New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-09
THE CATHOLIC CENTENARY.
IMPRESSIVE SERVICES TO BE HELD To-
MORROW AT BALTIMORE.
GROWTH or THE CHURCH IN AMEmcA-EMI.
NENT PRELATEs AT THE CONGRESS-
THE DoINGs OF THE WEEK

IN the old Cathedral here sunday. 1t is an i'm
poftant event in the history OF the Church In this
country bringing together in general council all the
oaung Clerical and lay representatives. the American
ulocesss. In the opening ceremony tho Pope viii DO
represented by Archbishop satolli Of Lepanto; the
ohufch IN England and ireland by Bishops Virtue Of
portsmouth,, and Vaughan, Of Stafford the Canadian
hierarchy by Cardinal Taschereau six archbshops and
sA bishops Of the Dominion; MexHo by Bishop Montcz
De oca and E. Gillian. The foreign prelates will
take any part In the of the Congress- which
oegins on Monday and will continue three days.
" nile the celebration win not equal in Importance
INC plenary councils, it is intended to
snow The remarkable growth Of Catholicism
III this country, and this Will 10 the theme OF dis.
cusson and illustration
"hen Bishop Carroll was elevated to the charge Of
lao 'oe VI baltimore, the first diocese IN the country
io were less than forty thousand Catholics in tho
states Cardinal Gibbons says there are now
.eny Thousand clergy and nine million adherent, ID
~ 'oncts Oh The faith, ten thousand churches and
,"apoS' ana SIX hundred and fifty institutions of
,4Nnt' The hierarchy comprises one Cardinal Arch.
DEhop the trimate, seventeen Archbishops and
seventy-one BsLops
Nno exact date of the establishment of the Diocese
VI baltimore was November g. 1889 but IL was
ucued TO begin the celebration on the Sunday follow
Ing 'ne GATE OF tho anniversary. In 1884 an ecclesi.
''ai superior was given to the United States in the
'N~-oeneral, and on November o, 17S9 Baltimore
was constituted Episcopal Soc, with him AZ its
mt bishop. On April q, 1908, baltimore was raised
70 me dignity Of an AIchieplscopal see and Bishop
| carroll to Metropolitan rank DR. James Whitfield
was the next Bishop, and was succeeded upon his
death IN 1884 by the Rev Samuel Egglc-ton and it
WIS curing his administration in 1940 that the Pope
was invited to seek an asylum in Baltimore. by
Inc Ponthca briefs of August o. 1850 the Baltimore
Divided he Arebh ofn nal tfronro
retaining his sufTragans the Bishops OF PHILADELPHIA
Richmond, Wheeling, Savannah, Charleston and Pitts.
burg.
Archbishop Eggleston succeeded upon his death
IN 1891 by the Right Rev. Francis J.. KenIick who
was transferred TO this See from Philadelphia and who
was appointed Ap ,stoc Legate to preside tho
National Council Of the entire Ep,copato OF the
United States By decree of the Propaganda of
July 30, 1853, the prerogatiyo Of place granted
TO The See of Baltimore that in councils. assemblies
and meetings Of every kind precedence was given TO
the Archbishop Of Baltimore, and the seat Of honor
above every other Archbishop without regard to order
OF promotion conservation. Archbishop Kenrck
died in 1853. and was succeeded by Bishop spaldns
OF Louisville, whose death occurred in 1872. when
Archbishop Dayley appointed to the diocese.
Upon his death in 1877 he succeeded by Arch
bishop, Cardinal Gibbons.
The first National Council Of the clergy OF the
United States met in the Baltimore Cathedral
May o. 1859, Archbishop Kenrick presiding. The
'econd Plenary Council was held in 1866. Archbishop
spaldlng presiding, and the third Plenagy
Council was held in 1884, presided over by
Archbishop Gibbons and attended by fourteen
archbishops and sixty bishops. All the important
councils Of the Roman Church in this country have
been hold in the big, gloomy-lookinG stone ediiice
that stands Of the many hills OF this old town,
and with the Cardinals spacious residence occupies
nearly a whole block Of ground. There arc several
handsomer Catholic churches in this country than the
baltimore cathedral but when erected, was the largest
and finest elifce I'm the United States. Now 1t Is
notwithstanding pile, massive gray stone structure
severely plain in its exterior lines. Two miniature
towers Ike the mnarets OF Turkish mosque and Dig
dome add the Anticipated appearance OF the Duiid-
nQ About eighteen years ago the cathedral was en-
argcd 10 the rear and wing added to the left SIDE
10 afford more room in the sanctuary The straight
plain front and dwarnsh-lookng main doorway were
relieved by the erect ton of a magnificent, lofty, Dr0wn
stone portico supported by twelve immense STONE
pillars The rear chsncel door OF the cathedral opens
into the Cardinals garden IN the rear Of his residence
Spacious grounds surround the church and httle
grove OF shade trees adorns one side OF the gauen III
which the Cardinal may be seen every afternoon IN
GOOD weather walking the gravelled paths, mentally
reclting tho brevlary or thinking over some veXed
question OF Church government
The interior OF the cathedral is grand and gloomy
II Will accommodate 5000 people but 1t IS about the
most uncomfortable church in the city. Hlgh, SUN
backed penitental pews, hard kneeng Stools s'oho
floors and dark, cold corners make 1t raIher
unattractive to the visitor, who, not OF the fath
undertakes "to do as the Romans do' and remain
during a long service The art work I'm walls. frescoes
statnos and paintlngs f. very fine. There are several
immense paintings gifts from former Popes to the hrs'
American Bishops, which are several hundred years
old One picture In particular, The Descent IRON
the Cross painted I'm French monastery some uho
I'm the last century IS masterpiece Inc sanctuary
very large and on great festival days several hundred
seninarIans from the Sulpcian Seminary OF this city
EASILY find room within It. The main altar Is
snendd niece OF marble work. and the side affairs ana
general furnishings OF the chancel arc on grahu
scale. An organ IN the sanctuary IS used 10 ac-
company the chorsters in the Gegoran music, ana 'c
grand organ in the gallery Is used for the mass music
on Sundays and feast days. Christine NllSSoh' Ci"a
Louise Kellogg and other noted pfima donnas nave
SING 10 rs accompaniment. Tho most Interesting
mart Of the cathedral and that which the public KNOWS
the least about is the crypt Beneath the man a'ar
is marble sarcophagus IN which repose inc REMAINS
Of all the past ArchbishOps OF Baltimore. III WIS
massive tomb down under the foundation OF Inc sr'''
building swinging lamp like that In the sanctuary
burns night and day before the resting pace OIL '"'
dead prelates. 49,.
1bcro will no as notable an assemblage of prelates
in the sanctuary at the centennial mass SUNDAY
morning a. has ever attended Plenary COUNCIL II
will be the first service held in this country III "nr
two Cardinals have participated. comon Oh 'no
Catholic societies Will about the Cathedral SQUARE,
and between the lines of knights In gay uniforms anu
holding glldcd banners tho procession OF Achui'"op
BI,hops Monslgnor and priests In their whl'e anu
cold vestments will move from the Cardinals resi-
dence nv vav OF Charles and Mulberry SIS. 10 'no
main entrance OF the church. Cardinals "ipoon' az"
Taschcreau and the Papal Representative Will loiio"
the bishops. walking under gold and crimson canop
borne by members of the Young Ca'holic ttie ,"l,
Society," No one will be admitted TO ue Oa' ,I,.-
except pewholders and those having Spcciai III, q
iions enough OF which have already D'1 ,,,,',a,,s
On o,.o,,. COO. in the odihce Archbishop Williams
Of poston viii celebrate the Pontlfca mass, and Afcf-
bishop RYAN. Of Philadelphia, will preach tue 'ei''
tennla sermon. -, ..,,.
CarllnaI Gibbons during the ceremony VIII occupy