The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-11-13
THE CHURCH'S CENTENNIAL.
GREAT CELEBRATION AT BALTIMORE.
Crowds Pack the Great Cathedral-Impres-
sive Address by Archbishop Ryan-A
Banquet in the AfternOon-Ihe
Program of Tuesday.

group Of events in the history Of the catholic
church in America began here this morning.
Itwas the commencement OF triple celebration
the one-hundredth anniversary of the appoint
ment of the first American catholic bishop, the
Inauguration Of the first congress Of catholclay-
men held in the United States, and the dediea-
ton of the new national university for catho-
lies. Ten thousand strangers were in Balti-
more 10 witness the spectacles-four times as
many people, not counting local catholics as
could possibly be accommodated in the cathe-
dral. where the initial scenes were 10 be wit
messed. So great was the pressure for seats
that persons known to have travelled across the
continent from California expressly to be pres
ent were among those disappointed in not Sc
curing admission.
Except for the inevitable Inconvenience due
to overcrowding, everything moved like clock
work. The hall in which the priests assembled
was elaboratey decorated. Above the doors
were the papal colors yellow and white. and
above these, stretching upward to the caves,
were great streamers of red, white and blue.
When all was ready. GOO clergy. walking two
and two, emerged clad in white surplice and
black cassocks and verettas. At the doorway
Of the cardinals house and leading up the
broad steps, with sabers and polished helmets
glittering in the bright morning sunlight, were
two double lines OF guards. Here again the
papal colors and the stars and stripes were IN
termingled. In all directions the streets seemed
filed with people, and the open windows oil
surrounding dwellings each had its quota.
Presently, while the white-surpliced priests
were opening ranks, mass of purple-envel-
oped figures were seen IN the cardlnals door
way. Ii was the gathering OF nearly all the
catholic bishops and archbishops OF the United
.r.tl 1, ffVau trap 10
ada, England and Rome The prelates now
came forth from the big portico in pairs and
as each two stepped into the streets their costly
robes we're caught up By diminutive altar boys
in waiting, who then walked behind, taking
care that the brilliant fabrics were kept STAIN
less for the ceremonies 10 come. Here and
there among the silken purple vestments OF
the bishops could be seen the coarse brown
or white garb of n bearded abbot Through
the long lines OF priests the prelates threaded
their way all around the square TO the main
entrance of the cathedral. the rear of the pro-
cessiOn being brought up by the tall, ascetic
figure Of Archbishop Feehan OF Chicago, who
Immediately preceded a gOlden-vestured cross
bearer followed by two spare, slight-lookinS
men, almost hidden in dazzling scarlet. The
two men in scarlet were the cardinals Of the
Roman church in America-Gbbons of Balti-
more and Teschereau OF Quebec Eight acolytes
upheld their long vestments and surrounding
them were the monseigneurs with the papal
Within the cathedral, ten minutes later, the
scene was simply magnificent The pews
throughout the church were crowded to the
utmost with the laity, In striking contrast
with the dark clothed aggregation thus formed
were the aisles, center and front and sides,
packed with the snow-surpliced priests.
Against both laity and priests shown the
serred purple ranks OF prelates inside the
sanctuary. On either side was dais for the
cardinals. At the high altar stood the mitred
k,ff fI,s hon, anna af
Boston, and over all was the great white and
gold dome OF the cathedral.
At the exposition Of the host the cardinals
advanced from the sides with the monseigneurs.
and bowling themselves low, knelt at prie-dieux
facing the altar. Back of them a of
richly arrayed acolytes, bearing lighted bronze
torches.
As Cardinal Gibbons retired to his dais, the
reporters in the improvised press gallery no
ticed for the first time, not SIX feet away from
him in the sanctuary among the abbots and
other special dignitares, the black face OF
Father Tolton Of Chicago the first colored
catholic priest ordained in America.
Probably the most impressive part OF the
mass, next 10 the conservation, was the confer
ring OF the papal blessing. The venerable arch
bishop at the altar seemed TO feel It doubly
solemn moment, when, turning to the cOngre-
CATION, he paused for an instance. Then, while
the people in the church knelt, he raised his
hand and slowly made the sign OF the cross
for the pope chanted by all the clergy. The
first oration OF the centenary followed. II was
delivered by Archbishop Ryan of Philadelphia,
whose fine presence and magnetic eloquence.
in spite of the long ceremonial proceed
ing held his hearers for another hour and
half. The patriotic spirit of the arohbishop's
address and his tribute to the recent devotion OF
the colored people and Indians seemed to
awaken general enthusiasm. But the most
telling effect aroused when he vindicated
4. Ill. m.A H..
freely comment on the faiings OF the clergy
The archbishop's address was substantially
as follows:
Taking as his text, Ecclesiasticus, J. /, 2. z,
and IL. Archbishop Ryan saidi.
"Most eminent cardinals, most reverend rep
resentative Of the supreme pondfi, venerable
brothers of the epscopate and the clergy, be-
loved brothers of the laity. In this ffteth chap
ter OF the book OF Eccesiasticus, we read a
glowing eulogy Of the High Priest Simon, and
a magnificent description Of the religious cere.
monies which he performed in the temple of
God. surrounded by his priests. The
ceremonies of the temple foreshadowed
those of the Christian church, and the
descriptions Of this chapter seem like
prophets vision OF pontifcal or papal mass
as you behold il enacted here today scene
like that glorious one narrated in this chapter.
Let u.s. dear fathers and brethren, glance at
the church in this country during the past
century and endeavOr 20 understand its action
hplIlb. anu ny tut UhnN W. ulhl JuuSc III
the yet more glorious future. As the student
of our national history in observing the rise of
the young republic itself naturally fixes his at
tention the great leader who embodied in
himself the principles and the spirit of that
period, and from the study OF the character OF
George Washington learns the genius OF
the time; so, in our ecclesiastical history, we
behold one man. the first catholic bishop of
these states, at the time OF this great centen-
NAL celebration Of his appointment. Like
Simon, the high priest, he fortified the moral
temple and enlarged the city Of God and the
bishops that followed him have walked in his
light and in the brightness of his rising
ION the 9th of November, 1889. John Carroll
was appointed first bishop of Baltimore and
the head Of the catholic church In the United
States. Bishop Carroll. by instinct was broad
and liberal in his views, thoroughly American
In his sentiments. He understood how the
mission Of the government would be like the
church's own missiOn-tO combine cathoicty
with unity. He had personal experience Of
this combination in his own priests. His first
diocesan synod was held in 1871. the year after
his conservation. IL consisted OF only twenty
one priests, but they represented seven differ
ent nationalities, not merely countries of BIRTH
which may be OF comparatively little import
ance with peoples OF the same race, but seven
different and somewhat antagonistic peoples
American, Irish, English, German, French.
Belgian and Holland, yet all acted in their true
character Of American priests under his leader
ship. Bishop Carroll was an American patriot.
as well a Christian bishop. The new bishop
thoroughly appreciated how important for the
churchs progress. as well as for the stability
OF the state, was the diffusion OF education.
One of his first projects was TO foster the