The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-01
THE STATUES UNVEILED.
AN INTERESTING CEREMONY AT
81. PATRICK's CHURCH.

-
Joseph Formally Presented to th'
Church by the Congregation - The
Procession of the Clergy and th'
Sodalities-The dwelling Ceremony
Father McCorry's Sermon.
The unveiling of the statues of st. JOSEPH
and st. Patrick ct St Patricks church last
night was an interesting event
Every available space in the church wa
occupied, and the congregation overfowoC
into the vestibue and out to the from
entrance.
At 7:30 O'clock q procession of over 90
children, boys and girls, belonging TO the
church sodalities, marched in, in double
file, and took positions on each side of the
main altar, the girls to the right and tn,
boys to the left. The procession was headed
by a cross bearer ana two acolytes
The Sodality Of the Holy Infancy led the
way, carrying handsome white silk ban
ner, on which was worked an image of the
infant Christ. The lnnocency sodality fol-
lowed, also car. ying an appropriate
banner. The Sodality Of the Coildren OF
Mary, composed Of the larger girls, brought
up the rear. This sodahty mad q silken
banner, handsome and unique, on one side
of which was picture # the Immaculate
Conception and ca the other a representa-
ton OF the Groth Of Lourdes
THE PROCESSION OF CLERGY.
As saon as the children were seated Vicar
General Ed ard Cafferty, Rev. p. Z. Nc
Cory, Rev. William Q1inlan and Rev. p.
II. McMahon, preceaed By twenty AGO.
lytes, walked out of the vestry into the
sanctuary, and the services began.
The three marble affairs were decorated
with flowers and were Illuminated by over
q hundred wax candles.
The services opened with the singing of
Rosew gs vespers by the choir, af rer which
Rev. P. E. McCorry of New York preached.
The sermon was sn eloquent exposition IF
the position Of the Catholic church in re-
gard 10 IGNORING images.
"Wbat does the church teach" asked
Father McCOrry, Tin regard to images, Rud
do Catholics come here to adore these
images9 MOI The church never has taught
such a doctrine, nor could she permit such
an act Idolatry is always grsvous sin.
In explanation of the teachings of tina Cath
ole church in this particular might ask
why is it that you have erected such beauti-
full monuments throuhout your city 10 men
of renoWn.
"One Of the first things stranger edmires
in Savannah is the magnificent statue
erected to the memory Of Sergt. Jasper,
and as your children play around in the
shade OF that glorious monument, what is
the lesson that you teach theml AS they
grow up ana begin TO understand, they
learn that one Of the noblest of things, be-
cause the most unselfsh, is to die for ones
country.
IN HONOR OF THE SAINTS
mo sword nor rifle is in the hands of
these statues to be unveiled and blessed In
this church to night, but nevertheless, the
men they represent were soldiers, soldiers
OF different order, however, from those
whose memory is perpeUuated throughout
this city with monuments. They we're soldiers
OF Jesus Christ, and these statues are
erected according to the spirit of the
church for something of the same purpose
which actuated the erecting of monuments
to your heroes.
These statues teach Us a great lesson:
sreach to US great sermon. Those whom
they commemorate are heroes Of the
church-examples of splendid life and
vlrtue-and when we pray before them it is
simply that the saints in heaven, whom
they represent, may obtain from Jesus
Christ the grace for US to initiate their vir-
tues and in every way to be like them, sue
cessful and faithful followers of Jesus
Christ. The practice, therefore, of honor
ing the images of saints is a most reasonable
and commendable one.
"One Of the underlying forces In Ameri-
can public life is to have political influence.
1t is the great force which conduces at the
present time to success in the political
world. As it is in the political, go also is it
10 the spiritual life, and moreover 1t is q
dogma Of the Catholic church that the saints
are willing and able to help us If we but seek
for that help. Tonight We pray for the in
fiuenoe and help Of ST. Joseph and St. Pat
rick to make our lives acceptable to
Almighty God"
A TRIBUTE TO CHRISTIAN GREATNESS.
The preacher reviewed the life and work
OF the two saints, and paid high tributes to
their worth, lie referred TO Ireland as a
country which, under the most bitter per-
secution, had retained the faith implanted
by ST. Patrick.
At the conclusion of Father McCorry's
sermon, Vicar General Cafferty, assisted BY
the other clergymen, proceeded to unveil
and bless the statues. That of st. Joseph,
which is mounted at the entrance
to the sanctuary on the north side
OF the main altar, was the first
the veil in position was drawn by Willie
and Daniel Connors, two little boys of the
congregation.
st. Patrick stands at the south entrance.
and the cord was drawn by Mamie Brady
and Mamie Riley. After reading the
prayers Of the blessing Vicar General
Caferty sprinkled the statues with holy
water and incensed them.
After the unwilling and blessing, the
benediction of the blessed sacrame It was
given, and the ceremonies were brought 10
a close.
GIFT OF THE CONGREGATION.
The statues are donation from the con-
Rregation, and are works of art. They
were imported from Paris, and ore feet 6
inches high. They differ from the ordinary
church statue in coloring, and are beauti-
full cream, with gold in relief
st. Patrick is represented as an arch
bishop, clad in full pontifical robes, with a
magnificent Irish crozier in his left hand and
holding aloft in his right shamrock-the
emblem Of the Trinity. 1t is the first statue
of st. Patrick ever brought to Sava nah.
st. Joseph is represented holding the in
fant Savior in his arms, the child looking
up into his face with the calm and con-
fiding look Of childhood. The expression
is one Of deep tenderness.
The singing by St Petrck's choir was q
feature of the Ceremony, particularly the
rendering Of 30 Salutaris" by q quartette,
composed of Messrs. Donovan and Dumas
and Misses King and O'Byrne.
THE CHURCH IN MOURNING.