariaus, theolo-
gians, bishops arehbishops and mitred abbots,
all in full robes. The colors Of the vestments
worn, and the jeweled crosses borne, shone and
sparkled in the sunshine. Occasionally, among
the crowd of clean-shaven faces in the procession
was one with patriarchal beard and venerable
look, seeming as if cut from some richly
stained window, glowing with the picture of
saints and apostles After the bishops and arch
bishops was the censor bearer and their apos-
tolic delegate, Archbishop Gibbons, and accom-
panying him was his venerable vicar general,
Very Reverend Father McColgan. Archbishop
Gibbons was supported by his deaeons of honor,
Rev. Fathers Lee and Devine, his secretary and
chancellor, and the train-bearers followed. The
archbishop, at all times ascetic IN
his looks, his face seemed paler
than ever when in contrast with
the purple and crimson that met HIM at every
turn Rich voices ehanted psalms as the pro-
cession moved to the church, between masses of
men, women and children, and all in sympathy.
Up the long aisles of the Cathedral moved these
linen Of might" The affairs were ablaze with
llght, ana Jne grand organ SenG IOrLn welcome
and triumph. The voices of the choir we're
soon heard, and the opening services of the
council began. On reaching the sanctuary, the
archbishops took seats to the right
of the altar, the abbots and provincials
to the left. The bishops occupied the
recess of the altor of the Blessed Virgin; the
seminarians occupied the recess of the altar of
St Joseph; the priests were in chairs in the
aisles and in front of the sanctuary. Archbishop
Gibbons sat on a throne, and near him was Very
ia
archepiscopal see. The main altar was adorned
with evergreens and white blossoms
Most Rev. Archbishop Kenrick, of st.
Louis, celebrated grand high mass Rev.
j. A. McCallen. S. j., was
master of ceremonies. The choir consisted of
upwards Of fifty vocalists under direction of
Rev. Father Graf The music was of d high
order Besides the chorus the seminarians acted
as ehoristers, and with the clergy and higher
dignitaries chanted the litanies. After the
mass, Archbishop Ryan, CT Philadelphia,
preached THE Church and Her Coun-
ellis" He selected for his text the
18th, 10th and Goth verses of chapter
xviii of the gospel of st. Matthew. At the
close of the sermon Archbishop Gibbons
descended from the throne and proceeded to the
centre of the sanctuary in front Of the main
altar, where he offered prayer for the plenary
council
The following are the officers: Most Rev.
Archbishop Gibbons, apostolic delegate, presid-
ing; chancellors, Revs. John Foley and George
Devine; promoter Right Rev. Bishop Karne, of
Wheeling; secretaries, Mgr. Corcoran, of Phila-
delphia, Rev. Mr. Gabriel, of Troy, Rev.
Mr.. Mesme of Newark, Rev DR.. O'Con-
nell of Richmond notaries Rev. Messrs.
Wayric, Albrick, Chapelle, G7eAlan and De
Augustine; masters of ceremonies, Revs. J. A.
McCallen, Thomas Droyderick and <se1,-P. Kelly.
The apostolic delegate took h,s seat on a das
in front of the altar. with Bishop Kaine on his
right and Rev Mr. Devne 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 pleasure that the decree of the Pope
authorizing the, third plenary council,
should be read, which was answered
affrmatively, and Mgr. Corcoran
read the authority Several other
DEGREES and orders were then read all in Latin.
The promoter then asked that all acts of the
council be completed by Mgr Seaton, of
New York which was ordered Chancellor Fo-
ley asked that the second public session Of the
council shall be held at the Cathedral on Sun
day. the 10th inst, and it was so decreed and
commanded All members of the council then
made profession Of faith in front of the altar,
which concluded the ceremonies. Daily bust
ness meetings of the council will be held at the
Seminary Of St Sulpice, Paca street, be-
ginning tomorrow.