Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-08-25
THE CORNER STONE
OF The New CatEoli, Church to be Laid
Tuesday.
a Large Number of Distinguished Guests
to Assist at the Ceremony

The ceremony of laying the corner stone
Of the new Catholic church on Washington
ST., will take place next Tuesday at 4.30 P.
VI. Bishop Jas. +. Healey of Portland will
preside. At four O'Clock procession of the
visiting clergy headed by the National Band
of this city march to the parsonage and escort
his lordship, Bishop Healey to the church.
After selection By the band the bishop will
proceed TO a cross erected over the spot
where the altar is to be placed and will bless
the salt and holy water with which the
priests marching in procession about the
edifce will sprinkle the walls. The choir
composed of ciergymen and led by Rev.
Fathers Decelle Of sascarappa and Dugree
of Biddeford who led the chants at the
celebration Of the laying of the corner stone
Of ST. Dominic Church Portland last Sunday,
will then chant Psalms 50, 1926, 80, So, and
l0l, and the Latin hymn ''Veni Creator Spir-
titus" The corner stone will then be put in
position and after short address by the
Bishop, the sermon of the day will be
preached in French by Rev. FIR. Charland Of
Wateryille. An Offering will then be taken.
After the cercmon, the visiting clergy will
be entertained by Rev. FIR. T. &. Plante at
the parsonage near by. All will go next
morning on the parochial excursion to Ocean
Point.
The stone and the documents placed in the
center have been fully described in previ-
gu. issue of the Journal 1t is the gift of
Mr.. Henry NJ. Fought.
The ceremonies will last about two hours
and a half, and as the darkness approaches
the church and grounds will be brilliantly
lighted by electricity.
Over five hundred invitations have been
issued and it is expected that about twenty
five of the clergymen and a large number of
laymen will be present. Delegations will
attend from Biddeford, Waterville, keene,
n H., and Montreal and Quebec, over all
which parishes Father Plante has been pas
tor. 1t is expected that Mr.. Blaine will be
among the number of distinguished citizens
present at the exercises. The church is to
be large and imposing structure and will be
one of the prettlest in Maine.
Work on the foundations was commenced
in July, and the frame is now nearly com
pleted. The building will be 100 by so feet.
The first floor will contain large hall and
school room, which are to be supplied with
all the latest improvements for lighting,
heating and ventilation. In this the French
parochial school will be held. The audto-
rum of the church proper, on the second
door, has a seating capacity of eight hun
dered. The edifice alone will cost about Sl2,
600.
A portion of the spacious church grounds,
and a handsome sum for the erection of the
church, was given by the Edwards Manu-
featuring Company, which employs many
members of the parish. The whole building
will be lighted by electricity.
Great praise for the successful erection of
this handsome church is due to Rev Father
Plante of this city, upon whom the task OF
manage ment and the solicitation of funds
has almost wholly devolved.