Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-30


house by the entrance and, passing to the
sidewalk, moved around and up along the
alley which extends along the west side
of the property to the platform. The cardi-
nal was dressed in his robes and wore the
tall pontiGcal hat and carried in his hands
the official staff, which is in the form of a
shepherds crook. He was attended by the
following priests:
Mgr Seton, Father Ryan, deacon; Father
Mackin, sub deacon; Father Richards
Father Seaman, Father Hogan of the Cath
Ole University. Father Russell, Father
Father Fletcher, Father Barry, Father
Quill, Father Bart. Father Kirby, Father
Maley, Father Dougherty, Father Donahue
and Father Reardon.
Reaching the steps of the platform the
lay escort stood in double ranks and al
lowed the cardinal and his attendants to
pass on the platform. Prayers were read
and tken the cardinal went to the center
Of the foundation, where he recited prayers
and called down divine blessing on the I'M
dertaklng. In the meantime the priests
upon the platform were reciting Psalms.
The Stone Set.
Then the cardinal advanced to the corner
stone and with the ceremony prescribed
in the ritual he set the stone. The lead box
which was deposited in the stone, contained
brass medals Of the sacred heart of Jesus
the blessed Virgin Mary, st. Joseph and ST.
chapes are to be erected. Also a Columbian
half dollar and coins struck in $685. namely.
half dollar. quarter, ten five and one cent
pieces.
The Inscription on the box is as follows:
November 80. 1893. in the pontificate of
Leo XIII, Grover Cleveland occupying the
presidential chair President of the United
states OF America, his eminence by divine
mercy, cardinal prelate of the holy Catho-
lie Church. and archbishop of the Metro
politan See Of Baltimore, blessed and laid
this stone for the building of the church
edifice in honor of st. Matthew"
The cardinal made a tour of the walls at
tendeu by the priests and the lay escort,
blessing the walls and sprinkling them
with holy wafer The priests remaining on
the platform sang a number of selections
and their trained voices united in a melody
that was heard with fine effect. Then Mgr
Seton OF New Jersey, the preacher of the
day, stepped to the front of the platform.
Mgr. Seton's Sermon.
When he began his sermon there was a
crowd present that quite filled the big ex-
cavation, and the scene was rather a re-
markable one. Every word that he uttered
was listened to with the closest attention.
Mgr. Seton took for the text the 18th
verse of the 9th chapter Of Sd Kings re-
ferring to the command for the building
OF the temple. Gods first law Is order said
the preacher. The Catholic Church is the
greatest teacher of subordination to proper
discipline The ritual of the church pro-
vides this and provides that in the LAYING
OF the corner stone superior, in this case
Cardinal Gibbons, must decide whether
the time, place and circumstances are such
as to warrant the beginning of new edi-
| flee. Mgr. Seton congratulated his brother.
the pastor of st. Matthew's Church who
would be the builder and pastor of this
the greater ST. Matthews, on this auspi-
cious occasion. On such an occasion as
this there is set up the standard of Christ
a cross; not handsome stone cross but
one of simple wood. for it was on such a
one this that Christ gave UP his life
Blessed be the wood by which Justice
came"
Form to Re Observed.
The stone itself must have a certain form.
| Solomon ordered a great stone, square
stone and a handsome stone, for nothing
is too good, nothing is good enough for God
! The corner stone Of every Catholic church
represents a symbol of Christ who is the
corner stone himself of our faith, our hope,
our love. Princes and kings sent handsome
stones for the temple. bue ed said, Put
not your faith in princes nor in the sons of
| men, The Catholic Church being the
church of the people, must be supported by
| the people.
The preacher spoke Of the need for gen.
erous giving on behalf Of the church. 1t is
more blessed to give than to receive, and
penny piety is poor sort of piety.
The Glory of the Day.
He then went on to speak of the glory
and the beauty Of the day, our national day
of thanksgiving, and paid an eloquent trib-
ute to the meaning of the American flag
| with which his eXtemporiZed desk was
draped. A man who is truly religious will
be truly patriotic, for Christ himself laid
special stress upon the duty of man to rem
/ a.
as well as to God the things that are Gods
/ Mgr Seton closed his sermon with an elo-
quent appeal for interest in the children,
! for 1t Is they to whom the future of this
country and of the church must be in
| trusted.
His sermon was quite brief one. 1t was
delivered in a loud, clear voice that was
easily heard throughout the entire assem-
| blage.
The Cardinals Address.
! He was followed by Cardinal Gibbons,
who made eloquent impromptu address
on the glories of Thanksgiving day and it's
! significance, especially to the Catholic peo-
pie today. as they laid the corner stone of
another handsome ecclesiastical monument
/ in this city, which used to be known as the
city of magnificent distances, but which
might now be called the city of magnificent
monuments.
| The ceremonies of the day were over
and the cardinal and his ATTENDANTS return
ed to the house and removed their vest
ments. The crowd then had a closer view
! of the corner stone, which they found to
I be large, plain block of granite There
was nothing in the front, except a cross
with A. d. 1893, in the corners of the arms
! Some of the clergy taking part in the
! ceremonies were entertained al lunch bv
Father Lee at the pastoral residence, I4l5
/ II street. Mr.. Helm. the architect was
present and Superintended the setting of
! the stone. The firm of which he is the
head are the architects of the proposed
/ Episcopal Cathedral of st. John the Divine
which is to be erected in New York city.
| History of the Church.
| The corner stone Of the present st. Mat
thew's Church was laid on the Feast of St.
Matthew. September 81, 1888, by Arch
bishop Eccleston. Two years later, on the
same day, it was dedicated by the arch
bishop. and on May Is. 1912, he solennly