Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-11
The Corner Stone of the New Saints
Peter and Paul Church, East
End, Laid Yesterday.
SERMONS In ENGLISH AND GERMAN
Groundwork of the New Place of Worship
Blessed, Surrounded by Thousands
of Wealthy Catholics.
OVER A YEAR 70 COMPLETE THE WORK.
Big Turn Ont of Societies in Street Parade Pre-
ceding the Ceremonies.

Paul Church, on Larimer avenue, East
End, was laid yesterday with all the pomp
and solemnity that eharacterizes the
Catholic Church. The new building will
be completed In about Is months and when
finished will be one of the most magnificent
Catholic places of worship In the two cities.
1t will be nearly as large as st. PauPs
Cathedral and will have two towers, each
200 feet high. The congregation is COM
posed OF the wealthiest Germans in the East
End, and they will spare neither money nor
pains to beautify their handsome edifce
after it has been completed.
The ceremonies of yesterday were con-
Quoted BY Very Rev. DR.. Wall, Vicar Gen
eral of the diocese, who oficiated in the alb
sence of Rt. Rev. Bishop Phelan. DR.. Wall
was assisted by over a score of priests,
among them being the following:
Fathers McTighe, of St Malachi's; Tobin,
of st. Mary's; Griffen, of st. Benedict the
Moor; Murphy, President of the Holy
Ghost College; Osler, Provincial of the Holy
Ghost Order; Lambing, of Williamsburg;
Wertenbach, of Braddock; Wilhems, of
Bennett station; Gallagher, Bernardine c.
P; Wendelin, c. P, OF the Passionists
Order; Gregory and Marenus, of the Bene-
dictine Order: Altman, Krogmann, Freh-
ling, Kaib, Zwickert, Woelfel, Joseph
Bauer, Hagerich, Eyer, O'Hare and the
pastor of the church, Father Suhr.
CONTENTS OF THE BOX.
At 8 O'Clock the procession of priests,
preceded BY about dozen acolytes marched
from the pastors residence to the founda-
tions of the new church, where the cere-
monies were held. Father Wall blessed
the work, while the priests chanted the re-
sponses. After marehiAg around the four
walls they stopped at the cornerstone,
which had been placed in position. In the
box were deposited 4 Latin document giving
the names of the reigning pontif. the Presi-
dent of the United States, the Governor of
the Commonwealth and the bishop of the
diocese. The names of the church commit
tee, chief marshal of the parade and the
builders, with short history of the con-
gregation from its foundation to the present
time, were also placed in the box. In ad-
dltion to these there was large collection
of old coins found in the cornerstone of
the old church, specimen American, Span
ish, German and English coins, and a copy
of yesterdays DISPATCH, placed in the
box.
After the box had been deposited in the
stone, the cap of the latter was put on and
the receptacle sealed up, to remain hidden
from the light of day and peering human
eyes until the natural increase in the con-
gregation or the march of progress makes a
new church necessary. After chanting over
the box, and blessing the ground. the pro-
cession of priests marched to a wooden plat
form erected near the rear of the founda-
tion walls, where the addresses were deliv-
cred.
Dr. Wall spoke in English, and Father
Mauritius, of ST. Augustine's Church, de-
livered the sermon in German. The former
was in his best humor. and instead of SER
mon calculated to put anybody to sleep in
ten minutes, he delivered a plain, practical
talk that was listened to with rapt atten-
tion, despite the scorching sun beating down
on uncovered heads. He briefly outlined
the reason for the ceremonies, and said:
WORK OF A FITTING DAY.
1--WE are laying this foundation stone in
honor of the saints, Peter and Paul, whose
names should never be separated, and it is
fitting day for the work. God wishes all
denominations to build churches for them
selves as well as Himself. The church is
necessary to distract the faculties from
worldly objects, and as an adjunct it should
be brought forward in its highest utility and
meaning. This corner stone is blessed then,
and the foundations of the church blessed
-. L.
blessed. 1t is blessed that it may be set
apart from anything earthly and common,
and henceforth these walls can only be used
for the honor and glory of God. If used for
any other purpose it would be a sacriIege.
The church will be a noble structure, worthy
of the conception of the pastor and your
generosity. You will have TO plan your
generosity and give to your pastor to enable
him to carry the work through successfully.
II is a great undertaking and does not rest
on any human resources, but rests only with
God for the successful issue in carrying out
your work.
1.-The LAYING of the corner stone marks the
setting uD of out post in the empire OF
the church; it is landmark in the latter's
progress, a symbol of power, a symbol of our
march until the time when the church exists
no more and her work is complete. 1t is a
symbol of heavenly Jerusalem above and
a symbol of our work here on earth for the
soul of man. 1t reminds us of the words of
the apostles: we must labor for the body
of Christ
"You will come here during the weary
days and months, as they will appear to you,
and you will witness the building of the
church, step nv step. You will watch every
layer of stone, every brick being put on, and
it will seem to you to be long time. The
day will come when the structure will be
completed and, amid glorious pageant, 1t
will be dedicated to the glory of God and
the honor OF Saints Peter and Paul. The
words Of the Scripturawill then be fulfilled.
The entrance to that temple for true
Christian symbolizes the entrance of the
soul into heavenly Jerusalem, into the joy
of our Lord, where will await you a crown
and happiness that no one can take from
you.
THE DUTY OF ALL.
"God builds on our strength, our natural
resources, our life and our generosity. At
the same time, we must work hard ourselves
and our blessing will be in proportion to the
energy and perseverance in our task. No
one knows what your pastor has before him
except those who have built churches be-
fore. The church is for you and your chill
dreu and not or your pastor, and it is for
Won he is building this magnificent edihce.
You will get the benefit and reap the re-
ward. but your pastor is here to-day and |
NAV be away tomorrow. 1t is your |
bounden duty to help him and congratulate |
him on its completion. Stand shoulder to |
shoulder with him while building it, and do |
-.-4b;n, IN rour Douer tn assist him. YOu L