The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-11-17
AT TIE CATHEDRAL,
sunday Mornings Services said TO be the Finest
Ever Witnessed in Kansas.

The crowd that gathered at the Cathe-
dral Sunday morning was an immense one
and over 600 people had to turn back to
their homes being unable to obtain admis-
sion, even to the porch of the church.
High mass VIZ set for 1890 but as early as
9 people began docking to the church and
by 10 fully 1000 people were seated. Old
church members who have their own pews
rented by the year arrived TO find them
occupied and they, of course, had to stand
up and worship, for they were too hospita-
bic to ask visitors TO surrender their seats.
Chairs and benches were brought from
the Sisters school near by and placed
wherever there was vacant space and yet
300 people stood up against the sidewalks
of the church until they extended from
the door to the alter railing. In addition
to this the center aisle was crowded like
sardine box for over half its length and
the space about the baptismal font and
even out into the doorway was crowded
almost to suffocation. 1t was with diff
Guilty the priest who was to say mass got
in. Owing to the delay of the train that
brought Gilmore's band to the city the
celebration of mass was delayed for few
minutes Professor O'Mahony. the cele-
brated singer and the other musicians
who had volunteered to assist the choir
came from the train direct to the church.
Mr.. and Mrs. p. 5. Gilmore and their
handsome and accomplished only daughter
went to the hotel and after making some
change in their wardrobes took a carriage
to the cathedral to attend their usual
Sunday morning devotions, but when
ahey arrived there it was impossible for
them to gain admittance owing to the
throng of people who blockaded the door
way. They tried hard 10 get in, but in
vain, and were compelled to turn back TO
their hotel.
General Tim Mccarthy and other Catho-
lies who were sojourning in the city drove
from their hotels to the church, too, and
were unable to gain admittance and
turned back. On their way back Mr..
Gilmore and Mr. Mccarthy met, and the
great musician good humoredly hailed the
Grand Army leader and said: "Well,
general, have been going to mass every
Sunday morning for nearly sixty-two
years, and this is the first time could not
gain admittance into Catholic church"
"Me, too, said Tim. and both agreed to
put in the forenoon at the hotel and talk
over war times, for Gilmore was in the
great conflict like Tim.
The church was adorned with its usual
decorations but still it looked very hand
some. The main altar under the starry
canopy was decorated with a beautiful
array of natural flowers as we'll as the
altars of St. Joseph and the Virgin
Mother, at the right and left of it. The
burning tapers and the dying oders Of
the incense that burned the previous
night at vespers were very impressive.
Father Horgan celebrated the high mass
and Father Then preached the sermon
which was very fine and touched the ten
der Christian feelings of all those who at
tended. The singing was delightful.
Mrs. Cathrine Russell led the choir and
she was at her best After the services
were over Porfessor O'Mahony in a private
conversation with friends paid her an ex-
ceedingly high compliment. He said that
her notes were absolutely more distinct
than those of the finest instrument and
that he had no idea Wichita had such
talented singer. Professor O'Mahony
studied music no the continent, finishing
al that far-famed city of Milan, and his
reference to Mrs. Rusaell were, indeed, a
high and well deserved compliment. The
professor himself as well as the other mu-
sicians from Gilmore's band added materi-
ally to the choir and those who were pres
ent the lovers of fine music especially,
said it was the finest that they had ever
Witnessed 1t was certainly grand. Mr..
Gilmore says that ii his engagement here
next year will be on Sunday, and he will
try to have it so, he will place several
more pieces at the disposal of the Catholic
choir with as fine selections of music as are
played at the cathedral of either Paris,
Rome, Vienna or Madrid