The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-08-24
CORNERSTONE LAYING.

| Many Leading Clergymen Participate IN tn
Ceremony. La rye attendance and Libel :
| al Contributions.
Fully one thousand persons witnessed the
laying of the corner stone of the large addi-
ton to the Roman Catholic Church of the
Immaculate Conception in Elkton on Sun
day afternoon last.
Promptly at o'clock the exercises COM
lnenced. Bishop Curtis pontiticated, aided
by Vicar General Lyons, Father Berming-
ham of St. Pauls Il. C. Church of Whining
ton, Father Hannah of Havre de Grace,
Father Tierney, Mt. st. Mary's College,
Father Kelley of st. Mary's r. G. Church,
Father Augustine Wirth of the K. C. Church
of the Sacred Heart, Father Bradford of ST.
Patrick's Il. G. Church, Father Donaghy
of St. Joseph's c. Church, Father Dol
lard of ST. AIMS Il. G. Church. Wilmington;
Father Farley of Hockessin and Father
Carey of this town.
While the choir of st. Peters Pro Cathe-
dral rendered selection the clergy beaded
by Vicar General Lyons IN arched from the
parsonage onto the platform which had
been erected about the south eastern corner
of the building where the corner stone was
afterward placed. In front of this platform,
which was intended for the accommodation
of the clergy and choir, mum Der of benches
were placed for the accommodation of spec
tators.
Long before the hour for the ceremony,
O'Clock, arrived the crowd began to collect.
At 3 40 o'clock special train of eight cars
from Wilmington and Newark arrived,
bringing nearly 800 persons Among these
were st. Mary's L. A. X. Society, about 100
strong.
The clergy were preceded by eight altar
boys and William Denver, very old man,
who carried the crucifix. On either side OF
Mr.. Denver were Timothy O'Rouke and
VIM. Crazy carrying lighted candles. These
three were chosen because they had wit
messed the laying of the cornerstone of the
church itself forty years ago.
When the ceremonies within the church
were concluded the clergy marched back to
the platform where the service was chanted
by them. Bishop Curtis then made four
crosses on the stone with a trowel and it
was placed i'll position.
Bishop Curtis made short address, Elk
ton, he said. was we'll supplied with
churches of all kids. Why then should
more be built? Why were so many pre-
sent to-day? The reason is that the Catholic
Church does something which other
churches cannot What things the church
does which other churches cannot are too
numerous to enumerate in such a short
time
The first thing which the church gives,
the bishop said, was faith. The Catholic
does not think he is right, he d les not sup
pose he is right, he knows he is right.
Another thing which the Catholic Church
gives to man, the bishop said, is unit,.
Unless thing is united it is useless. In
the Catholic Church alone can be found
unity.
The address was listened to with marked
attention by those present, many of whom
were Protestants, and concluded with an
appeal for help toward bearing the expenses
of she new addition.
When he had concluded he deposited a
bank note in a box beside the stone and
struck the stone three times with hammer
in token of his help. He then invited all
who desired to follow his example to do so,
and hundreds of persons, including many
children, did so, each dropping in their
mite.
The exercises were then concluded al d
the Wilmington visitors started for their
train, which left at 10 o'clock. Several
hundred dollars were collected during the
day.
A feature of the exercises was the excel
lent singing of the choir of the Pro- Cathe-
dral of ST. Peters under the leadership OF
Signor Baril. The solos of Madame Barili,
wife of the leader, were particularly we'll
given.
Among those present from Wilmington
were: City Treasurer X. Il. Griffith, Tax
Collector John j. Dougherty, ex Council
men William McMenamin.
The arrangements were in charge of Rev.
Father Carey and were admirably carried
ont