The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-04-29
CORNER STONE BLESSED.
The Imposing Ceremonies Over
at Martins Ferry Yesterday,
TWO BISHOPS IRE PRESENT.
Thousands of People Stand in the
Rain to Witness the seryices-A
Procession Composed of
Catholic Societies.

Notwithstanding the rain and mud
and the chilly air yesterday, nearly 5000
persons witnessed the blessing Of the
corner stone Of the new St, MRIy's Cath
ole church at Martins Ferry,
Rain fell nearly all day, and the
weather could not have been much
more unfavorable, but this did not keep
the people away, Had the ele-
ments been propitious, Martins
Ferry would have scarcely held the
people, All morning and as late as two
O'clock 1t looked as II the ceremonies
would have TO be postponed, but they
were not, and the programme was sue.
Cessfully carried out. Shortly after 2
o'clock the rain ceased, and the outlook
was more favorable than al any time
during the day.
The streets were soon filled with PEG.
pie, the majority OF whom were armed
with umbrellas, waiting for the process.
sion and moving toward North Fourth
street, where st, Mary's church is being
erected.
The procession formed on First street,
near the ferry landing, at ESQ, and
marched 10 the church grounds in the
following order;
NAYER's BAND,
Knights OF st, George, Wheeling.
Knights Of st. John, Wheeling,
Ancient Order oil lIibeTnlAnS, Wheeling,
BELLAIRE BAND,
Ancient Order Of HlbeFnianS, Bepwood,
Ancient Order Of HibeTnlanS, BellRlre,
UNION cORsET HAND,
Ancient Order OF HlbeFnlAnS, Martins Ferry.
Cadets Of Temperance, Martins Ferry,
Members Of heChurch, etc.
The manhals were Messrs. Thomas
Mullaney, Peter Peck and James Dob
bins.
For such weather, the parade was
very Creditable. It would have been
several times larger had the day been
pleasant.
A platform had been previously erect
ed near the corner stone, on which the
ceremonies were held, commencing at
o'clock and lasting ono hour. Rain fell
all this time and the officiating clergy
men stood under umbrellas, as did also
the large crowd,
TUE CEREMONIES,
The sermon was preached by Rt. Rev.
Bishop John A. Watterson, D. D., oil
Columbus, in his usual eloquent manner.
II occupied about thirty minutes, and
was listened to with intense interest by
all present, Professionals and all. The
sermon was forcible one and many
who have heard other able Clergymen on
similar occasions pronounce this the
best they ever listened 10. He spoke at
length on the church and said this made
the twenty.third one he had dedicated
in the last nine years, besides three
have been enlarged, and four more are
in course OF construction.
Following Bishop WatteBons' sermon
came the procession to the cross, and the
blessing Of the spot wherein the altar
will stand.
The corner stone was laid with the
usual ceremonies. Bishop Watterson
was assisted by Rt. Rev. Bishop Kahn,
Of Wheeling, Rev. Father John McElli.
gott, Of Wheeling, Rev, Father @. +.
sChilpp, OF Wheeling, Rev. Father Mo.
AIinnehan, OF RenWopd, Rev. Father
Martin, Of Bridgeport, and Rev. Father
s. s. Mattingly, rector Of the st. Mary'f
Church Of Martins Ferry.
North Fourth street, Martins Ferry,
never held so many persons at . single
time as yesterday afternoon and proba'
bly, never will again. The street was
fairly packed from Hanover as far up al
the German church. House tops we're
covered and many persons were seen or
fences, trees and opthuildings, Every
window and door on the street was flleC
and people were packed also In pia2zas
The U, p, church and the Episcopal
missile were opened and all the win
dows occupied. Even on Hanover, Thirt
and Fourth streets, doors and windows
were pressed into service, and the st
AIary's church grounds were crowded
also adjoining lots, and many wondered
where all the people came from.
CONTENTS OF TIE BoI.
The crowd around the platform OF
which the ceremonies were held insiatet
on climbing up on II, and were kept Of
with the greatest difficulty, especially
the small boy. Hundreds Of persons in
the crowd stood In the rain, unprotected
and shivering with cold, for over ar
hour, and many fine clothes suffered. Il
is doubtful whether 80 many umbrella
were ever seen In SO small space before
A number were broken, but the crowd
appeared to be good natuted and did moi
care for this, the rain, mud, jam, or any
thing else. All wanted TO see the laying o.
the corner stone, and nearly all succeed
ed. Several coins, the Catholic Columbian
WaiSentreund, @. A. T, Nevs, Catholic
American, Catholic Standard, Ohio Valley
News, daily INTELLlqENCER and daily
Re1iSler were placed In the box under
the corner stone. The new edlhce when
completed will have cost between
$1,000 and $4,000. 1t will he built Of
brick and will measure '10S by AZ feet
two stories high, and will have a seating
capacity OF 700. There will be two
school rooms on the irst floor. There
are about Tvs families In the Martins
Ferry parish.