The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-11-27
Corner Stone Ceremonies.

There was a gathering together on
Sunday afternoon last, at Rising
Sun, to witness the dedication cere-
monies of the Corner Stone OF the
Catholic church (St. Agnes Chapel)
OF twelve to fourteen hundred peo-
pie. A train OF six cars from Perry
vile brought excursionlsts from
every station along the road. aggre
eating not less than $50 persons
when the Sun was reached.
The dedication ceremonies com.
meDced at 3 p. m. and were very
imposing. A stand had been erected
the day before at the northeast cor
ner of the foundation walls and
boards laid around the adjacent parts
TO make more comfortable standing
places for the crowd.
The officiating celebrities were
Bishop A. A Curtis, of Wilmington;
Reys Father Fitzgerald of Hayre de
Grace, Barry of Baltimore, Kelly of
Wilmington. Leonard of Villanova,
Pa and Kelly of West Grove, Pa.
Mr.. Seegler. of Havre de Grace, pre-
sided at the organ. The choir was
composed of picked singers from
Elkton, Port Deposit and Havre de
Grace. A liberal collection amount
ing to several hundred dollars was
received.
After the ceremony of blessing the
corner stone was gone through with,
Father Fitzgerald addressed the
audience, followed by the Bishop,
who told why the Catholic church
was about to erect another house of
worship in Rising Sun where there
we're already too many churches. We
need not repeat the Bishops reasons,
which briefly were that the existing
churches were not ofthe true church.
and served only to divide and dis.
tract by their discussion of the Bible.
Nothing could ever be settled by
Bible discussion. Whatever may be
said of the Bishops religious dog.
mas there is no denying this fact.
The irresistible march of intelligence
is modifying and hnmanizing all
forms of religious beliefs and Cathol-
ocy with its boasted immutability is
not escaping this leveler. The great
turbid ssream of theology which has
come down through the ages, dark
and horrible with superstitions is
becoming clearer as the fountains of
intelligence are opened into it by
each succeeding generation A cen.
fury hence the English speaking
races woald scarce recognize the
churches of the present day, as we of
this day would shndder at the church
of two hundred years ago. Their
names alone are left. They all
prophecy and point to better things
aud by their own teachings steadily
destroy their own creeds.
After the Bishop closed his dis
course be invited all who wished
to contribute TO come forward,
and, tapping the stone with q
small gavel, deposit their offering in
the box. The bishop led the way to
the stone which had been placed on
the corner, and shifting it gently
three times dropped 500 green
back in the box. Then followed a
procession of cheerful givers, and
for fifteen or twenty minutes coin and
greenbacks dropped into the yawn-
ing box to the music of the tapping
mallet.
The corner stone having been
iguratiYsly laid, when the crowd dis
persed il was carried into Mr..
Mckelvey's, the house near by the
church, the practical building in OF
the stope to be done by the masons
when the wall approaches oomple
ton.
Mr.. J. D. Gender dressed the stone,
which is white marble. carved the
date, name, etc.. ON it and followed
out the sepulOhPe for the box to rest
10 that viii contain the relics which
are to be sealed up to remaia while
the church stands.
The church is expected to be
finished and ready for dedication 10
January when another "big day.
will he witnessed,