Evening journal., 1890-07-07
CORNERSTONE LAYING.
ST. JoSePH'S SCHOOL FOR THE
cOLORED PEOPLE.

| Imposing ProceBsion-Interes Cere
mony-Rev. A. n. Leeson, Baltimore
Preaches-F De Ruyter Denies
That It is Political Movement.
The laying Of she corner stone of St
Joseph's mission school for colored Gath
olics on French street, between Tenth
and Eleventh, took place yesterday
afternoon ut 430 o'clock, with ap.
prOpriate ceremonies.
At 7 o'clock the following societies
drew up In professional order on West
street, the vanguard resting on Sixth,
and headed by Hyatt's Military Band
marched in the order here named down
West as far as Fourth, thence TO French
to Tenth; Knights of st. Lawrence,
knights Of st. Augusta (colored), Balti-
more; Order of st. Benedict,
German; Katolickle Bratni Pomocy,
Polish St. Mary's T. A. B. Society.
st. Peters ia B. Society, Newcastle; St.
Anne's 7. A. 3. Society, Divisions Nos. 1
and of the A o. H. Chester The sew
eral orders OF the A. o. H. this city,
Shields Library Association, Catholic
Union; Immaculate Heart" Literary So.
ciety, Chester; the Reilly Lyceum, the
Manning Library Association, Delaware
Council Of the Catholic Benevolent
Legion The flags Of each society we're
borne at the head and the whole pro-
cession was under the direction Of John
G.. Monaghan, chief marshal, with
Lewis Hammerer, Robert Cottingham,
William j. Joyce and Thomas f. O'Don-
nell as aids. Thousands thronged the
sidewalks as the procession passed and
about 1000 persons were present at the
ceremonies.
The following clergymen we're present :
Right Rev. Alfred A. Curtis. bishop of
Wilmington; Very Rev A. B. Lesson,
Baltimore; Very Rev. j. A. Lyons, st.
Peter 8, Wilmington; Rev. George
Kelly, St. Mary's; Rev. d. j. Flynn.
st. MarYsi Rev. Edward l.. Brady, New
Castle; Rev. Joseph Timmons, Chester; :.
Rev. p Donsghy, st. Joreph's.
Brandywine; Rev. William Dol
lard, st. Anne's; Rev. q Welbers
Baltimore; Rev. w. J. Bermingham. St
PauPs; Rev. F. Michael, Cape Charles
City; Rev Father DeRuyter, Rev. John
J. .Tierney, Mount st. Marys, Md Messrs
Joseph Swiney and John Deery, Over
brook Seminary, Philadelphia
A special chois of sixty members, com
Catholic churches of the city, furnished
the music Rev. Father DeRuyter
was musical director and Miss Bonner.
organist.
A train Of colored acolytes from Balti-
more was present and was the centre of
attraction, as 1t was the first time colored
altar boys had been seen in Wilmington,
or by the majority of the people present.
oh IL.
after which Rt. Rev. Bishop Curtis went
through the ceremony Of laying the cor
ner stone which consisted In striking the
stone three times with a hammer and
pronouncing the benediction
The Very Rev. A. B. Lesson, Balti
more, then preached the sermon Of the
day. His remarks were brief. as he
spoke under great difficulty, the rays
Of the sun striking down upon his head.
making II almost impossible for him to
speak at all. He said that the laying of
the foundation stone Of the school was a
prelude to the laying Of the foundation
stone of q church. where colored people
would receive the word of God, and
where their children would receive
suitable education.
He reviewed the progress Of education
in this country and said the present oc-
casion marked new era in the advance
and development of the colored race not
only Of Wilmington, but of the country
at large. He exhorted all present to
contribute to so laudable and charitable
an enterpr Sc.
Father DeRuyter then addressed the
people. Hs said it had been asserted that
this was a political movement. He
emphatically denied this, as members of
his church might vote the Democratic.
Republican or Greenbsck ticket, but 1t
matters nothing to him. and If any priest
of the church ever preached politics to
his colored parishoners. he was willing
to give up his keys. The ceremony of
laying the hammer on the cornerstone.
which means that the person doing so.
contributes something to the undertak-
ing, was then gone through. A good sum
was realized.
Father De Ruyter has been exceedingly
energetic in the work of the mission
since his coming to this city and will, he
believes, succeed In erecting a church,
school and sisters house in the course Of
the next two years. The school will be
opened on October /, in charge of the
Sisters Of St. Francis. Work on the new
- - 80 " ~ hNt Hc1 III hlAoAC hbAb year. un
the buildings must be free from mortgages
and debts of all kinds. All the funds
contributed before yesterday, were col
lected outside of Delaware, and any as
sistance furnished by persons in the
state, will be thankfully received. and
will encourage Father De Ruyter in his
charitable work.
Father De Ruyter's congregation now
numbers about one hundred persons, and
the school will accommodate over one
hundred pupils. II will be handsome
building OF an entirely new style Of archi-
lecture. The church and sisters house
will Rdjoin the school
Large crowds Of colored people were
present during the ceremonies, some of
them Catholics, but the majority Of them
merely spectators. The colored Knights
Of St. Augusta were subsequently enter
tanned by the Knights of st. Lawrence
at their headquarters, Fourth and French
streets. A great many colored people
not connected with the church con