The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-07

asking space in your liberal and fair-minded
journal to lay the following facts before the
Catholics of the community, who have great
respect for consecrated ground. As you are
well aware portion of the old cemetery was
consecrated and devoted exclusively TO the
burial of Catholics. Those opposed TO the
removal of the old place caught with great
gusto at the fact, and have with great IN
dustry and energy succeeded in meeting
with some eifect But to show those
Catholics who labor under the impression
that consecrated ground is too sacred 10
touch, | take pleasure in contributing tnis
extract from the Catholic NelcS OF TINS
week, just received, wherein they VIII see
what Catholic Baltimore did in selling CON
secrated ground, removing the dead, etc.
Public buildings will ornament the spot
hereafter. Says the special correspondent
of Baltimore 70 the Catholic NelcS.
BALTIMORE, Dec. 3l.-Fifteen years ago
was begun the removal of bodies from the
old Cathedral Cemetery in this city TO Bon
ME Brae Cemetery, on Frederick Road
There is not body now left in the old GEM
etery, and it is expected that the vaults and
their contents will be taken away this win
ter The old cemetery was the last resting
place of many prominent persons, both
clerical and lay, and the fact that 1t has
been depleted recalls the life and words OF
the distinguished persons. The tract for
the cemetery was purchased in 1873 and
consecrated by Archbishop Carroll. About
twenty years ago it became so crowded that
it was found necessary to establish another
cemetery The trustees of the cathedral
then purchased from Capt Charles McBlair
Bonnie Brae, which contains about forty
five acres, and is near to st. Josephs Pas
sionist Monastery. Beneath the granite
chapel in Bonnie Brae lay the remains of
Rev. Henry b. Cookery, who founded the
cemetery. The old cemetery grounds
occupy about twelve acres, extending from
near fremont street westward to Calhoun
street and including all the land
between Tenant and Winchester streets.
When the tombs have all been re-
moved this land will be sold by the trustees
Of the cathedral for building lots. There
were nearly two thousand lots in the Gem
etery, each containing from two to fifteen
bodies. The cost of removing these bodies
to Bonnie Brae was $100,000 The owners of
lots lost nothing by the removal of the
remains OF the friends, as they were given
equally desirable tracts in Bonnie Brae.
The bodies were removed without expense,
or in case a lot in Bonnie Brae was not de-
sired, the bodies were removed to any
place selected by the lot holders within five
miles of the city and the original price of
the lot refunded. The proceeds of the sale
of the ground will be applied first to the
payment of the expenses of removal, and
the surplus invested and the income used for
keeping up Bonnie Brae All the money
that the old cemetery brings will therefore
be used for the new.
Among the bodies removed was that of
the famous Charles Carroll, of CarroltOn.
His remains were originally interre in the
family chapel at Doughoregan Manor, and
afterward transferred to the old cemetery.
The remains of thirty six Sisters of Charity,
who persisted while ministering to cholera
sufferers in 1892, were placed in Bonnie
Brae i'll 1877. The vault in which lay the
remains of these noble women was present
ed to their order by the City Council of
Baltimore in recognition of their great SER
vices to humanity. This vault has been
carefully restored in Bonnie Brae. Some
curious incidents occurred during the
disinterment of bodies. In one crave were
thirteen bodies, every one of which were in
an advanced state of petrifaction. One of
the notable persons whose remains were re-
moved from the old to the new cemetery
was Mary Christine Adelaide Delannoy
Booth, the first wife of Junius Brutus
Booth, the tragedian and father of Edwin
Booth She died March 9, 1858, aged IS
years. The headstone which marks her
grave bears the inscription: Mary
Christine Adelaide Delannoy Booth, wife of
Junius Brutus Booth tragedian."
After reading this | hope, Mr. Editor,
your many Catholic readers will see that no
error is made by them IN voting at the polls
to-day for the removal of the old cemetery,
which has long since become obnoxious
to the intelligence and civilization of the
community. A CATHOLIC.