The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-02
GIVEN over TO God.
Impressive Ceremonial Attends the
Exercises of Dedication at the
New German Catholic Church.

ltuuduJ uDOu SuCn OCCdslOllot A9 bhV
hour drew near for the dediCatory ex.
ercisps at 10 o'clock the pretty edilice
was filled with dsvout worshipperS.
Promptly on the strol-e Of the hour the
procession moved into the sanctuary
from the sachristY adjoining and
moved down the center aisle to the ex-
terror of ths editics in the following or
der: Rev. Father Fricker. cross bearer;
Rev. Fathers Bilstein and Crane, deacon
and sub-deacon; Very Rev. Bishop
OHara, celebraut; and Rev Father
Golden, master of ceremonies, aud
acolyte5 bearing lighted candles.
After chanting the psalms and
sprinkling the building with holy
water, the procession re entered the
church in the same order and proceeded
to the altar railing, chanting psalms
and responses as they went along. a
tour of the interior was next made, the
bishop sprinkling holy water on the
walls as the procession moved along
until they arrived at the point of start
ing. This closed the dedicatory service
and the entire party retrsated to the
sachristy to prepare for the celebration
of the solemn high mass which fol.
lowed.
THE MASS SERVICE.
After the altar had been arranged
this beautiful service was begun with
Rev. Father Nagle as celebraut; Rev,
Father Christ, as deacon; Rev. + ather
Fricker suo-deacon; Rev. f ather
Golden, master of ceremonies; Rev
Ir.4Lo., C,,no on5 Viator1Cpolyi 6aocnn
and sub.deacon of honor. Seated with
in the sanctuary railing were RightRev.
Bishop O'Hara, Rev. Fathers Crane, Nc
Cabe, Bilstsin, Zatrozynski. and Mon
siguor Toner of Roma During the
progress of the mass the choir rendered
several pretty selections bsftting the
impressive occasion.
FATHER CHRIsT's ADDRESS
Rev. Father Christ of Scranton, d.,
livered an excellent address in German,
taking for his text Psalm l21-1, Il re-
joiced at the things that were said tO
me: we shall go into the house Of God
and supplemented it with several bib
lical extracts He said:
"Among the prayers which the Ger
emonial prescribes for the dedication OF
a church is to be found in the psalm
from which our text is taken. 1t was
written by King David for the Pilgrims,
who annually visited the temple al
Jerusalem on certain great feasts
When the time for those pilgrimages
was approaching, those intending to
participate would call to one another
we are going to the temple of Godl
We have today come into this new
house of God; hence our joy and glad
ness so truly expressed by the psalmist.
Il rejoiced at the things that were
said TO me; we shall go into the house
of God Our joy on this occasion i:
twofold.
First. A natural joy; we have
exchanged an old church for a new
one.
Second. A supernatural joy,
which is based in four motives.
"First motive. We have done q
good work. We have reared temple
to God. Glory, honor. peace to every
one who doeth good. Rom. 2, 10.
Second motive God has accepted
our good work and taken up his abode
lulS udy III Jul hON OluLCus DDIOlu
the tabernacle of God with men.
Apoc. 81, 3. How terrible is this
place, we must exclaim with Jacob
This is no other than the house o
God, and the gate of heaven Gen,
%. H. For there now dwells here 'H9
whom the heaven of heavens cannot
contain Kings 28 H.
Third motive-The God who dwells
here is not merely God of alteration
hut also God of grace and every help,
From this altar, the throne Of grace
He wishes to transmit grace aud helr
to all. through holy mass, through the
sRcralnents. Even the dead are moi
forgotten. Your new church Just
dedicated is house of grace, because
God, who dwells in it, is pre- eminently
the God of grace.
Fourth motive-The God VIII
dwells here is the God of truth ard
justice Truth and justice you will bt
taught here in the sermons and in
structions Going, therefore, teacl
ye all nations, teaching them to oh
serve all things whatsoever l have
commanded you Matb. 2S,29, This i
the priests divine commission. HI
must teach you Gods truth that yoI
may believe His will that you may full
fill it.
BISHOP oHARA SPEAKS.
Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Hara ascended tn
altar steps prior to the closing Of tn
mass and made short address. H
said: Dearly beloved, it gives m
great pleasure to greet you on thi
happy New Year. and to congratulate
you on the result of your efforts Also
your worthy pastor for what he ha
accomplished in rearing this structure
in the selection Of the pictures, tn
tasty painting. Again, congratulate
you and wish you every happiness ant
JOY" The service was brought to
close by Bishop OF a pronouncinl
the benediction.
CONFIRMATION EXERCISES.
In the afternoon a class Of eight,
children were confirmed by Bisho
O'Hara The service was a beautifu
one and was witnessed by large nun
ber of the children's parents. A dis
cription Of the exterior having appeare
heretofore in the columns of THE TRIT
UNE an account Of the interior finish
all that is necessary. The auditorium
has a seating capacity of 50(
A gallery, capable of seating 10
persons on which is erected the lSrg
pipe organ extends from one side of th
building to'the other The walls are Q
sand finish with plaster paris orna
ments. Fourteen beautiful stane
glass figured windows afford ampl
light and present pretty appearance
when the sunlight sheds its soft ray
through them. The seats are large an
comfortable, and are of quartered oa
finished in oil. The woodwork is {
yellow pine with natural finish
The large altar and the two locate
on each side are plain in appearance
but rich In simplicity. They are pur
white, finished in gold, and denot
much taste in design and fnist
Twenty-four. gas jets distribute