Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-06-17

AS whole, the singing was among the
best ever heard in this city. The Or
ganists were Miss Annie Kearn and
Mr.. Joseph M. Monroe, assisted by Mr.
Edward Dunn, yiolinist.
AS has been before stated, the pres.
emit church is of cathedral proportions
and is truly an imposing structure
This building is rs feet front by l25
deep and 40 feet high, with wings on
each side, and has seating capacity Of
about 1000. The steeple is l27 feet
from the ground to the tip of The eros;
which surmounts it. The walls a.,
of brick, while the front and seeple are
of greyish sandstone. The cost of re.
building the edifce was nearly $4,000.
The interior of the church is equally
as handsome as the exterior. The
colors, terra Gotta, are soft, and the
shading good. while the frescoing isex.
ceedingly fine. The brass altar rail is
also very handsome.
Bishop Van De Vyver has risen rap.
idly in the ministry. He is native Of
Belgium anG is but AZ years old. He
has been "a years in this country, most
of which time he has spent in Virgnia
to which State he is devotedly attach.
ed. He was made bishop in 1852. after
having served as vicar general of the
diocese. The bishop is. an eloouent
and fluent speaker, has fine presence
with rather military features, as shown
in his picture.
Rev. Father Carne, who assisted at
the morning mass and who otficiated at
the vespers, left this evening for Rich
mond. His many friends in this city
were glad to see him looking so well.
While the music at both services was
exceptionally good, and the members
of both choirs acquitted themselves
admirably, the concensus of opinion
was that the voices of the Alexandra
ladies were equally as musical and
well-trained as those of the visitors, and
in these commencement" days it can
be said that Mrs. Monroe, Mrs. Brill
and Miss Greenwell deserve special
mentor. The instrumental portion Of
the orchestra was composed of the organ
and violin.
The members Of the Y. NJ. S. l.. at
tended the morning services in body.
They ali wore their sodality badges
and occupied seats in the gallery of the
north wing. A number of members of
different Catholic societies of Washing,
ton were also present.
The congregations at St. Mary's
Church both yesterday morning and
at night were about the largest that
ever gathered at any church edifce in
this city. Members of every other con-
gregation in the city were present. The
Mayor, members of the City Council
and other city officials occupied chairs
Immediately in front of the altar.
The affairs in the church were beau.
tifully banked with lovely flowers and
handsome growing palms, On the
main altar lilies and other white flow
ers were chiefly used in the decorations,
which, with the brilliant candles, pre-
sented beautiful appearance.
After the services at st. Mary's Church
yesterday the members of St. Mary's
Conference of the Society ofSt. Vincent
of Paul, called upon Bishop Van De
Vyver at the pastoral residence and
were severally introduced to hm
W 0uSh ~ eSioohu, 1ur. henry y. NeN-
EFT He addressed them in a few en-
couraging and commendatory words,
and gave them his blessing.
The writer Of the sketch of the his
tory of st. Mary's Church, published in
the issue of Saturday, tells US that he
made mistake concerning tho ances-
try of the present pastor, who is not
old enough to be the son of q revou-
tionary soldier, He thinks he wrote
grandson. 1t seems, however, that his
grandfather was not in the military but
10 the naval service of Congress, and
that he was consequently not captured
at Bunker Hill, but ON a continental
velSel Of 1uor