Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-29
THOUSANDS
WITNESS THE CEREMONIES AT MARTINS
FERRY, YESTERDAY AFTERNOON
Incident 10 the Laying Of the Corner Stone Of 81
Marys Catholic Ohurch-Rt Rev. Bishops
Watsrson and Kain Present.
The Societies Turn Out.

The blessing and laying of the corner
stone of st. MaIy's Catholic Church, at
Martins Ferry, yesterday afternoon, WAS
an event long to be remembered, not only
in Catholic circles but among the people
of Martins Ferry irrespective of religious
affiliations.
The rain made the day very unpropi-
tious. bat nevertheless an immense throng
crowded and jammed the streets for sew
eral blocks about the site of the new
building and q sea of umbrellas spread
out for quite a distance on all sides.
Every motion Of Rt. Rev. Bishop Water
son, of Columbus, WIS watched with the
utmost attention aud the crowd anxiously
listened for every word be spoke. The
windows of all the houses in the vicinity
were packed with spectators, while the
members OF the Catholic societies braved
the rain and stood in the street
with uncovered heads, comparatively
small number Of those present being able
to find standing room on the lot or in the
immediate vicinity of the impromptu pull
pit from which the Bishop spoke and con-
Quoted the ceremonies. 1t Was the lOrgest
assembly our sister city has seen for years,
and the throDg was variously estimated
at from five TO seven thousand people.
The cere monies proper were preceded by
a parade of the Hibernisns, of this city,
Benwood, Bellaire and Martins Ferry,
and other Catholic societies and the gen
ilsmen of St. Msry's congregation. They
formed in the following order at the ferry
landing, and marched direct to the cite Of
the new church, the originally intended
route being too muddy from the rain
which had been falling since morning.
Thomas Dobbins acted as chief marshal,
and was Immediately followed by Maye
Band. ard the Sir Knights of st George,
Sir Knights of st. john, HibsTnians OF
Wheeling, Hibernians of BenwOcd, Hiber-
mans of Bellsire, Hibernians of Martins
Ferry, st. MarS's Cadets of Temper
ance and the gentlemen of st.
Mary's congregation. The st. Alphonsus
Beneficial Society was not present. Mayer's
band discoursed some music at the tenn
porary stand erected, after which RI. Rev.
Bishop Waterson delivered quite an enter
tanning sermon, in which he took occasion
to compliment the Rector and congregation
ofSf. Mary's aud TO call attention to the
rapid growth of the Catholic Church in
the United States and the State Of Ohio,
there bling twenty-four similar exercises
performing yesterday in the United States
and four of them in Ohio.
After the Bishop had concluded his ser
mon, he, assisted by RI. Rev. Bishop John
]. Ksin, OF the Wheeling diocese, proceed
ed with the other ceremonies OF the occa-
sion. First came the procession to the
Cross, then the blessing of the spot where
the altar shall stand when the church is
completed. The corner stone was then
blessed, and after the articles COM
memorative of the time had been
inserted it was placed into
position with the usual ceremonies
Bishops Waterson and Ksin both appeared
in full canonical Vestments The members
of the clergy present were Reverend
Fathers McElligOt. secretary to Bishop
Kahn, Shilpp and McMinimsn, OF Wheel
ing, and Fathers Martin, of Bridgeport,
and Matcingly, of Martins Ferry. Father
McElligott acted az master Of ceremonies
The new church will cost about $4,000.
and will be of brick, two stories high. II
will be one hundred and eight feet three
inches and one-half by forty-two feet seven
inches The first story will be eleven feet
high and will contain two school rooms
twenty eight by forty feet and chapel
containing 200 square feet of floor sur
face. The second story will be sixteen
feet to the square, and beneath the roof
will be built open. 1t will be the main
auditorium and will seat about eight hun
bred people. Work on the foundations il
well under way, and the building will be
completed "a soon as possible.