The Irish standard., 1891-11-21
CRACEVILLE'S new CHURCH.
A Handsome Edi6ce of Which the
People There May Well
Feel Proud.

Feel fT0uQ.
BUILT AT A COST OF $4,000
Dedicated Wednesday, November IL
Archbishop Ireland Delivering the
Sermon.
Special to The Irish Standard,
Wednesday, Nov. 11th, marked an
important event in the history of Grace
vile. For village of its size Mime.
sofa does not boast of a more thrifty,
wide-awake people than are found
here, and to this fact may be attributed
their success in the face Of many OBJ
stacles, for the countrv around Grace
vile is wheat-grow country and.
like other sections of our state, during
the past fifteen years 1t has had it's
failures as we'll as its bounteous Yields
in the way of crops. But all in all the
balance is largely on the right side and
the people here have as little cause for
complaint as in any part of our COM
monwealth. a large portion Of the
population of Graceville, and in fact
Big Stone county, is made up of Cath
lcs-practical in all that the term i'm
plies. The little church that was
ushsred in with the colonis5s in this
vicinity had long since become too
small to accommodate the congregation
and for the past Cwo years or more it
has been the aim OF the respected pastor,
Rev. Father Gems, to replace it with a
structure that would not be lacking
in point Of room and that at the same
time would be 10 keeping with the
growth aud progress of busy and pro-
gressiye village such as here exists.
The aim and ambition of Father GEMS
has at last been grati6ed and November
IL, Holy Rosary Church-for such j.
It's name-was dedicated by Archbishop
Ireland, the services beginning at 1920
o'clock, many Protestants as we'll as
Catholics being present to witness the
impressive ceremonies.
The dedicatory sermon was preached
by Archbishop Ireland. Father Sou
mis-, of Minneapolis, was celebrant of
mass, with Father O'Connor, Of De
Graft, and Father Kane, OF Clontarf, as
deacon and sub-deacon, respectively.
Very Rev. A. Oster, of Clontarf, was
master of ceremonies The other
clergymen who took part in the ser
vices were Rev. Father Gros. of st.
Paul, Rev. Father Christie, of Mime
apolis, Rev. Father Cotton, Of New
Canada, Rev. Father Darche, of Boards
ley, Rev. Father McDayitt, of Man
nanah, Rev. Joseph Guillot, of Waverly'
and Rev. Father Kelly, Big Stone City,
S. u. The affairs were neatly decorated
with artificial flowers and presented a
most tasty appearance, At an early
hour during the progress Of the service,
the church was blessed both within
and without, the Archbishop and priests
performing the ceremony.
The choir sang Leonard's third mass
In B fat. The following ladies and
gentlemen comprised the choir and it Is
only an act of simple Justice to say that
they acquitted themselves in manner
most creditable to each and all: James
Billsboro. leader; sopranos, Rose Cum
ningham, Mary Billsboro. George
Grove; altos, Maggie Grove, W. j.
McGrath; tenore, James Blllsbore. DR. /.
Chas. Billsboro; bass, Harry Grove;
organist, Josie Ford; offertory piece,
ecca panis. Miss Mary Billsboro and
w. j. Grath sang the offertory.
Twelve bright boys filed the position
OF alcol, tes, as follows: Willie Nc
Donnell. j James o Hara, Charley O. 'Hara,
Eddie Fitzgerald, Oscar Billsooro,
Frank ONeiI, Harry O'Neil. Charlie
Lane, George Rowles, Bernard Downey,
John Mcdonnell and John Buhl.
The sermon by Archbishop Ireland
was an eloquent as we'll as philo-
sophical discussion of religion. ''Fear
God and keep His commandments.
What Is the meaning Of the ceremon-
les of this morning? What is the
meaning of the sacrifice made in build-
ing up this church h-this temple to God?
That God reigns over and above US
that we acknowledge ourselves to be
His creatures, that we believe in His
divinity therefore have you raised up
this temple as sign and pledge of
your allegiance to Him. We are crea-
lures Of q daY. To-day we are; t0-mor
row we are not. We are not the result
OF merest accident, but the children of
an ON aipotent power. God is our
Creator and Master. RELIGION is the
link uniting man to God. It lifts man
up to the Infiaite and brings doWnupOn
him manifold graces.
' We should acknowledge our depend
.ency il God. Such an Acknowledgement
IS worthy Of adoration. Neglect of re-
.liglon and Sc God j. the great .st u sims.