The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-13
CHURCH EVENT.
OPENED AT BALTIMORE osING
Observation-Disclosures OP
GIBBONS ENTHRONED.
A Brilliant Assemblage of Dis
tinguished Prelates, Alb
bots and Divines.

BALTIMORE, November 9.-Under
a cloudleSS sky, in the midst of bril-
liant sunshine, with thousands of ca
ger on-lookers and ferYent worship
pers, and with all the pomp, pride and
/ circumstance, 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 archiepiscopal residence were
Tiled with people as carriage after car
rage left the archiepiscopal residence,
containing priest or bishop. Clusters of
| people stood around the doors of the
cathedral in the sacristy and robing
| rooms the alter boys and seminarians'
and masters of ceremonies kept up a
| constant change of light and color.
1t had evidently been determined
| that in brilliency and in numbers the
opening services should exceed any re-
liaious event in the history of the
country, and certainly the result went
beyond all expectations. When thir-
teen archbishops, siXty.tive bishops,
scores OF abbots, rnonsigneurs, vicar
generals, superiors of religious orders,
| rectors of Summaries and theologians,
such procession and spectacle has
not before beeu seen in the land. Old
men and old women went home eX-
claiming: Nov 1 have seen my saliva
tionp
The minor clergy and laity who
were to take part in the procession as
sembled at st, Alphonso's hall, about
two squares distant. and then march,
ed to the archbishops residence to re-
ceive the great dignitaries of the
church. The streets through which
the procession was to move to the ca
thedral were filed with spectators,
reverent in attitude. AS the cross
bearers were seen, all the uncovered
Catholics added a genutiection. In or
der followed the secular and regular
clergy, seminarians, theologians, bish-
ops, archbishops, and mitred abbots,
all in full robes. The colors of the
vestments worn, and jeweled crosses
borne, shown and Sparkled in the SUM-
shine. Occasionally among the crowd
of clean-shaven faces in the processin
was one with patriarchial beard and
venerable look, seeming as if cut from
some richly-Stained window, glowing
with the pictures of the saints and
apostles.
AlICI GuC DloI1OPS ttuu dICnUlSuODS
was the cenSer-bearers and the apos-
tolic delegate, Archbishop Gibbons,
ana accompanying him was his
end Father McColgan With Arch
bishop Gibbons, who was supported
by his daacons of honor, were Rever-
end Fathers Leo and Divine, his Sec
rotary and chancellor. The train
bearers followed and the Episcopal
ring sparkled.
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 chanted the
Psalms as the procession moved to the
church between masses Of men, wo-
men and children, and all in sympa-
thy.
Up long the isles Of the cathedral
moved these "men of might" The
alters were ablaze with light, and the
grand organ sent forth a welcome
and triumph. The voices of the
choir were soon heard and the opening
services of the council began. Arch
bishop Gibbons sat On the throne and
near him was Very Rev. Edward Nc
Colgan. vicar general of the ATchl-
episcopal See. Most Rev. Archbishop
Kenr,ck, of st. Louis, celebrated grand
high mass. Rev. Dwight Lyman was
deacon, and Rev. J. A. Macallen, S. j.,
was master of ceremonies. The choir
consisted of upwards of fifty vocalists,
under the direction of Rev. Father
Graf. The music was of high order.
Besides the choir the seminarianS act
ed as chcristers, and with the reverend
clergy and higher dignitaries chanted
the litanies.
After the mass Most Rev. Arch
bishob Ryan. of Philadelphia, preach
ed on The Church and Her Councils.
He selected for mis- text the 18th, 10Th
and Goth verses, chapter xviii, of the
gospel of st. Matthew.
at the close of the sermon the Most
Rev. 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, presiding. Chancellors-
Revs. John Foley and Geo. Devine.
I'romoter-Right Rev. Bishop Kaine,
of Wheeling. Secretaries onsigneur
Cochrane, of Philadelphia; Kew. Mr..
Gabriel, of Troy; Rev. Mr.. Mesmer, of
Newark and Rev. DIR. O'Connell, of
Richmond. Notaries-Revs. Wayric,
AlbrincB, C;iapelle, Grammar DIES Au-
gustins. Masters of Ceremonies
Revs. J. A. McCallen, Thomas DIay-
derrick and NJ. TsKslly.
The apostolic delegate took his seat
on dais in front of the altar, with
Bishop Kaine on his right and Rev.
Mr.. Dev1ne on his left, after which
the roll was called by Rev. DR.. O'Con-
neil. The decree of the pope authori-
zing the third plenary council was
then read, and several other DEGREES
and orders were read-alI in Latin.
The members of the council then
made their profession of faith in front
of the altar, which concluded the GER
emonies.
GOV HENDRICKS.