San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-09-17
ST. PETER cLAvIER.
The New Catholic Church is Form
ally Dedicated by Bishop
Neraz.

a well known Corpus Christi lawyer,
a partner in the former law firm of the
late Ex-Governor Davis and Murphy
and is somewhat well endowed with
the worlds goods. She is getting into
scar and yellow leaf, and having no
children, has decided TO use the
remaining years of her life in doing
good. She began this work by erect
ing a hospital at Corpus Christi and
then coming to San Antonio, she
looked around for a means of doing
good. After much prayerful consid-
GRAFTON Mrs. Murphy came to the con-
clusion that she was called to help
the colored race and that the best
way in which she could do this
was to build a Catholic church
and schools for the elevation of
the colored people. No sooner had
she conceived that idea than she set to
work in a practical way to carry 1t
out. AT a cost of s., 900 she purchased
two lots at the northeast corner of No
Ian and Live Oak streets. On these
lots she has erected dwelling house
for herself and teachers, a church and
two schools.
The church is built of pressed brick,
hard finished, with Gothic windows
at the side, and the gables are stained
glass circular windows. The al
tar is very plain, being of a sarcopha-
gus form, Unnatural woods, vanished,
and yet has a very imposing effect.
At either end of the altar are two YES
try rooms. The church will seat about
500 worshippers and has been named
in honor of st. Peter Clavier.
In the rear of the church are
two school buildings that
will form three school rooms.
These are built and finished
in a similar way.to the church. Three
white teachers will be in charge Of
the schools, Mrs. Murphy acting as
superinte Mrs. Egan, formerly
of the High school being retained as
head teacher. The other teachers
have not been appointed. The schools
will be opened today.
The dwelling is a handsome two
story building, well and comfortably
finished. Here Mrs. Murphy thinks
to work and rest surrounded by her
co-partners in the good work-the
teachers.
The entire cost of the building is
$4,000 although everything has been
done in the most economical and yet
substantial way.
Mrs. Murphy has started this SIM
ply as nucleus of a mission work
among the colored people. If it
answers, as she believes and hopes it
will, hospital and dispensary and
other institutions will find their rise
at this point.
do 10
conservation of the church, and q
large number of white and colored
citizens of both sexes were present,
curious to see a Catholic dedication,
not seen in this city for these many
years. The St. Joseph's society, the
Catholic Knights of America, the
Ancient Order of Hibernians, the
Catholic Young Mems union, and
other societies with banners, were
also there to take part in the cere-
mOny.
A bout O'Clock the ceremony of
conservation and dedication COM
menced. Bishop Neraz, attired in full
canonical robes, supported by Fathers
Genolin, Dumoulin, Beyrer, Teith
Smith, Burnicle and F .Garesche ST,
preceded by the cross, acolytes,
ETC., marched through the ranks of
the Catholic societies drawn
up on either side from Mrs.
| Murphy's dwelling to the
church. On the way the bishop
blessed the people, and the "true be-
| levers" kneeled to receive the bless
ing. Arriving at the church, the
formal services were performed and
| the church was duly dedicated. This
| done, the procession passed to the
| grounds in the rear of the church, and
| the clergy and LIGHT reporter took
seats on the platform erected for their
accommodation.
When all was restored, Father Ga
resche knelt, received the bishops
| benediction and preached the dedica-
ton sermon from the psalms, "Oh
how lovely are the tabernacles of the
| Lord The sermon was a most excel
lent and eloquent one in which the
preacher sought to impress Catholic
| dOctrinal truths upon his hearers, and
| the LIGHT regrets that it has not the
space to publish it verbatim as taken
| by its reporter.
The preacher spoke of the condition
of the Jews at the second temple, and
thought that at the coming of the
master the glory of Solomon's temple
would not excede that of the little
temple dedicated today. The Texas
pine affairs was symbol of the glory
of the most high. When you entered
in the Catholic church you sprinkled
yourself with holy water as sign
that you had not come there TO laugh
and giggle or from curiosity, that you
left the cares of the world behind you
unless you brought them there to lay