The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-18
The Fine Structure Packed to
the Doors, While Hundreds
Stand Outside.
TRIBUTE TO FATHER NUGENT.
To the Pastors Efforts Is Due the
Erection of This Handsome Place
of Worship.

EUREKA, CAL, Aug. 1.-THE beauti-
full new Catholic church at Ferndale was
opened and dedicated to-day by Right
Rev. T. Grace D. D., Bishop of Sacra-
mento. The ceremony was most solemn
and impressive. High mass was cele-
brated at II o'clock, at which the pastor,
Rev. T. Nugent, was assisted by Rev. H.
P. Wyman and Rev. A. NJ. Clark, Paulist
fathers from San Francisco.
The sacred edifice was crowded to the
doors, visitors from Eureka, bonneville
and surrounding towns being in attend
ance. ALI the available space in the
church was filled and hundreds of people
were unable to gain admittance. The new
church is of the Gothic style of architec-
ture, admirable in proportion, beautiful
in design and cost many thousands of dol
lars. 1t stands as monument to the zeal
of the pastor, Rev. Thomas Nugent, and
is credit to the people of the parish, who
can congratulate themselves on the pos
session of magnificent church entirely
free from debt.
The town of Ferndale, the headquarters
OF the parish, is situated in the richest
portion of the Eel River Valley. Its citi-
zens are hospitable and liberal and all
shades of religious belief shared with their
Catholic brethren to-day in celebrating
this event, the dedication of an edifice to
the service of God.
The sermon was delivered By Rev.
Father Wyman of San Francisco. This
gentleman needs no introduction to the
people of California. His discourse was
able, eloquent and appropriate, and held
tho aud iapco cy1o1lhonpd IN tho
The music was rendered by ST. Ber-
nard's choir OF Eureka, under the direction
of Miss Clara Dawson, the organist, with
the assistance of some of the foremost vo-
calists of this county. Following were the
singers: Sopranos-Misse Buhne and Bell
and Mrs. allaghan; contraltos- Mesdames
NJ. Christie. ]. P. Monroe and Miss Schal-
lert; tenors-Messrs. N. Mcmillan, Perry
and II. Deering; bassos-Messrs, j. P.
Monroe, w. Decantillon and Belcher.
Millard's beautiful mass in G was never
more artistically sung.
The magnificent new edifce could not
have been opened under circumstances
more avorable. The presence of his Lord
ship, Bishop Grace of Sacramento, the
opening of mission by Rev. Fathers
Wyman and Clark of the Paulist order,
and the celestial strains pealing forth from
the organ loft, all tended to make the oc-
casion imposing and impressive and a fit
ting presentation of house of worship
to God.
The pastor of this thriving congrega-
ton, Rev. Thomas Nugent, assumed man
agement of the Ferndale parish about
three years ago. He has already dem.
onstrated his executive ability as
financier by erecting and freeing from
debt the most beautiful house of worship
in this part of Humboldt County and a
church that in point of style, artistic dec
Grafton and general finish will compare
favorably with the most pretentious sacred
edifices of this character in Northern CAL
ifornia. Father Nugent's fame, however,
does not rest alone in his ability to build
up and pay for this magnificent temple,
dedicated to-day to Gods service. He is
withal an orator of recognized ability,
logical reasoner, scholar whose talents
and learning have more than once made
him the champion of his peopie-a
patriotic American citizen who only asks
for that boon of political and religious
freedom which is the foundation-sto of
our Republics greatness and grandeur.
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