The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1896-11-24
PONTIFICAL MASS
AND BANQUET
RENDERED THE rev. BISHOP
MEERsCHAERT SUNDAY.
TRIBUTE OF POHP AND SPLEEDOS
Elaborate Ceremonies Attend the Conse
Grafton OF the bishop who Passes The
Twepty-Ftfth Mile Post OF Or
dInation- The Clergymen Present
and the Exercises OF sunday.


The silver sacerdotal jubilee of the
Right Reverend Theophile Nicer
schaert, bishop Of oklahoma and In
dian territories, came to a close with
the celebration OF pontifcial high
mass by the right reverend iubilarian
and brief but eloquent sermon by
Archbishop Janssens, Of New Orleans
at the Catholic pro-cathedral in this
city at l0:30 o'clock Sunday morning.
Admission was by ticket and before
the hour of the celebration had arrived
every seat in the large church was
6lled, the audience comprising the
leading people OF Guthrie irrespective
Of religious belief The most promi-
nent business and professional men of
the city were there with their fami-
lies uniting with the congregation to
show their respect FOR the worthy bis
hop who has labored so zealously for
the cause of Christ in the two terri.
tories during the past Eve years, ex-
tending the scope of the Catholic work
and Increasing the membership and
influence Of the denomination in a
manner unprecedented.
AS the cathedral bell peeled forth
the appointed hour procession was
formed at the bishops residence com
posed OF the jubilarian and other
church dignitaries and about thirty
visiting priests and marched around
through the great front doors and up
the center aisle to their respective
places within the chancel rail, where
scene Of rich -Spiendor greeted the
eyes OF all.
The finest vestryments Of the altar
were brought out in lace and gold
The altar vessels, many OF which
came from New Orleans and Chicago
especially for the occasion, were o
pure beaten gold. The bishops anC
priests, numbering over forty, were
arrayed in gold, purple and lace sur
pliees and garments such as are worr
IN oL, EeleI = AT hOme.
The services which followed wer,
the most solemn and impressive tina
have ever taken place in the territory
Bishop Meerschaert ofiiciated at thu
mass, being assisted 10y Bishop Fitz
gerald, OF Little Rock, Ark. and Bis
hop Dunno, of Dallas, Texas; Fathe
Thomas, abbott OF Sacred Heart, ant
anumber Of other priests from varlou
stations ia the diocese. The musi; b,
the U. 5 military orchestra, from For
Reno, was delightful and the singinl
by select chcir was treat such a
has seldom been accorded a Guthri
audience The female voices, com
posed mostly OF sisters OF mercy from
the various institutions OF the terri
tory, were led by Mrs II. II. Hagan
OF this city, whose magnificent voice
is well known 10 the people Of Guth
rie. Mr.. and Mrs. Geer, Of lei Reno
also added much to the success Of th
musical part, both having fine voices
The entire musical corps was com
posed OF the following persons, il
charge OF Rev. Boreman, organist:
Direetor-Mr. Lukee.
Violin-Mr. Lehr
Violencella-Mr. Gallaher.
Clarionet-Pedro Romero,
Choruses-Soprano, Mrs. Geer OF L
Reno; Mrs. Hagan, Guthrie. Alto
Mrs. Naethigall and Sisters, OF Excel
sior, o. T. Tenor, Mr. Lehn and Sis
ters. Bass, NJ. A. Geer, O'Brien ant
Rev. A. Janssens, Of New Orleans.
The scene in the church as the cele
brants were passing TO and fro, kneel
ing before the altar, saluting TIA,
images and each other, and perform
ing the various other Offices. was both
beautiful and impressive.
The altar was magnihcently deco
rated with flowers, floral emblems and
great masses Of palms as emblematiC
OF the victory Of Christ aud his church
over sin and death, together with
costly fittings Of the shrinas. the beau
tiful images and the rich robes anc
vestments Of priest and bishop making
q scene long to be borne in the mindl
OF all who witnessed as one inspiring
both by its beauty and its saeredness
There were two elaborate thrones
In front Of the altar. On the west sa
Bishop Meerschaert and opposite him
on the east side Arch Bishop Jannsens
The other two lesser thrones were fol
Bishops. .Fitzgeralds and Dunno. Arch
Bishop Janssens preached brief bu
highly ediiylng sermon. lie spokl