The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-08-07

Bradley of Manchester, N. H., breaches
the Dedication Sermon.
1.-THE new st. Dominic's church on
State street was formally dedicated yes
terday morning. The house was crowd
ed to repletion by the communicates OF
that church as well as of the Catholic
cathedral while outside hundreds stood
unable to get admittance. The scene
was one of great splendor, the rich vest
ments of the priests, the silken canopies,
the clouds of fragrant incense, all adding
to heighten the effect
Chairs were placed about the affairs
and accommodated the large number OF
priests from all over the state as we'll as
the invited guests who included the city
government and citizens of promi-
nence.
Bishop Healy, who would have con-
Quoted the services, was prevented from
being present by illness. The Bishop
will soon hold special service in the
new church and preach sermon.
The ritual of dedication preceded the
high mass which was presided over by
Bishop Bradley Rev. T. P. Linehan of
Biddeford was deacon, Rev. j. B. Sekin-
ger of Brunswick sub-deacon, Rev. T. III.
Wallace of Lewiston deacon of honor,
Very Rev. John Barry of Concord, NH,
and Rev. D. A. Decelle Of Westbrook as
81 DC
rector of the cathedral, master of cere-
monies, Rev. A. Ahearn of Portland
assistant master of ceremonies.
The ceremony of conservation was per-
formed, the procession passing in
and out of the sacred edifice be-
slowing holy water on the building ex-
ternally and internally.
Rt. Rev. Bishop Bradley of Manchester,
N. H., preached the dedication sermon.
In it he paid a glowing tribute to the
late Vicar General. John Murphy, who
started the construction of the church,
and to Rev. Father Hurley, the present
rector, who took up the work left I'M
finished by his predecessor. Bishop
Bradley was formerly rector of the
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
and chancellor of this diocese. He also
spoke in congratulatory terms of the
beautiful edifice the congregation had
erected. and quoted from the sixth chap
ter of the second book of Parlipomenon
where the Lord praised David for build
ing house to His name that He might
dwell therein forever. The speaker also
spoke of how acceptable the gift was to
the Lord
The music for the mass was furnished
by chorus of sixty voices including
both the cathedral and st. Dominic
choirs under the direction of Miss Fan
ME Eagan, organist at Sc. Dominic's, as
sisted by Mr.. Geo. Quimby, organist at
the cathedral. The solo, Ave Maria, was
beautifully rendered, while the music
generally was exceedingly effective.
In the afternoon vespers were con-
Quoted, Father Wallace of lewiston,
delivering the sermon. This morning
there will be grand mass in memory of
the late Vicar General Murphy.
ST. Dominic's church stands upon the
site of the old church of the same name.
1t is finished in the style of architecture
known as decorated Gothic, and is from
the designs of P. W. Ford, the Boston
architect 1t is built of faced brick with
trimmings of longmeadow and red sand
stone. The pinnacle examinations to the
buttresses on the front, tower and side,
and the clear story between roofs is fin
ished in cold rolled copper to correspond
in detail with all other exterior decora-
ton. -
The edifice is rectangular in shape
with an auditorium consisting of naive
and aisles divided by two acades of
lofty decorated arches, a
spacious sanctuary and accompanying
side chapels and large sacristy in di-
rect communication with the sanctuary
and auditorium. The maip entrance is
on Gray street and Is approached by an
easy fight of granite steps IS feet in
length.
The tower is located at the corner of
state and Gray streets, and terminates in
truncated pinnacle spire with paneled
and crocketed hips. The combined
height of the tower and spire is 1855 feet
from the sidewalk to the top of the cross.
A prominent feature of the State street
facade is the transept arranged after the
old Irish model. which projects only
slightly beyond the aisle. 1t gives
great strength and character to the
structure.
The naive consists of seven bays diyid-
ed by clustered columns with richly
carved capitals, from which spring the
arcade arches, and over these are the
clear story gothic tracery windows,
eight on each side of the naive. The
interior of the latter, as well as the
aisles, sanctuary and chapels is finished
with full grained or vaulted ceilings COW
cred and divided by principal couples and
ribs springing from each arcade column
and divided into as many bays as there
are arcade arches. The ceiling vaults
have diagonal and cross ribs heavily run
in stuccO and fitted at all important in