San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-12-10
ST. MARY'S ALTAR.
CONSIDERATION AND BLESSING OF
THE STONE,


Yesterday was red letter day in
the history at the Catholic faith of
this city. The grand new marble
altar, which arrived two weeks ago
from Baltimore and which had been
placed in position in st. Mary's
| church, was dedicated with the most
solemn and impressive services, Right
Rev. Bishop John c. Neraz, of this
Catholic diocese, officiating.
The conservation of the altar began
at $50 q. M, and ended at 1920 q. M,
at which hour Solemn Pontifical mass
was celebrated by the Bishop.
The hour for holding high mass in
the other Catholic churches of the
city had been fixed an hour earlier to
allow the clergy and congregations of
said churches to attend the dedica-
ton and by 1920, the large editice
was thronged and the ushers, Messrs.
Elmer Otis, John Gallagher Richard
Hickey, Richard Buckley, Thos.
Johnson and Nicholas Coor had their
| time fully occupied.
The auditorium and sanctuary had
been beautifully decorated with fes-
| toons of evergreens and flowers by
several of the young ladies of the
church, notably the Misses Eloise
Polk, Ellen and Mamie Johnson,
Katie lyman, and Miss Sheldon, and
Messrs. John Gallagher and Richard
Buckley.
To the front OF the altar, pendant
from the dome, hung beautiful eight
day sanctuary lamp, presented by
Miss Eloise NJ. Polk. Above the altar
a memorial window of stained glass,
with the representation of the Blessed
Virgin and Holy Child had been set
in. This was presented by the Chill
dren of Mary, the young ladies section
of the Holy Family. An each side of
the altar was placed an angel, in sta
teusque marble, presented by the chill
dren of the Sunday school. The altar
is of beautiful white American mar
BILE, Italian notified marble and Sienna
marble, of pale green color and is or
namented in Mexican onyx. From
the foundation to the top of the beauti-
full beaten copper cross, which is il
Illuminated 10y cross of gas jets, the
altar measures II ID feet. The altar
is II feet wide. The beautiful cary
ings and many symbolical figures are
too numerous to be described with
out giving a thorough explanation Of
the Catholic religion, but the piece
standing out prominently is the Holy
Monogram, l. H. S., of the motto II
Have Suffered
The choir was an extra one,
all volunteers, as follows
Soprano - Mrs. NJ. NJ. Mooney,
Misses Ellen Johnson and Lulu Nc
Allister; altO-NIrs. J. Lord; tenor
Mr.. Chas. Schilling; massachusetts,. J.
Lord and W. McAllister. Organist,
Prof. Bolz. The choir was assisted by
Observation-Disclosures Wells mass of st
Cecilia was well rendered. 1t was
quite appropriate and the solos
throughout were remarkably well
rendered.
The sermon, preached by Rev.
Father Chandy, the able chaplain of
Santa Rosa hospital, was an eloquent
one, though short, and was delivered |
from the new, heavy movable pulpit |
that has been adopted in this |
church. The following visiting clergy |
assisted Bishop Neraz and Father
Smith, the pastor of st. Mary's, in the
dedication and solemn mass:
Very Rev. E. NJ. Buffard, We, San
Antonio, Texas; Rev. L. Genolin, Ca
thedral San Fernando, San Antonio;
Rev. A. j. Dumoulin. Cathedral San
Fernando San Antonio; Rev. II. Pref
ferkOrn, pastor of St JOseph's, San
Antonio; Rev. J. NOlyncewicz, st.
Michael's church, San Antonio; Rev.
F. Feith, B. NJ, director st. Mary's
college, San Antonio; Rev. K. Boyer,
B. NJ, chaplain st. Mary's college,
San Antonio; Rev. p. J. Hurth, S. ;.
c., president St. Edwards academy,
Austin. Texas; Rev. J. NJ. Jattres, O.
M. l., Brownsville, Texas.
Services concluded at 1915 p. M,
and the large congregation dispersed,
while the bishop and his clergy and
visitors and several prominent citi-
ZenS, sat down to a dinner served for
them in the dining room of the par
sonage, by Mr.. l.. Mahncke.
NOTES.
Solemn pom tifcal vespers were cele-
brated at St. Mary's last night. The
choir was in attendance and sang
The church was again filled.
The angels on the altar were dedi-
Gated Saturday night by services, in
which the children of the cOngrega-
ton took part. MISS Ellen Johnson
sang the solos.
Memorial windows will be placed
in the II windows of the church. All
are now taken and many Of them will
! be very costly works of art.
The statue of the Sacred Heart, on
a pedestal to the left of the altar, was
presented by the Married Ladies' Sec
ton of the Holy Family.
The statue of St. Patrick ON the