Daily Republican., 1886-11-22


Osrsmonass-osrdina gibbons Pres
ont.
The doors Of st. Peters Pro- -Osthedral
were opened shortly before 10 O'Clock
ON Sunday morning, and by IL o'olocs,
the time announced for the services 10
commence, almost every inch Of space
In the church Was filed. There was
large number Of prominent citizens
present, and shortly before II o'clock
about 300 visitors arrived from Balti.
more, who found 1t exceedingly difEioult
to even get inside the building. The
services opened with an organ volun,
tary, and at the close the scolytes passed
down the aisle followed by the of{icera
OF the mass, the choir meanwhile sing.
Ing German hymn. Just as Bishop
Curtis reached the door he was handed
q vessel contsinipg holy water, which
he sprinkled upon the floor, while N
attendant stood with . censer, the
fumes OF the incense which IL contain.
ed rising in clouds around him. The
procession thep moved up the aisle In
the following order:
The acolytes bearing candles, and
the crczier. Father Kelley, the Rev.
Thon rs ID. Lee Of Baltimore, assistant
priests; the Revs. George j. Kelly Of st.
Joseph's and NJ. x. Fallon of St.
Mary's, assistant priests; the Rev. John
A. Lyons Of Elkton, deacon of honor;
the Rev. Francis J. Rebman OF st.
Pauls, sub desoop; the Rev. J. J. MO
Callen, B, g., of Baltimore, maeter OF
ceremonies; Bishop Moore of st. Au.
Rustine, Florida; Bishop Becker OF
Savannah, Georgia; Arch Bishop Ryan
OF Philadelphia. and Bishop Curtis.
As the latter passed along Il was
noticed tbst he was devoutly engaged
10 prayer. and upon reaching the altar
be took his seat on the throne, while the
attendant priests made their obeisanc ce
to him. He was then presented with q
magnificent gold and white mitre from
bis friends in Baltimore, and imm edi.
ately afterwards assumed the vestments
and ascended the altar to begin the
mass. The forty days indulgence was
read by Father Kelley, after which the
regular pontifical mass followed, In
which all the officers of honor Joined.
At the close Father Kelley left the altar
and returned In . few minutes with
Cardinal Gibbons, wearing the mnnifi-
cent scarlet robes Of his rank. He as-
oended the altar and announced his text
as being from the seventeenth to the
twenty. fourth verse OF the seventeeuth
chapter of St. John, and opened as fol-
lows:
"a yearning CRY has gone through
the whole earth for Christian unity
This has gone up from the pulpit, the
press and every other phase of life. II
Obristendom was united 40 it was be.
fore the sixteenth century, 1t would be
better able 10 Withstand the atheism
and infidelity prevalent to-day. The
need of the world 10 Christian unity,
The Scriptures teen with 1t. When
Christ said Thou art Peter, and on
this rock will build my church, and
the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it, he did not mean that 1t was
to be foundation for various conflict
Ing denominations, but 70 be the rock
whsreon should stand one undivided,
unconnioting church.
"Thst unity was intended in the
church msy be judged from the many
references of Christ to his kingdom on
earth. HecomPAroa 1t to the body which
10 oompOsed of many paIts, yet 10 one
body. Not to multiply examples, he
likencd 1t to vine which had one
trunk AID many branches which bear
fruit. yet there is but enc vine fionn
whence the branches show their
strength. Jesns sai,h Il am the vine
Ye are the brnDches,' and would that
the church would grow SO that all the
nations OF earth should take refuge
andcr Its bfar ches and partake of It's
perenr ial fruit.
"Catholics are all united In one faith.
They believe in one baptism, ono father
10 oil, over all and through all. They
recognize the same spiritual head.
When Henry tie EighIh attacked the
unity OF the faith BY attempting to d.
vorce his lawful wife. the Church aeid
no. Womsn, you are indebted to the
Catholic Church for your position In
soctsty to-day. If you ares loved wife,
respected mother, . queen Of the domes.
tic circle, instead of slave, IL is because
the Catholic Church has protected your
dignity and iRsisted that you be rscog.
nized In your proper sphere.
1.-THE Church says you may believe ne
you please about politics so long ae you
do not believe anything contrary to
the faith Of she Church. You may be .
Wing or Democrat, . Liberal or q
Republican, but In matters OF faith you
must have no dissension. All over the
world the same doctrines are preached.
La Chisat In Africa, In Australia, New
York and ban Francisco &nd the isles
OF the ocean, the same truths are to-day
proclaimed a. you hear from this altar.
1t has boen so through the Christian era.
We cannot improve upon the works of
God."
The Cardinal spoke at some ngtb
on the history of the church from the
earliest days down to the present, and
said that now another link had bean
forged In the apostolic succession by
the conservation OF the Right Reverend
Bishop Curtis, who 10 installed to-day
In his main See. He comes TO succeed
one who for eightsen years has served
you 30 faithfully and who, in obedi
ence to the voice Of superior authority.
has entered n more extensive field Of
labor. Your sorrow is now converted
to joy, for yGur father who was lost Ia
found again. The departure OF Bishop
Curtis from the Metropolitan See OF
Baltimore Is deeply regretted by 81
large circle in our city, where he had
gained the respect of clergy and people.
L. 10 groat Ions TO myself, for j always
found him faithful and able auxillia
~. II Is especially great loss to the
Cathedral congregation, among whom
he exercised the ministry with untir.
ing zeal and energy for twelve years.
The best wish of my heart and the
best prayer can offer up fer you and
him Is thit: That he may bring to this
portion OF the large vineyard, as your
bishop. the same devotion and single.
ness OF purpose which he exhibited ~
an humble priest In the diocese OF Balti-
more. And In coming TO this diocese
iB returning to his native heath. He In
coming back to the home OF his birth
and the land of his fathers. 1 venture
to predict that the old adake, q prophet