Morning journal and courier., 1886-09-13
ImPOSING SERVICES.

l number of terms, and there is great desire to
 keep him in his present field of usefulness. l During the summer the handsome church
 has been put in complete repair"
 IMPOSING SERVICES
 St. Johns Catholic Church of Middle
 town Consecrated by the Most Rev. | Arch bishop Corrigan The Second
 Catholic Church Ever Consecrated in l the State-R1shops and Prominent | Clergy Present The Consecratfo on | Services The Rev. Dr. McGIynn | Preaches-SoIemn Vespers Last Even-
 ing-The Priests Present.
 l Especial to the JOURNAL AND CoUR1ER.l
 MIDDLETowN, Sept. 12.-St. Johns Catho- l lie church, one of the oldest and handsomest
 in the diocese, was to-day consecrated by the l Most Rev. Archbishop Michael Corrigan, of | New York, with all the pomp and pageantry
 of the Catholic ritual.
 Shortly after o'clock this morning the
 services of conservation began. Last even l ing the consecrator prep ared the relics to be
 inclosed in the altar, put tting them in case
 which was sealed up and placed in the con vent of the Sisters of Mercy. They were
 laid on a bier with lighted tapers beside it..
 A vigil was held during the night over them. Seldom has the Catholic clergy of this State | laken part 1n GQe SerY1ce or COnSecraG1On, 1 only one other Catholic church in Connecti- l cut, St. Patrick's of Hartford, being conse- l crated. This morning the consec1ator en- 1 tered the church and the altars were lighted | and a footstool set the carpet in the \ middle aisle. The consecrator then headed
 the procession of clergy to the convent, l where the relics had been deposited and
 short preparatory service was held over l them. After they were over he vested in
 amice, alb, girder, white stole and cope, 1 wearing the plain mitre and holding the pas l toral staff in his left hand. His assistants were vested likewise. The procession then proceeded to the church. The consecrator laid aside the staff, and standing unmitred | he intoned antiphon, which was taken up by l the choir. He then knet and the chanters I began the litanies of the saints. After the | litanies were chanted the consecra tor put on his mitre and blessed the | salt and water. He next sprinkled himself with it and then the bystanders. He then be- gan the circuit of the church, acolytes lead | ing with tapers He sp1inkled the walls with the blessed water as he passed. He was followed by the clergy and the people. After the circuit was completed he approached the church door and prayed, the deacon and sub-deacon joining him. After the prayer was finished the consecrator approached the church door and knocked on it once over the threshold with his staff and said: Lift up your gates, ye princes, and be ye lifted up ye everlasting doors. and the King of Glory shall come in."
 The deacon inside then asked, who is this King of Glery? The consec rator answered, ''The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord nigh ty in battle" The consecrator next exchanged his pastoral staff for the sprinkler and made a second circuit of the church. The same ceremony as before was gone through and the consecrator again knocked on the church door. A third circuit of the church was again made, this time the consecrator II. L. IL his face. He for the third time knocked on the church door, commanding it to be opened so that the King ot Glory shall come in. He then traced a cross on the threshold with his staff, and the door being opened he entered. He was accompanied by his acolytes, the choir and masons who were to fit the stone l that closed the repository of the relics. The others of the clergy and the people re- mained outside and the church was closed. Upon entering the consecrator said "Peace be to this house, More antiphons were then sung, the consecrator being in front of the altar in kneeling posture Ashes were strewn on the floor and the consecrator raised his right hand and made thrice the sign of the cross over the church and altar He next traced the letters of the Greek alpha bet on the floor in the ashes which had been strewn on the floor, with the tip of his staff. The letters of the Latin alphabet were simi- larly traced. He then traced a cross on the upper and one on the lower part of ths church door inside. The altar was next con secrated with lengthy and customary cere monies. The consecrator, soon after the altar was consecrated, mixed the mortar, using blessed water. What water was left was placed around the foot of the altar.
 The mortar being prepared the consecrator went with his attendants and the clergy to the convent where the relics were reposing. The relics were then taken up and proces- sion bearing them proceeded to the church. ha hafor was headed by the Most Rev. Michael Corri gan. archbishop of New York. The cross bearers were the Rev. J. H. Lynch, of Lake vile, attended either side by acolytes bearing lights, the Rev. P. F. Denneen and Rev. Michael Desmond of Middletown. who were in the van of the procession. The officers were: Deacon, the Rev. .Dr. Mcdonald, of New York; sub-deacon, the Rev. J. H. Duggan, of Waterbury; bearer of holy oils, the Rev. P. McKenney, of Meriden; bearer of holy relics, the Rev. J. Mulcahy, of Water bury; deacon of honor, the Rev. J Synnott, of Anson1a; crozier bearer, the Rev. M. w. Barry, of New Haven; book b. arer, the Rev. John Neale, of Middletown; thurifer, the Rev. Terrence Smith, of New Haven; masters of ceremonies, the Rev. J. O'Donnell of Nor walk and the Rev. M. F. Kelly of Bridgeport. The box in which were the relics of metal In it were the relics of bones of St. Methodias and St. Victorius, a small strip of parchment bearing an inscription stating the year of conservation, the names of the relics, together with the granting of an indulgence to a the faithful who visited it on it's anniversary.
 The procession, after reaching the church, before entering, the bishop, preceded by two acoiytes, the crossbearer and thuIlfer, with the priests went around the church, the choir singing in front, the people following and singing. The consecrator then sat mitred on a footstool at the church door and addressed the customary speech to the people. Two of the decrees of the holy council of Trent were then read by the archdeacon bearing upon the ceremony. The customary address was then made by the consecrator to the founder.
 The consecrator then rose and taking off his mitre turned towards the door and offer ed a short prayer. The relics were then borne to the altar where they were to be de- posted. The cavity in which they were to be placed was then annointed at the four corners. The relics were then placed inside the cavity and the sepulchre was then se- cured with blessed mortar. The altar and vicinity was then incensed by priest in surplice and the services of conservation were over.
 The services of conservation lasted about three hours. The consecrating mass began at 1O:30. The church was filled to overflow ing as the hour approached for the mass to be celebrated. The aisles, vestibules and vestries were packed with people. Many prominent Catholics from all over the State were present during the services. Inside the altar railing during the celebration of the Catholic church's ponti- fical mass were the prominent clergymen of this State and ecclesiastical dizniarties from other places The officers of the mass were: Gel brant, the Right Rev. L. s. McMahon of Hartford; high priest, Very Rev. James Hughes. D. D., and vicar general of the dio- cese; deacon, the Rev. Thomas Broderwick of Hartford, and deacons of honor, Rev. Father Leo of Winsted and MT. Hunt of Southington.
 THE COURT RECORD. City Court Criminal Side Judge
 Deming.
 September 11-Minnie Matthews, burying deceased person without permit, continued to September 20; James O'Brien, neglecting