Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-08
PRAISE AND PRAYER
BY Most Prominent Catholic Dig
nitarieS at the ReOpening of
st. Paul'S Cathedral.
GREAT POMP OF THE CEREMONIES.
Thousands of People Witness One of the
Most Imposing Services of
Church Dedication
GREAT POMP OF THE CEREMONIES.
EVER HEIDI IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURG
Number Of Interesting Sermons Delivered From Pulp
Of Both Cities

4ASs a. 4NsOV y ClOSh, lhSl " hiAO
sacred edifce one OF the largest congreGa-
tions that ever sat within its walls, while
within the sanctuary was the highest dig
nltary of the Catholic Church in America
Cardinal Gibbons-an Archbishop, six
bishops and as many monks and priests.
The ceremony was in honor of the formal
reopeniug of the cathedral which has been
renovated at a cost of over $4,000, and it
the most imposing celebration of its
kind ever seen in Pittsburg.
The blaze OF lights on the main altar, the
rich vestments of the officiating clergymen
blending with the cardinal red, the Episco-
pal purple. the black and white of the
priests and acoyliteS ard the somber habits
OF the monks made most attractive feature.
There was but little effort at decoration,
the only adornment of the five altars being
traiiings of evergreens, while about the sane
tuarv were placed few potted plants. The
simplicity tended to lend an even more
grand effect than had the altars and sanctu-
arv been profusely decorated with blooming
flowers.
Formation of the Procession.
While the preiates and priests were robing
in the Episcopal residence, the knights of
St. John. in iuli uniform, formed line ex-
tending from the Cathedral entrance to the
residence, and through this the procession
passed, and then down the main aisle to the
sanctuary First came a cross-bearer, fol-
lowed by a large number of altar boys,
then a number of students from the
Holy Ghost College, in cassock and
surplice; priests in cassock and surplice;
eight monks in their habits; six bishops,
Archbishop Ryan and Bishop O'Hara, of
Scranton, the celebrant OF the mass, and his
assistants. The rear was brought up by the
knights of ST. John, who formed in front of
the sanctuary, where they remained during
the services.
Cardinal Gibbons entered the Cathedral
from the sacristy and took his seat under a
scarlet throne to the right OF the altar,
while Bishop Pheian occupied the throne
to the left of the altar A temporary plat
form had been erected opposite the choir
gallery, ard this was occupied by students
from the Holy Ghost College, who chanted
the responses in Gregorian numbers. The
gallery over the main entrance was occu-
pied by the Cathedral Band. which played
= march as the procession passed down the
aisle
Three Thousand People Present.
Admittance to the Cathedral was by
ticket, and all the arrangements for ham
ding the people were under the direction of
members of the st. Vincent de Paul Society
The Ushers were in full dress, something
never before seen in Pittsburg Catholic
church. 1t is estimated that there were
fully 5000 people in the building, not in
Cluding the clergy and members of the
choirs. Very Rev. Father Wall and his
assistant, Rev. P. Molyneaux, had general
supervision of the arrangements, and there
was not hitch at any point
Bevond the imposing ceremonies within
The sanctuary the main interest centered
upon the music from the different sections
of the edifce. After the band had ceased
PLAYING in the farther end of the
church the solemn pontifcal mass was
begun bv Bishop O'Hara. The Deacon
was Rev. Father James j. McTighe, pastor OF
ST. Mslachy's Church; ;subdeacon, Rev. + Fathel
Wurtembach; high priest, Rev. Father d.
hearney, pastor o! st. patrick's Church;
deacons OF honor, Rev. Father L. /. Tohin,
pastor OF st. Mary's OF the Mount, and Rev.
Father Bush. The chanting of the re-
sponses by the students was very fine, the
lQl4 -0TCe Oi AltlE NOlCtS DGlu5 u6dIu IN all
parts Of the great edi6ce.
The regular choir had been augmented tc
30 voices. 1t was under the leadership OF
Mr.. Thomas +. Kirk, Miss Alice Garter
presiding at the organ. The mass, ar
ranged tor the occasion, was Havdn's "Im.
perial" and the selections from it were
rendered with great spirit and taste. Par
ticularly noticeable was the effect produced
when, following upon the Gregorian chant,
the choir sang the "Kyrie"
The Music One of the Features.
The GLORIA in Excelsis'' was equally vel
rendered. The "Credo" was chanted by tn,
students choir The "Veni CREATOR wa.
sung bv quartet consisting of Miss Grace
Miller, soprano; Mrs. William Loeff1er
contralto; LII. Ricketts,, bass, and.A. Seidle
tenor
At the conclusion Of the "Veni Creator
Cardinal Gibbons left the sanctuary, and
escorted by two clergymen. the trail of hi
red cassock being borne bv two little ALTA
boys in red cassocks and white surplices
proceeded to the pulpit A sea of faces wa!
turned toward him, and he at once read hi.
text While he is not a loud speaker, hi
voice is clear and his enunciation almos
perfect. Unfortunately, the pulpit is 81
situated that only those in front of and i'm
mediately about him could catch the drift
of his discourse. He spoke for about three
quarters OF an 0Our ana Without notes
The Cardinal took for his text the frs
verse OF chapter four of st. Paul to tn,
Ephesians, wherein is taught: Zone God
one faith and one baptism" He divide,
his subject into several heads, the genera
trend of his discourse being the unity O
faith and family. He spoke of the sanctit
Of the family relation, and of the duty O
women as the queens of the household
Their position in the world OF to-day wa
greatly different from what it was 800 year
ago, and as the intelligence of the world hat
increased so had wOman'S duties and re
sponsibilities grown.
He urged that men should be good citi
zens, for good citizenship conduced t
national unity. The Romans boasted o
their citizenship, but he considered tha
Americans had greater reason TO be prou,
of their citizenship than the people of an
cient Rome. Unity in a nation tended t
its perpetuity. Referring again to his text
he said he prayed TO God that the dav woul,
come when the scattered hosts OF Christen
dom would De gathered together again unde
one God, one faith and one baptism.
Close of the Ceremonies.
At the conclusion OF the sermon the mas
was continued. After the Sanctus the ban,
sang most effectively the "Agnus Del
When the mass was ended the procession
re-formed and proceeded back to the Epi;
copal residence in the same order in whic
iteutered the church. The crowd on tn
street was so great that it required tn
efforts of large force Of policemen to kee