The Newtown bee., 1891-05-29
The Conservation of the
New St Rose Cemetery

After the return of Vicar General Hughes and the clerical party from the dedication of St Stephens chapel in Step ney, the consecration of the recent addi- tion to St Rose cemetery in the Glen took place. At about 30 p m, the officiating clergymen, V. c. Hughes, Rev Fathers Synnott of Hazardville, O'Connell of Bethel, fIihil ot Bridgeport, Creagh of Ansonia, Kennedy of Danbury, the pas tor of St Rose, Father Fox and Dr Ma her of the Hartford cathedral left the pa rochial residence and repaired to the cemetery, being preceded by the faithful laity of St Rose in procession, the order of march being as follows:
 St. Vincent De Paul M. A. association the
 oldest Catholic society of the Parish. William J. Brew, marshal and president
 aide, Thomas Iilis.
 Putnam Council, ot Knights of Columbus.
 John F. Houlihan, G. K. and leader. The Sodality of the Children of Mary. Miss Julia Murray, Mary and Kate Houri-
 gan standard bearers.
 Blake, Mary A. Bradley and Bridget Cor, i'
 bett standard bearers.
 The Sunday School children of St. Rose
 Parish.
 St. Rose Surpliced acolytes.
 The officiating clergymen and others in
 carriages.
 The procession was headed by St Rose drum corps, under the leadership of Mar tin Corbett, which discoursed appropri- ate music. Arrived at the grounds, the procession marched to a beautiful large white cross erected in the field to remain permanently, whither the clergy had preceded them, and formed in lines on either side, amid a large concourse of the faithful of St Rose church and the towns people generally. The ceremony of con- secration then began with uncovered heads and on pended knees. There was ( 1an f<,N <Nff ,,E ing of the recitation of the litanies in which the Roman Catholic faith is rich l; Rev Dr Maher reciting, the others re- spending. After blessing the altar cross, the solemn processional was made about and around the part of the grounds con- secrated, prayers were chanted and the grounds sprinkled with holy water and the return made to the foot of the altar cross. The candles were then lighted upon the arms of the cross, silent offer ing of prayer and the ceremony of con- secration was concluded. The clergy present then mounted the stairs to the stand which had been erected for a tenn porary pulpit, from whence Rev Dr Ma her delivered a short discourse, which, for fervid Christianity, beauty of diction and appropriateness has rarely been sur passed. His theme was the consecration of this Gods Acre, by which name the cemetery is known in Catholic literature. and, naturally, his choicest gems of thought were inspired by the faith he professed. The reverend gentleman was an able expounder of his faith and bold defender of it's doctrines and discipline yet his pleas lost nothing by being pre- sented in the courtliest manner and pref aced, as was every point advanced, by the qualifying phrase. True Christians as we'll as Catholics.'' Especially was his appeal for the preservation of the common Christian heritage of burial in Mother Earth effective. It went direct to the heart of every Christian listener Cremation was unnatural, unholy and unChristian. If cremation prevailed, the very foundations of Christianity would be endangered; for, take away from the Christian religion the burial service and it's associated rites and you leave it bar ren indeed. These soIemnities of Chris. tian practice are built upon the basic principle of the immortality of the soul Destroy the superstructure and the found ation must soon crumble away. But this diabolical belief would not prevail as the Master had said it. Against the inroads of this pernicious sea of unholi ness, skepticism and savagery typified il cremation stands the Catholic church al an impregnable wall. It would neve gain ingress in a true Christian and Cath