The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-11-11
Imposing
CATHOLIC CEREMONIES,
The Great Centennial at Bal
tImOre Opened at the
Cathedral.
A GORGEOUS PROCESSION
OF Six Hundred Of the Clergy
in the Presence Of
Thousands,
An Impressive and Magnificent Scene
Distinguished PreIates from All
PartsOf tho WOrId-ArehblshOp
Ryan's Eloquent Centsn'
nlAl Grafton IA Very
Beautiful Address.

BALTIMORE, MD., Nov, 1O,-The most
important group Of events In the history
oftbe Catholic church in America began
hare this morning. It was the com.
msncement Of a triple celebration, the
bupdredth anniversary the sppolnt-
meut Of the first American Catholic
Bishop, the Inauguration oil the first
congress Of Catholic layman held in the
United States aud the dedication Of the
new National University for Catholics.
Thousands Of strangers were In Balti'
more to witness the spectacles-four
umesa as many people, NOT counting local
Catholics, as could possibly be accom-
modated in the Cathedral, where the
initial scenes were to be witnessed. So
great was the pressure for seats that
persons known TO have travelled across
the continent from California expressly
10 be present, were among those disap.
pointed 10 not securing admission.
Except for the inevitable inconvenience
dus TO oyerrrowding, everything moved
Ike clOCk.wOrk.
The hall In which the priests Assem-.
bled was elaborately decorated. Above
the doors we're the Papal colors, yellow
and white, and stretching upward TO the
caves were great streamers Of red, white
and blue.
ruE GRAND PROCESSION or CLERdrMRS.
When all was ready 900 clergy, walk.
ing two aud two, clad In white Burplice
and black CassoCks and berettas.
AT the doorway OF the Cardinals
house and leading up the broad steps,
with sabTes and polished helmets gilt.
tering In the bright morning sunlight,
were Two double lines Of guards. Here
again the Papal colors and the stars and
stripes were intermingled. In all direc.
tious the street seemed filled with peo.
pie and the open windows Of the sur.
rounding buildings each had their quota.
Presently, while the white surpliCed
priests were opening ranks, mass Of
purpie.enveloped. figures were seen 10
the Cardinals doorway. II was tho
gathering Of nearly all the Catholic
bishops and arChbishops Of the United
States, with Representatives from Mexico,
Canada, England and Rome. The pre-.
lates now came forth from the big port.
leo In pairs, and rs each stepped into the
street their costly robes were caught up
by diminutive altar boys in waiting,
who then walked behind, taking care
that the brilliant fabrics we're kept stain.
less for the ceremonies 10 come.
Here aud there among the silken pur.
ple vestmcnts OF the bishops could be
seen the coarse brown or white garb oi
an abbott. Along the long lines Of
priests the prelates threaded their way
all around the square 10 the main en-
trance Of the cathedral, the rear Of the
procession being brought up by the tall
figure OF Archbishop Feehan, Of Chi
CHgO, who Immediately preceded q gold
en- ytstured CroBs.bearer, followed by
two spare, slight looking men almost
hidden In dazzling scarlet.
The two lnen In scarlet were the Gar.
dinGls Of the Roman Church 10 America
Gibbons, Of Baltimore, and TaSchereau,
Of Qutbecl, Eight acolytes held their
long veBtments and surrounding were
their monsigneurs, with the papal dele.
gates, 0'Connell and Satollllll, Of Rome,
ANAoNITcEST scRNE.
In the Cathedral, ten minutes later,
the scene was simply magnificent. The
pOws throughout the church were
crowded to tho utmost with laity. In
striking contrast with the dark clothed
aggregation thus formed were the aiSles
center, front and sides, packed with tue
snow surpliced priests. Against both
laity and priests shone the purple rankl
Of the prelates inside the sanctuary. Or
either side was the dais for the cardl,
mails.
AZ the high altar stood the mltred
Gelebrant Of the mass, Archbishop vii
lians, OF Boston, and over all was the
great white and gold dome Of the Cattle
dtal. Az the conservation post the car
dlnals advanced from the aides with The
mnnsigneufs and bowling themselves low
knelt at Pteldeux facing the altar, Bacl
oil them was q row oil richly Arrayet
acolytes bearing lighted bronze torches
As Cardinal Gibbons retired 10 bis dali
the reporters In the imptoyised ptesl
gallery noticed for the hrst time not oil
feet away from him in the sanctuary
among tho Abbotts and other special dig
nshriGS, tho black lace Of Father Tolton
Of Chicago, the Hnt colored Catholic
priest ordained In America,
Probably the most impressive part pj
themNAs, next 10 The conservation, VA
the conterring Of the Papal blessing
The venerable Archbialiop 'at the alta
seemed to feel II a dou6ly solemn mo
mont when, turning 10 the congregation
he paused for an Instant then, whit
the people Ia the church knelt, hC
raised bis hand aud bloWly made thI
sign oi tho cross, a.
The mass ended With d ppOcial inter
cesSsion lot the Pope chanted BY all thI
Clergy, The aFst Grafton Of the centen
syiOllowed. II was delivered by Arch
bishop Ryan, Ut Philadelphia, WhoSt
hne PtesolCe aud magnetic eloluence
70 spite ol tho long ceremonial pteced
lng, held hla hearers lot another houl
and a hall, mi
Thepattiotle spirit oithe Archblshop'
1auteeA and his ttlbnle 10 The recen
11eHolee ot the Colored people and In
alAns seemed " awaken general enthu
slasu, but ths mOAt telling eject va
aroused when he validated The fighla 0
catholic editop, II need b, 10 lFeely
comment on the ialllngs 81 tRO clergy.
ARcnntSuor MANS ApDREsS.
The AtchbishOp'S address WGS sui