New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-26

AT MASS IN ST MlCHAEiS'
slums There are ten brick buildings along the
streets and almost no modern tenements. White
frame houses and little else greet the eve. and in
the midst Of these this tiny Church Of St Michael
the Archangel approa ched by two narrow flights
OF steps leading TO an nclosed stoop. seems much
\ In place.
Tho building Is nifty years Old but II was built
strongly and 10 last by honest old Presbyterian
hands the burghers Of Brooklyn town. and does
not show its age. For many years one Of the
first Presbyterian congregations Of Brooklyn wor-
shipped within its walls. departing finally TO erect
pretentious structure. As ST. CASHIERS
then the church of Polish Catholics. the Poles
having invaded this part of the city. II continued
its existence, and three years ago when the Poles
moved uptown. 1t became an Italian sanctuary.
wretchedly poor but gradually getting pictur-
| sequences and color that neither the Presby-
| terians nor the Poles gave It,
In It's interior to-day be many traces Of
| its former occupants blending strangely with the
| sensuous and rnany-toned decorations common 70
| Italian Catholicism. The Presbyterianism Of the
old building shows in the straight galleries and
the f-backed. narrow pews. while, pushed to one
SIDE in full view. though longer in use, Is the
high. massive pulpit. suitable for building of
three times its size. that st. Casimr's priest once
stood IN
The only signs that mark this building standing
the corner of Lawrence and Hillary SITS. as
church the placards of the sexton its front
| and a tiny gold the ridgepcle. Otherwise
the exterior is prosaic and the structure ordinary
| Inside the curious features are at once apparent
1t might be some wayside worshipping place on
one of the roads Just outside of Naples. or In
Sicily for affairs statues and drapery are alike
| primitive and simple and of the poorest sort. In
the straight acked pews that Presbyterians once
sat IN now crouch tattered. dirty old peasant
women. as thoroughly italian as if they had never
left that country. counting their beads and gazing
with rapt alteration at Santa Maria Assunta or St
Michael portrayed in plaster crudely and with
wealth of brilliant colors. in the act of Staying the
| dragon.
At ! O'Clock in the morning on week days. when
the mass is said or $50 and 1890 on Sundays
are the only times when this church is usually
OPEN though vespers are held through certain
| months in the year Sundays the pews are weV
filed with laborers and their wives. the poorest
class of the Italians in this vicinity. Other Italian
churches have their comparatively wealthy men,
this parish, though it is wide in extent ana ooasts
nearly five thousand souls. has none dime
dropped In the box at service Is munihceht con-
tribution even five-cent pieces are rare 1t Is the
tradition in many quarters that. outside OF the
maintenance of the priest Father Garofalo. who Is
cared for at the Brothers house. opposite the Ola
Cathedral Of Brooklyn. In Jay-st. this little church
is $50 year.
The story Is tod also that this priest Is 4 scion
OF an Italian family OF standing. who has sunk hm-
self in this corner 20 help his countrymen 10 Ane'
on Whether this tale be true or not. II u certain
that Father Garofao Is man VI me PEI b "a
for several years. professor IN e h ~ he
shoulders his sole assistants being TWO boys OF Ten
or twelve. MS acolyies e 49, i. s.a,s
He breaches his sermons from the ne, aitar s s
feeling more in touch with The poor VINO constitute
his whole parish. as he stands there man II ne NJ
the poverty OF the surroundings. the scene AZ ear!
mass is an impressive one. BEFORE the pleSlhi 'le
rows OF women in garb of many coors. Neapohtahs
In the mdorty, with their br-Sht keitsle - an
hits OF coiored glass ornaments. Behind MN are
/ 4l-
| The altar itself L. painted wood a CLASSY VIII 20
represent marble and adorned win strlps Oh 20.
RACK OF il H. niche built out from the wall tntrd
in pale blue and framed with wo white p'iSrS ' q
either side between each OF which !. par e or
red Atop OF ne altar IS Pastsr e and u sr
higher hung on the wall OF the meme an e"'h' %
/ CHRIS; Oh the Cross. - .A,s
simple altar iIStaE ~ rita s. Aesunta likewise
Though Of no value work Of art ana Tesernolhs
closely The roadside im1ses IN shrin, ,r Aong me
breathe forth comfort upon The lneeng ~orkerS OF
The slums VINO S1'Wyg i, 4ssnns and wildly p!c
me rich, hand Of the al,ar in anoiher case
1rason lie j. knight IL mall, win RODE u
n DIns I he ceiling in biz oil painting The res Of
the ceiling walls - abso'u.,.i W., - c,r If
h on alter Is furnished by lie curtain, o. pinksh
calico mat waE kama IN h %, S the pnk covered
with some material o. whiIe , 1nSe ie' "a, man
show through s., Al ,ba /" meant 10 initiate
painted srflr of many veins Jusi before he altar
Rangs lamp that gives faint g'ih' Oh ''s"' o"'''
"onnosjte the altar. in the gallery !; an ot f
mai Gould scarcely be smaller \, oafr ro ig 9be
b"ad Of man Of average sze Anythinee NOR
M "a more distinctly quaint ana prlnnllNt u
ocu an hhsrd 70 imagine. Four young girls ana
two bows sing This organ; strains e@ nne pari Of
me ns pban and having his little choir sing 5aek
cross The church their melodlc Tesponnses rdnss
araa ard move method h" has adoptcd 20 aIouse
Etnf n ana in the betterknown airs many
~ s congrccation Join. Some curious ana .rM
OF tne I'D frequently on Sundays Issuing rom
,b windows Of this curious SANCTUARY ana I'm
eht. 30 he nriosi has adapted some arlds Hp p
STU "a "a raiian operas and has them sung Dy 'hls
VII and himself charming the ears OF NE nr't 90
people o, Southern ialy. Tor "hoH' IT. = s''''o