Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-06-04
IMPROVEMENT IN ELKroN.
The Fine Interior of the Catholic
Church.


Special Correspondence Of Gazette and Journal.
ELKToS, June 2,--The paintings In the
Catholic Church OF our town will be COM
pleted In a very few days, and the event
will be marked, on Sunday, June 14th, by
very special and impressive ceremonies.
Right Rev. Bishop Becker will be present
and will officiate at the solemn mass in the
morning, at which he will preach the SER
mon, and administer the sacrament OF con-
flrmation. In the evening he will deliver
his famous lecture ON 1.-The Last Supper"
explaining the Catholic belief of the Divine
Presence in the Sacrament of the Eucharist
This is one OF the bishops best and most
learned lectures, and will, no doubt, prove
highly interesting. II will be quite appro-
pirate likewise. as the whole sanctuary of
the church above the main altar is taken
up with representation OF the scene OF
1.-THE Last Supper" copied from the immor-
tai work OF Leonard da Vinci in Milan.
1t must be seen to be appreciated. None
but an artist can describe it, 1t Is rs feet in
length by 20 feet in depth and makes OF the
sanctuary a thing Of beauty rarely to be eN-
celled. In fact the entire interior of the
church has undergone complete trans
formation. It would be dimcult to lind u
more beautiful, finished and artistic piece
of workmanship in any Of the churches of
our largest cities, and Elkton ought to be
proud to possess It, 1t surpasses the work
done by MIR. Leeds in the new Catholic
church of Newark and places him In the
front rank with the best church artists OF
the country.
The chief painting on the ceiling is a very
large copy, 13x9 feet Of NIurillos great
masterpiece of "Our Lady of the Immacu-
late Conception" which the French govern
ment purchased some years ago for the
| enormous sum of 5lS0,O00. The virgin is
surrounded by 50 eherubs, in the grouping
| of which, and In the blending OF light and
/ shade and dress so as to make one harmo-
NOUS whole, is best displayed the incom-
| parable skill Of the artist which has made
| the name OF Murlllo forever imperishable.
| The fidelity with which Mr. Leeds has re-
| produced this great painting can best be
| judged by those who have seen the original
and who can make allowance for the draw
backs of its reproduction on low and flat
i ceiling.
The other paintings In the church are also
| very fine and are copied from the bes
masters. Busts Of the four evangelist
adorn each side Of Murillo's Immaculate
| Conception. Over st. Josephs altar Is I
representation of the Death of st. Joseph
and over the virgins altar is represented
the mother, "St. Ann Teaching her Virgin
Child" Over the gallery is copy OF TIN
Alteration Of the shepherds at the birth o
our Lord, an old Spanish painting whiel
formerly occupied the chief position in tn
sanctuary and was donated to the churc
many years ago. Between the window
and on the gallery ceiling are other religion
representations and appropriate emblem
constituting in all 20 different figures
% emblems and 800 panels. AID
to all this IA largo stations {
the Cross" painted on canvas an
, imported from France and the repainting {
the beautiful affairs originally belonging
the cathedral in Wilmington, and the tw
superb statues of adoring angels made |
} Froc. Robert ct Fills of Paris, which will re
on the pedestals of the main altar, and IL
+ refurnishing of the sanctuary with ne
! carpets and the aisles with new mattin
\ and the improvements to the sacristies al
/ the new confessional and the material il
crease in the stock of vestments and sacrt
:, vessels, and 1t is not to much to say that Il
4 little church has truly undergone marvt
S lous transformation and needs only stain'
I glass windows to make ii IL perfect joy 10
:. ever. The church will not be free for /
spection until after the 18th inst.