Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-11-11
CATHOLIC CENTENNIAL.
The Grand Celebration at
Baltimore.
GREAT GATHERING OF CLERGY
Picturesque Pageant of Priests and
Prelates-BishOp Ryan's
Sermon.
Associated Press Dispatches 70 Abe HxnALp.


most important group Of events in the
history of the Catholic church in Amer
lea took place here this morning. 1t was
the commencement of the triple celebra-
ton of the hundredth anniversary of the
appointment OF the first American Cath
olic bishop, the Inauguration OF the first
congress of Catholic laymen held in the
United States, and the dedication of the
new National University for Catholics.
Ten thousand strangers were in Balti.
more to witness the spectacle, four times
as many people, not counting the local
Catholics, as could possibly be &C.
commodated in the cathedral where the
initial scenes were to be witnessed.
The hall in which the priests assem-
bled was deliberately decorated. Above
the door were the papal colors, yellow
and white, and over these, stretching up
ward to the caves, we're great streamers
Of red, white and blue. When all was
ready 900 clergy, walking two aud two,
emerged, clad in white surplices and
black cassocks and berettas.
At the doorway of the cardinals
house, and leading up the broad steps,
with sabres and polished helmets gilt
tering in the bright morning sunlight,
were double lines of guards. Here again
the papal colore and stars and stripes
were intermingled. In all directions
the streets seemed filled with people,
and the open windows OF the surround
ing dwellings each had their quota.
Presently, while the white-surpliced
priests were opening ranks, a mass of
purple-enveloped figures was seen in the
Cardinals doorway. 1t was gathering
of nearly all the Catholic bishops and
afchbishops in tho United States, and
there were also representatives of Mex.
leo, Canada, England and Rome.
The prelates now came forth from the
big portico in pairs, and as each two
stepped into the street, their robes were
caught by diminutive altar boys in wait
ing. Here and there among the silken
purple vestments of the bishops could be
seen the coarse brown or white garb of o
bearded abbot. Through the long lines
Of priests the prelates threaded their
way sll around the square to the main
entrance of the cathedral.
The rear of the procession was brought
up by Archbishop Fehan, Of Chicago,
who was Immediately preceded
by golden vestured cross
bearer, followed by two spare,
smart looking men almost hid in dazzling
scarlet. The two men in scarlet We're
the cardinals of the Roman Church in
observation-disclosures, of Baltimore, and
Tashereau, of Quebec. Eight acolytes
upheld their long vestments, and sur
rounding them were their monsignors
with Papal Delegates O'Oonnell and
Satolli, of Rome.
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 of the center and front and
sides, packed with snow-surpliced
priests. Against both the laity and
priests shown the serried purple ranks Of
the prelatee. Inside the sanctuary on
either side was dais for the cardinals
At a high altar stood the mitred cele-
brant of the mass, Archbishop Williams,
Of Boston, and over all was the great
white and gold dome of the cathedral.
At the consecration of the host the
cardinals advanced from the sides of the
monsignors, and bowling themselves low
knelt at the priedeux, facing the altar.
Back OF them was q row OF richly ar.
rayed acolytes bearing lighted bronze
torches.
As Cardinal Gibbons retired to his
dais, the reporters in the improvised
press gallery noticed, for the first time,
not six feet away from him in the sane.
tuary among the abbots aud other sps-
cial dignitaries, the black face of Father
Talton, of Chicago, the first colored
Catholic priest ordained in America,
Probably the most impressive part Of
The mass next to the conservation was
the conferring OF the pspal blessing.
The mass ended with special intercea-
sion for the Pope, chanted by all the
clergy. The first Grafton of the cen
tsnnary was delivered by Archbishop
Ryan, OF Philadelphia. The patriotic
spirit of the archbishop's address and
his tribute to the recent devotee of the
colored people and Indians, seemed to
awaken general enthusiasm, but the
most telling effect was aroused when he
vindicated the right of Catholic editors,
II need be, to freely comment on the
failings of the clergymen.
Ia VIC OOuIbo vi LIS auGf65B Arcl-
bishop Ryan said: "Of all the false
charges alleged against the Catholic
church the most senseless and unfounded
is that she fears science and is the enemy
OF education. Her opponents almost in
the same breath charge her with being
the foe at once and monopolizsr of edu.
cation, and yet the last man in the world
to fear intellectual progress, whether
popular or individual, is the Catholic.
He we'll knows that truth ia one; that
God cannot contradict in the revelations
Of the Scriptures what he exhibits in the
revelations Of science. Hence a mans
fearlessness of such science will be in
proportion to the certainty Of his convic-
ton OF the truths of the revelation"
The archbishop continued, addressing
the laity: "And on this great historic
occasion you must not be mere
observers, but we trust your rep.
resontatives will speak out freely
and fearlessly in the lay congress, which
forms 80 interesting feature of this CEN
tennial celebration. You know how
false is the charge of the enemies of the
church that you are priest-ridden. The
clergy do not fear the light of day, and
il statements are made by Catholic edi-
tors regarding their acts, it IL not all an
evil, for 1t clearly shows the rightful in
dependence of the Catholic journalist.
The archbishop gave general statistics
OF the church during the century as fol-