Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-26
COLORED CATHOLICS
Dedication of St. Cyprian Parish
Church in East Washington.
CARDINAL GIBBONS WILL 0FFICIATE
The Rapid Progress of This Active,
Vigorous Parish.
BISHOP O'SULLIVAN HERE

The colored Roman Catholics residing in
the parishes of st. Peters and st. Joseph's
Churches in East washington-and there
are fully 1000 of them-now have a church
home which is one of the handsomest edi-
fees in this city. st. Cyprian Is the name
OF the newly organized parish, which has
heretofore been called st. Benedict's, but
not until 1t was decided to build new
church was the parish named by the car
dinaL This new structure is situated on
the northwest corner of 18th and c streets
southeast. and will be formally dedicated to
the worship OF God tomorrow morning
Rev. James R. Matthews, pastor of the
church, has perfected all arrangements for
tomorrow's services. which will be partici-
pated in by a number Of church dignitaries,
as well as by the members of the church
and their friends from the white churches.
The morning services will begin at 10
o'clock. when Cardinal Gibbons will dedi-
cate the church to religious uses. Follow
ing this. Bishop OSullivan of Mobile. Ala,
who was formerly stationed at ST. Peters
Church in this city. will sing the pontifical
mass, and DIR. O'Gorman of the Catholic
University will preach the sermon. 1t was
expected that Bishop Keane would per-
form this last part OF the ceremonies, but
owing TO indiSposition he found he would
be unable to attend, and DIR. O'Gorman was
selected il his stead Miss Herbert, who
presides At the organ, Will have charge of
the music. which Will be especially fine on
this occasion
While there will be no general turning out
OF the colored Catholic societies tomorrow
most OF the members of these organiza tons
VIII attend the services and show what they
are able to do when the occasion requires
their presence As the seating capacity OF
the church Is only about six hundred, there
N IA ~ @Nr all
viii visit the church, and the pew holders,
OF course, will have the preference.
An Active Pastor.
Father Matthews, pastor of the church
has been a hard worker in an effort to build
CD this place of worship for the colored
Catholics. and the members of the parish
appreciate the result of his labors. This,
however, is not his first undertaking of the
kind. he having built the Catholic church
at Curtis Bay. near Baltimore. Father
matthew's Is Only thirty-eignt years old. and
Is a native OF JOhnstown, Pa He attended
st Charles College and ST. Mary's Semi
nary, Baltimore. and was ordained a priest
In 1856 He was then sent to this city,
where he served for more than three years
as assistant pastor OF st. Peters Church.
" nile 50 engaged he won many friends in
East Washington, and 1t was with great
reluctance that the Pensioners parted with
him In 1890. when he was called away to
baltimore To take charge of the building of
the Curtis Bay church Having concluded
his labors in behalf of tine new church,
Rather Matthews was sent to this city as
pastor of TIE colored CONGREGATION known
as ST Beneiict's
The colored Catholics had worshiped at
81 refers and ST Joseph's churches, but
lney naturally wanted a home OF their own,
and 50 the old building that had been used
as parochial school was set apart for
them There the colored people worshiped
at the tine Of Father Matthew's return
March ~ IA ST
tons for the new building had been started
and the new pastor put his shoulder to the
wheel and moved along IN a business-like
manner, which resulted IN the early erec-
ton OF the new building.
The Corner stone Laid.
Arcntect Jon1 X Stack soon submitted
plans Tor the new structure. and the con-
tract was given to Mr.. Owen Donnelly
the weii-known builder in East Washing
Ton The ground was purchased about the
middle OF April, and on the last day OF
Jcly worxmen appeared and began the
worA OF digging the excavation. On the
Z4th OF September the corner stone was laid
ana The scene was an impressive one being
witnessed ~ fully 1900 people. In the
20 - aoe ncldent to the ceremonies nearly
al the Catholic organizations in the city
as Wei as several from Baltimore, took
part Chief Marshal John H Buscher Was
IN charge OF the parade. and he was as
Sts.eo oy the following aids: Fred Miller.
VIM Mcguire, Ed Casten, John Saeger'
George Don, John Ault, John Bligh. Henry
Ruppert, Al Dorr. ]. AIwine, j. III. Rup-
pert. Otto Rupert L. Howard. c. Krog-
man. John Collins. Marshall Smith, C. NV
ers. tr., Hugh Kane. John HaiIi PbiIin
Defer, George Killeen, George Ault, William
Auit, John W1ier. Andrew Dorr DR. Lot
tus. Isaiah Hatton, Francis Butler. N
Soates' l. Baer. Michael Keane, T. T.
heane, IT., r. Ostman, IsadOre Ebert. An
gust Hougman, J. H Buscher, jr., George
Maisak. Daniel Murphy, VIM. Muller ard
Willis J. Smith anu
This procession shoua5 tho ,,-rh -.
Catholic societies in the CITY. The ITnited