Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-07-29
THE OLD AND NEW
THE OLD CORNER STONE OF 81, ALPhoNSe0
CHURCH FOUND YESTERDAY
4 Peculiar Circumstance Connected With III
New Suus 10 be Laid, Sundsy-How the
Event VIII Be Celebrated.

Since the tearing down of the old St.
Alphonsus Church building at the corne
of Market street and Alley 1s, a vigilant
lookout has been kept for the corner stone
which was laid when the foundation was
erected. Yesterday morning n OF the
workmen came across the stone, and ! o
short time quite a crowd had gathered
around to see what it contained. They
found the orifice in the stone for the re-
ception of the usual copper box, contain
ing records, &C., half full of sand, but the
bpper box and its contents were non esf.
This was something of a mystery, as the
stone. when found, had not previously
been moved, and no one could have dis
turbed the contents. Meeting awell-known
German citizen last evening a reporter
asked him why it was the corner stone was
empty.
''That's quite a funny story, " said ne.
"When the corner stone was laid away
hack i'm sc the usual ceremonies were
held i'm the afternoon, n a Dox
containing such articles as are usually con-
tributed on such occasions were deposited
snugly i'm the stone. The next day 1t was
discovered that during the night some van
dals had moved the stone and stolen the
box and contents. The old pioneers who
built the church did not think of replacing
the stolen box with another, but allowed
the ediiec to be built upon an empty
U>IoN e fha aanSa nf the
disappointment yesterday"
Next Sunday the corner stoneof the new
edifice will be laid. This is Patrons Day
with both the st. Alphonsus Church and
Aid Society and the services Will be ON
a grand scale. In the morninga at Z O'Clock
Grand High Mass will be celebrated in the
hall which has been transformed into n
church during h eirebuilding of the church
proper. At 10 o'clock mass will he cele-
brated. and at 2:30 p. m. the services in
cident upon the laying of the corner stone
will commence.
Mgr. Sullivan, ofSt. Joseph's Cathedral
will o~ficiate upon this RcGasior,- and will
conduct the usual ceremonies, which are
expected to be on rather an elaborate scale,
while Rev. Father Gratz, of the same
church, will deliver the Three
hymns have been arranged and will be
sung by q large choir, accompanied by
Mayors full band.
A great many strangers are expected IN
the city from both Pennsylvania and Ohio,
as well as from West Virginia, and excur-
sion rates will obtain on all the railroads
leading into the city. Company A,
Knights of st. George, and two other uni
formed societies from Pittsburg will be in
attendance to participate in the celebra-
ton. Besides these many other Pittsburg
people are expected to be present. Aspecial
train leaving there at 8 o'clock will bring
them down. A brass band will accompany
them, and the delegation will he met ut
the depot and escorted TO their quarters.
The knights of st. George and st. John
will also take part.
On Monday the st. A%lphOnsus Society
will celebrate its fifteenth anniversary
with q grand parade and picnic, in which
all the societies and visitors, who remain
over, are expected to take part. The pa
rade will occur ut 8 o'clock in the morn
ing, and will cover the principal streets,
headed by the Opera House band followed
by the various societies. The line Of
march will end at the Wheeling
and Elm Grove depot, and every
body will hoard a train for
Park, where tho day will be spent in a
good, old-fashioned way, the music to be
furnished by the Opera House orchestra.
Every possible arrangement has been
made to make the affair a complete sue
cess and it is probable that it will be one of
the most notable events Of the kind ever
seen in this city.