Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-24
CORPUS CHRISTI FEAST.
Its Beautiful Observance on Troy Hill
Father Mollinger's Parishioners All
Decorate and Turn Out-Every Home

Its Beautiful Observance on Troy Hill
Father Mollinger's Practitioners All
Decorate and Turn Out-Every Home
an AItar-Rnre Arches and Emblems.
Had a stranger, fresh from the Fatheriand,
paid a visit to Troy Hill yesterday, he would
have imagined himself transplanted from the
scenes of Americanism back to his native land.
German people were singing German Catholic
songs and praying in German; the streets were
decorated with German flags and banners and
everything was given German aspect.
The occasion was the celebration of Corpus
Christi Day, by the members of Father Moll-
inger's church. Early in the morning the peo-
pie arose and completed the work of deco
rating their houses. Nearly every alter
nate dwelling on the hill was almost
hidden from sight by Catholic pictures
statues of the Blessed Virgin, etc. The most
gorgeous decorations were on the houses along
Clark, Hazel, Forest and Hamilton streets,
which surround the church, and over which
the procession passed.
..#
The decoration most admired was in front Of
the dwelling of Charles Terheyden, the jeweler.
The front porch was transformed into an altar,
surmounted by a statue of the Holy Virgin and
decorated with burning blessed candles, vases
of cut flowers holy pictures. etc. In the altar
covering were worked, in gold, the letters. II.
H. s." Over the street in front of the house
was an arch. Twined around the bases
of the arch were punches of laurel
and maple leaves in different colored
bunting. The crosspiece was covered
with plumes, upon which the sun shone and
reflected back all the colors of the rainbow
In the center of the crosspiece and surmount-
ing the whole was large pelican made Of
tissue paper. The bird was in its nest and
feeding its young on its own flesh. The design
was made by Charles Terheyden, ,Jr.. and repre-
sented Christ's manner of feeding his children.
Under the arch were numerous pots or plants
on both sides of the walk leading up to the
altar.
Upon every street corner the arches were to
be seen, though not upon such a magnificent
scale as the one described above, One Of them,
at the corner of Hamilton and Clark streets,
bore the inscription in German: praise be to
Jesus Christ"
The streets along the route of the procession
were covered with tan bark, and upon each
side were planted rows Of shade trees. The
latter had been cut in the woods back of the
hill, and it required several days to transplant
them for the occasion. The house of every
Catholic family was transformed from dwell
ing into a chapel. Dozens of holy pictures,
Of the Savior, crosses, cruci-
fixes, etc., were hung outside the windows, and
the doorways were taken up with affairs bear
ing the offerings.
~
Solemn high mass was celebrated in the
church at O'clock by Rev. Father Guido, Su-
perior of the Passionists' Monastery on the
Southside. Father Lengst of the Holy Ghost
College, was Deacon; Father Fitzgibbon, of the
same order, sub-Deacon, and Rev. Henry Nc
Dermott, student, Master of Ceremonies.
After the mass procession was formed at
the church and moved over the following route;
Clark street to Hazel, to Forest to Clark street,
lAv,n nAra%s %srrr1r
nounced. The procession was headed by about
go of the small boys of the Parochlal school,
IN charge of the Sisters of Mercy. Following
them were the members of st. Anthony's
Of the Society Of the Holy Name Of Jesus.
After the men, came the most interest
ing part of the procession. One hundred
and fifty little girls, dressed in white
null and lace, preceded the priests.
All of the girls wore white gloves, and crowns
of artificial flowers adorned their heads. Some
Of them carried bouquets, while others had
baskets of flowers which they distributed
along the way. After the girls came eight AGO.
lytes, or altar boys, ringing the chimes used
upon the affairs of the church. The clerical
party were surrounded by the trustees Of the
church. who carried canopy over the heads
Of the priests; The latter chanted the litanies,
cation following sang the responses.
Along the route of the procession benediction
was pronounced at the affairs in front of the
named houses: Edward Miller's
and Charles Terheyden's, on Hazel street;
John Seiles on Hamilton street, and John
Geyer's on Clark street. The service was sung
by Father Mollinger. 1t took over an hour and
q half to 90 over the route of the procession
and the latter terminated In feasts within the
houses of participants. Fully 1000 people took
part in the parade.
In the afternoon thousands of visitors from
the two cities and surrounding country
climbed to the top of the hill TO witness the
The little chapel near Father
Mollinger's house, with its precious stones and
historic Catholic relics, was thrown open to the
public. There was no service but the people
we're allowed to roam through the gardens
about the chapel.
Corpus Christi is seldom celebrated in the
other Catholic churches in such manner as 1t is
observed by Father Mollinger and the German
priests in general. The feast fell upon Thurs
lay last, but this observance was postponed
Until yesterday, in order to give everybody an
opportunity to participate. In Europe and
especially in the city of Vienna, it is observed
BY everybody, particularly the titled people.
The military there turn out and make 1t one of
,he principal events Of the year.
The feast was instituted by the Catholic
church, in honor of the body and blood of
Jesus Christ believed to be really present in
The most holy sacrament of the Eucharist
During the octave of the feast, the sacrament
s exposed to be adored by the faithful of the
church. 1t is called Corpus Christi, or the
body of Christ
AS is customary on such occasions, there
we're quitea number of pickpockets among
he crowd. Detectives Murphy and Johnston |
mixed among the people, however, and warned |
hem to look out for their valuables