New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-23
CENrENlRH or SE PETEES CHURCH

BISHOP o'FAERLLL EEyIlws IFS HIsTOEY-IMrOs-
ING CEREMONIAL SERVICES.
The old Church Of It. Peters, which stands
so quietly amid he turmoil Of the downtown portion Of
the city, Barclay aud Church ST. was the scene Of
centennial celebration yesterday morning, performed
with all the wealth ofdeyotiona pagcantry Of when mo
Roman Catholic ceremonial IS capable. An enormous
conere cation filed every scat both ia the body Of tho
church and IN tic galleries, ana overlooked INTO the
a.lcs Beneath the winkug altarg sat the white
robcd dIguiiarIcs OF the church with their train Of
acoytes. while solid block Of pews was h!lcd with
several hundred visiting priests The organ loft was
crowded with large body OF chorus singers, several
sOlOsts and An orchestra.
The preached by Bishop o FARRELL OF New
jersey formerly pastor Of this parish lie reviewed the
progress OF the Roman Cathonc Church III Ncw-Iork
from the time when 81 Peters was founded, hun
drcd years ago-a weak, struggling parish. without
priest or blsbopto the present when the number or
churches Of that denomination III the Diocese OF New
York approaches 200, with priests numbered by the
thousand and bishops by the Though we were
then looked upon with tue suspicion when at ms unc
exertcd OAly by the most raDd sOcdlSuc bodies now
the country has learned that nothing Is more compatible
with free institutions nothing Is greater supporter OF
law aud order, nothing bBttcr guarantee or good
! citizenship Than the Roman Catholic Church. When |
turn internal history OF ~. Peters Church, the
e. md resistance To- authority The little building
which 100 years put on this spot then at the
outskirts Of the CITY, the work OF who had alb
Sorbcd In part wrong notions of church government
| which they saw force about them. They not
good Catholics. and OF them were afterward be
came spOndeBs and sympahizcrs with the inhdel
Iom Paine. The trustee system yas put IN play and
the church Affairs managed by thisebody, who did not
recognize the authority OF tho bishops and wanted to
have hired minister 10 preach 10 them, one whom they
c,ud discharge II his eOquence did not please them
I'm $50 II was decided 10 build "a new church The
trustees had 81 900 hand with which to do II and
the materials taken from the old church IL was hoped
that by tho time tho new building
for IT, But affairs did not prosper under
their management When the work was done "A deOt OF
81 81, 900 hung them They refused to pay any
hing toward tho support Of the priest, Father Quln
whom BI.nOp dubois sent them. ana refused MN at
mission TO the church. The head trustee said the Dshop
himself could not come and preach unless nc DehaNcu
himself Fortunately SAYS the bishop he dld Oehaye
himself preached 10 slIJh effect That INC hSuDoIu
nate out OF the church Few years
the debt amounted to $4,000, ana 10 inc sclhua
religion the church sold publicly under inc nam
IL vas bid In for $4,000 by the blshol1 ihus
the trustee system overturned. Though al ucDts
thus legally settled, cent or tho Original o.
legation wiped out under Father GUMS earnest
Iabors. 10 hoped by the trustees when they Dor
rowed the money that many OF the debts would be Tor
seemed though the possession OF those notes was
pledge OF Immortality for none OF those who held them
either died forgot and they were paid IN u nciud'
ing interest, TO those outside or the church.
IL 1900. -four years before the state OF NewYork
opened free schools, started by this church.
While your PASTOR was authorized further TO develop