Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-29
OA THE SOUTH HIGHLANDS
Beautiful St. Mary'S Church to
 Be Dedicated Today.
A MONUMENT OF DEVOTION
It Is an Ornament to the Architectural Ap- pearance of the City and Is All Free
 of Debt

The dedication of St. Nary's church to- day is an event of more than ordinary interest in ecclesiastical circles, and is also notworthy in our civic life, as a cor allary to the progress of Birmingham, both morally and materially. In no city less progressive than Birmingham could so beautiful and costly a church ediice have been erected anG freed from debt in so short time and in such a period of financial stringency. To have accom- plished this feat in times of ordinary bu- siness prosperity would have been an arduous undertaking. and to have achieved the result in the past few months. while the country was in the throes of financial strangulation, was but little less than miracle. But St. Mary s has arisen from the foaming breakers, and stands strengthened and purified by the struggle. Freed from the canker Of debt, she is today like the sacrificial lamb of old, without spot or blemish, and will be laid upon the altar as an offering to the Lord.
 The world may never know of the de- Votion and self-sacrifice of the vestry of St. Mary's in accomplishing this glorious result. As able coadjutors they have had the ladies of St. Mary's. These mo- ble daughters ofthe chruch have devoted themselves, heart and soul, to the cause and can truly felicitate themselves upon their success. In the midst of their ar duous labor of love they have found time to establish a mission in the su- burbs and have carried refreshment to soul and body of the needy. The distin- gushing trait of St. Mary's parish is a broad, catholic, Christian spirit. The rector has impressed his breadth and depth of soul upon his flock. He pos sesses the Pauline spirit of charity to- ward all and malice toward none, and he is beloved by saint and sinner, bond and free, Jew and gentle. The extent of h!s sympathies gives him powerful lever age for good. Possibly under some other rector St. Mary's would in the course of time and the growth of the city have reached its present magnificent propor- fionS, but surely under no other rector would 1t have done so in the short space of four years The growth of the parish from seven families to 116 families is sufficient evidence of the watchful care of the husbandman. The broad, catho- lie spirit of St. Mary's will now be felt more fully outside of its immediate par ish Having shaken off the shackles of debt, she will step forth into a wider field. Like the good housewife. she has set her own house in order before going forth on her mission of good work.
 In the ceremony at the church today the aesthetical feature of the Episcopal church will be prominent, for the mem bership cultivate whatsoever is lovely. The Gothic windows will be festooned with evergreens and the broad chancel will be ornamented with appropriate flowers, arranged by fair hands and giv- en by loving hearts. The music will be as grand as the occasion that it commem- orates. The line officers of the Second regiment. of which Rector FitzSimons is the honored chaplain, will attend in full uniform. The deed to the church will be laid on the altar and will be received by Bishop Jackson in behalf of the dio- cese of Alabama.
 In honor of this important church event there will be no morning services at the Chruch of the Advent in the city or in the Episcopal churches in the towns about Birmingham The Episcopalian population of Birmingham and vicinity and many friends in other denominations will gather en masse at St. Mary's in the morning to witness the imposing cere- mOnN.