The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-02-20
Pope Leo's Half Century as
a Bishop, FittinglY
COmmemOrated.
BISHOP WIGGER's TRIBUTE.
Great Gathering Of Representa-
tives of Catholics at the
Academy of Music.
Splendid Work Of Artists and
Chorus Under Leader Dos
sert's Baton.


The catholics of Jersey City yesterday
united in o grand celebration at the
Academy of Music in honor of the golden
episcopal jubilee of Pope Leo XIII. The
auditorium of the pretty theatre Was
crowded with the leading Catholic lay
men and women of the city.
The stage was set as landscape scene,
and the two hundred and fifty ladies and
gentlemen who made up the chorus,
grouped together as they were on as
cending steps with a covering Of green.
formed magnificent bank of roses. In
the box to the left of the stage sat Bishop
Wigger; his Secretary, Rev. Thomas
Wallace; Mgr. de Concilio, pastor of St.
Michael's Church; Rev. p. NJ. Corr, pas
bor of st. Bridget's, and Rev. G. T. Gillen,
right was occupied by County Collector
and Mrs. Hugh Dugan, Miss Mary Dugan, !,
Assemblyman and Mrs. Hugh Kelly, Mrs.
Robert Davis, Mrs. Maxwell and Robert
Davis, Jr.
1t was precisely four o'clock when DR..
Dessert began the first number on the
programme, and Tor over TWO hours
thereafter the large audience was treated
to programme of sacred music, the like
OF which was never before heard in this
city. The soloists were all talented, and
the work of the ichorus was magnificent.
Marie Steencken's rendition of the solo
AVE Maria," was admirable, and tn
gifted lady had to respond to an encore.
Mr.. Nahan Franko's violin solo, HanoePs
Largo" was played superbly, and In
response to an encore, he rendered se-
lection from Bach. Miss Curry Walter
Archibold and T. Sheridan of St:
Bridget's choir. William e. Sanborn and
John A. Rennie of ST. Mary's choir. and
Miss Angel McEvoY, j, j. Graf and j..
j. Dessert of st. Stephens choir, New
York, were heartily applauded for their
artistic singing.
THE PROGRAMME.
The programme rendered was as fol-
Grand Chorus, tHeavens are Telling. 80. Haydn
Soloists from st. Bridget's Church Choir.
Miss Curry, SOPRANO; Mr. Archibold, Tenor; Mr..
Mr.. Edward Dessert, Assistant Conductor;
DR.. Frank G. Dessert, Musical Director.
Duet, 20 Salutarls". "..a.......i:;...P .PoniatowsE
From St Mary's Church Choir.
sionn e0i0' MI Nahan ffanko. fAnoei
Kyrie and Gloria, From E minor Mass.
pedcaed to orrrsp II New YoeE
by the full Chorus.
So.osfs-Marie steencken, Soprano; Miss Angel
McEvoy, Alto; Mr.. J. j. Graft. Tenor; Mr.. J.
j. Dessert, Baso.
Gratias "Trio'. ....,.......,............Ro .Rossni
Miss A McAvoy. Mr.. j. j. draff and Mr.. j. J.
Dessert.
Ave Maria.
For Solo Soprano, with Violin obIgato, Plano
and Organ Accompaniment
Marie Steencken. Violin--Mr. Nahan Franko.
Sanctus and Agnus Del. From Mass in minor"
Dessert
solo.Mr: J. s. Graf and full chorus.
By the full Chorus of combined choirs.
BISHOP WIGGER'S ADDRESS.
When Bishop Wigger stepped u pom the
stage, just before the last number, to
deliver the address, he was en- thusiasti-
cally applauded. and it was several min
utes before be could proceed. He was
frequently interrupted by applause. He
said:-
Right Reverend and Reverend Sirs,
Ladies' and Gentlemeni-The glorious
music we have listened to this afternoon
hns been given in honor of Pope Leo
Kill, the Supreme Pontif gloriously
reIgning in Rome. 1t is fifty years today
since Joachim Pecci was consecrated
Bishop of the Catholic Church, and dur
ing thirty-thres of those fifty years he
labored amid suffering and consolation
in the diocese of Perugia. The two
first years OF these fifty were
spent mostly at the Court Sat
sent there by Pope Gregory XVI. Fif-
teen years of those fifty have been spent
in ruling the whole Catholic world, and
do not say too much when say publicly
that in those fifteen years the glorious
deeds, the wonderful encyclicals that he
has sent to the Catholic world, the irD-
mense amount of labor and toll under
gone, the success that has attended his
every effort. stamps him as one OF the
greatest Pontiffs that has ruled the
Church of God from st. Peters time to
the present day"
The Bishop then sketched briefly the
career of the Pope. He said. 81 mu st
particularly mention here that Joachim
Pecci was blessed with good christian
parents. and especially with pious
mother. That child is happy child that
has a good christian mother TO see to its
christian education. am convinced
there are thousands upon thousands of
criminals today in the prisons and jails
who would be good Christians and good
citizens of the State had they been blessed
as Joachim Pecci was, with good, chris
tiap, conscientious mothers"
A MAN OF ENERGY.
The Bishop then narrated this charac-
teristic episode:-''Iu 1888 he was sent by
Pope Gregory XVI. as Governor to
Benevento. Brigandage and smuggling
we.e e rife throughout the Province. Many
others older than he had been sent TO sup
press these, but had failed. Mgr. Pecci,
at tW6ulS yeas VI 0SCs anu SOAoC-
Quently very young. was sent there to
govern that province aud TO eradicate all
brigandage and smuggling. He did Won
derfuliy well the task assigned him.
There was a man there by name of Pas
uuelle CoIlecto, Prince of the brigands,
VINO with some fourteen desperadoes,
were the terror of the province. Que fine
morning Pasquello Collecto, with
fourteen OF his men. was led through
tue city of Benevento In chains and
placed in prison. This act of Mgr.
Pecci created considerable excite
mont. and the people were as
founded. 1t was brought about in this
way. This noble complained 10 Mgr.
Pecci that custom house officers had not
res pected his title and private dwellings.
Mgr. Pecci endeavored TO have him un-
derstands that the laws were made for all,
not merely for the poor and ignorant, Dut
Also for The wealthy. but he could not
succeed in convincing the noble, who EVIL
2eutly did not want TO be convinced, and
who arrogantly replied
Il will forth with go to Rome, and Will
return with an order relieving you OF your
bfifce OF Governor of this province
'ssGo on your errand," said the mon
,eigneur, s'hut warn you that on your
say to the Vatican you will have to pass
through the prisons of Rome before You
bring your message yourself
"The brRGgart was coHed down and the