Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-07-03
sr. PnrHa,a avn sr. PAuL,s.
Conservation OF Phiadelpbiu,s New
Cathedral =. Archbishop Gibbons

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| -
Conservation OF PhiadslpbIu's New
Cathedral =. Archbishop -tsibDons'
| Address.
PHLApELPmA, June 30.-The Roman
Catholic Cathedral of Ht. Peter and St.
Paul. the cornerstone Of which was laid
September 30th, 1916, was oonsecrated
to-day with most impoaing ceremony.
Added interest was given to the occasion
by the presence of Cardinal Gibbons and
bishops, arohbishops and priests from all
parts of the country.
The conservation service began ut $50
O'Clock this morning. Archbishop Ryan
at that hour left the chapel adjoining the
cathedral and, accompanied by priests,
aoolyteH and GROSS bearers, proceeded to
the main door OF the cathedral. He
knocked three times and was admitted
by the deacon in charge. The arch
bishop walked three times around the i'm
mense auditorium sprinkling holy water
before him and then went through the
ceremony of annointipR and sealing the
altar, using in the latter portion thereof
the silver trowel with which Archbishop
Kenrick laid the cornerstone nearly 30
. years ago. This conservation service, partic.
ipRted In only by the prieses attached to
the cathedral, was private, and lasted
81 hours.
AT IL O'Clock pontifioal mass was
begun. Shortly after that hour the pro-
oession headed by Father Horstman OF
Philadelphia, entered the main door,
bishops, afchbishopB, priests, aoolytes,
seninarians and altar boys to the number
OF 800 marched with solemn tread up the
aisle to the altar, q large orchestra
located in the choir loft playing the
"Pilgrim's March" from Tannhauser.
Cardinal Gibbons walked in the rear Of
the procession included in which were
number of eminent dignitAries Of the
church.
The sermon was preached by Cardinal
Gibbons. He spoke for about SO min
utes and was listened to with almost
brsathless attention by the assembled
clergy and worshipers.
Cardinal Gibbons in the course OF his
sermon at the conservation of the oathe-
drel in tn 8 city to-day said: You have
assembled to witness two OF the most
august rites OF the Catholic church, the
conservation of this beautiful temple to
Almighty God and tue celebration OF
pontihcal high mas. An outsider on
observing these ceremonies might be
tempted to say Gas has been said before)
that there is too much Journalism In orr
public worship. But 10 the pTacticed eys
Of tho Intelligent Catholic there Is not
single meaningless ceremony in our pub
lie liturgy. Every one OF them is full of
sacred and solemn significance. All true
devotion, all devotion to be acceptable
to God must be interior, and must come
from the heart. All religion that lacks
this interior spirit ia but as sounding
brass or tinkling cymbRl.
Almighty God TeproAohed tho Hebrew
people because they bad no heart in their
prayers. II God rejected their Sabbath
it was because Il had degenerated into
day Of rigid exterior decorum without the
sonl OF Joyous piety il he condemned
their pubic prayers it was because they
did not come from the heart and he dis
approved of their sacrifice because 1t was
not accompanied by the interior sacrifice
of a penitent spirit.
Almighty God regarded ceremonial
worship so indispensable handmade to
interior devotion that he prescribed in
the old Law in the most minute detail the
righta and ceremonies and ordinances
which were to be observed by the priests
and people in their public worship.
What is tha book Of Leviticus but an
elaborate ritual of the Jewish religion ?
Who had more tender piety towards
God than David? We have only to
peruse his psalms TO be convinced how
his heart glowed with love for his Maker.
David in the exuberanoe of his devo.
ton danced with all his might before
the ark OF the Lord" girded with linen
ephod, and "all Israel played before God
with NIL their might, with hymns and
with harps aud with pssiteEies, with tim
berries and cymbAiu and trumpeta;n and
when Michael, the daughter Of Haul, saw
King David dancing before the ark she
despised him iu her heart aud ridiculed
him. The race OF Michael's had not died
out. They are numerous to-day. They
willhavo no ephods o; ch0gu bles or sacred
vestments in the sanctuary. All Joyous
feeling and emotioI must be suppressed.
Some OF them would oven Danish oil
musical instruments from TIL house OF
God. But it were better to dance with
David than TO sneer with Michael. and 1t
God was pleased with the royal prophet
when with JOY and simplicity OF heart he
danced before the ark OF the Loid he will
surely look vita not less approval on the
FAt-Sh' e-AN HNNA1NNo WhOA 1hpJ AA0No Al
solemn procession and bend the knee
with reverence and love before the Lord
OF the ark that dwells in our tEbernRolos.
II 10 true, indeed, that the rites accom-
panying our public worship are more
gorgeous and elaborate than were those
recorded Of the primitive church, but IL
II not quite natural that the majesty OF
our ceremonial should keep pace with
the development of Christianity?
The Catholic church takes hold OF man
rs God has created hiIn with all his gifts
and attributes; she appeals to the light
OF reason, the dominant faculty of his
soul; hut she appeals also to his heart,
his Imagination and senslbility-those
lesser lights which enoircle reasons i'm
perial throne; and he who upbraids her
for Rrousing these faculties upbraids the
author of our being who created them.
congratulate you, my brethren, on
the solemn conservation Of this beautiful
cRtht dral-a cathedral worthy OF the
Lord Of Hosts, and most worthy OF this
city Of Philadelphia, In the midst Of
which it ats enthroned as queen.
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