The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-23

Scranton yesterday witnessed Il ccre-
mony the like oi which is not given to
men To s"r more than one" in Il lifetime,
the elevation of Il priest To the dignity
of the cpiScopate, Il ceremony which,
with the one unusual execution. the
decoration of II cardinal. is the most
solemn and Elaborate in the ritual of
the Roman Catholic church. outside of
The Roman curia. by this ceremony
Rev. Michael j. iIohan, of Ashley. be
cam" bishop of Alalia and coadjutor
bishop of the diocese of Scranton, with
the right of succession in ease of his
surviving the present venerable occu-
pant "f the see. Rt Rev. William
O'iiara.
While a conservation must neces-
sarily of itself be elaborate according
to the prescriptions of the ritual, the
grandeur and solemnity of yesterdays
event was far beyond what Is pre-
scrihed. Three bishops are essential to
a conservation, but yesterday there
We're thirteen. including a cardinal and
an archbishop. the one Satolli. fore
most member of the sacred congrega-
tOn, personal representative of the
pope in America and a possible success
sor to the papacy: the other II leading
member of the American hierarchy and
one Of the greatest minds of our coun-
try. reverod by Catholic and Protest
ant alike or his learning. liberalty and
patriotism. Then in addition tn these
prclatcs there We're present all the
priests of the diocese and many Others
from distant places. numbering in all
over an, hundred and tifty ma K ing the
whole number of vested clergymen
who participated in the ceremony eN-
cecd one hundred and seventy
The congregation which witnessed
the event was probably the largest and
most representative that ever filled the
cathedral. Every seat was crowded
and every inch of standing room was
occupied while outside the church
thousands thronged the entrance to
view the procession and catch n
glimpse of the dicnitaries 1t was the
tiist time that such an event took place
in this diocese. and If Bishop Hoban.
who is n comparatively young man. is
spared to enjoy the biblical allotment
"t years. it will possibly he three de-
cades before such another event hap
pens here again.
ThiS being 50 the interest which at
ta"hcd to il was extraordinary The
day evening and the parade jointly in
honor of the cardinal and the new
bishop in which 10000 men participat-
ed and four times as many more peo-
pie witnessed. was the first and most
pronounced evidence of the intense en-
thusiasm stirred up by the occasion.
Then the demand for tickets of admis-
sion to the consecratior service coming
from all parts of the diocese and the
IL
tended to prominent citizens not aflil-
utdd with the church bespoke further
the fervency OF the widespread inter-
est
NO FLORAL DECORATIONS
The eye and ear were appe aled to in
every step OF the service The altar.
on accent OF it being Passion Sunday.
was devoid of floral or other gay deco
tons. which at all events would hardly
have been in Keeping with the solemn
occasion. but II could not have been
more picturesque than it was made by
the purple drapery artistically fes-
tooned and draped over the white mar
bl" and caught up with heavy white
cords and tasscis. the somewhat SOM
.her effect being dspelied by the pro-
fusion of tapars in their rich golden
candelahra.
Within the sanctuary most en-
trancins picture was presented The
officers of the mass. prelates and
priests in their rich and vari-colored
vestments filled the space inside the
rail. along which was fringed the line
of ordinaries. each in black cassock
aud white surplice. the whole calling
to mind "a beautiful flower garden en-
closed by "a hedge which served by its
monotonous plainness as striking
contrast for the garden beyond The
majestic beauty of the cathedral in
terror itself. it's frescoes. windows and
paintings. chandeliers and sanctuary
furnishings and the sea of faces he
holden from the front of the auditor
iun all cOnspired To form sight which
those who We're fortunate enough to
behold will not soon forget
The music of the choir and orchestra ra
the chanting of the litanies and
psalms by the great body of priests.
p<$i la$t but not least by any manner.
Ndc mastery sermon by the learned
aud elpque1t Bishop Horstmann. of
Cleveland. oil tended To make the occa
sion on4 Of the grandest and most
memorable in the church history Of
scrantonA And what more than any.