Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-06-26
CEREMONIES
In Laying the Corner Stone 81
the Parochial School Build
@ ing Sunday.
Mayor Richardson and Bishop
Marty Speak--A Large
Number Present.

Notwithstanding the extreme heat
OF Sunday afternoon the people OF
this city and 1.-THE surrounding COM
munities turned out en- nlasse to
witness the ceremonies OF laying the
corner stone of the parochlal school
building. The school building,
which is now in course Of construc-
ton, ia being built on the vacant lot
adjoining that on which the German
English Catholic church stands, on
Fourth street southeast. VA
The ceremonies were conducted In
the open air. and the streets In that
vicinity were throngel with people
eager to hear the words of the
speakers. -: &<@%@
Just as the ceremonies were to be-
gin an accident occurred, which.
though it delayed the proceedings,
fortunately resulted without injury
to anyone. The grand stand, ON
which the speakers stood, and also
occupied by the Little Falls court Of
the Catholic Order OF Forresters and
a number of other citizens by special
invitation, gave way, and all it's oc-
cupants were precipitated to the
ground. The accident was due to
the frail support of the stand.
which was not intended for the
heavy weight that was upon it. %
The accident occurred just as
Mayor Richardson was to begin his
address. The delay Occasioned. after
it was found that no one was hurt,
was but a few moments. E
Mounted upon the half-cOmpleted
wall of the school building Mr.. Rich
ardson gave very interesting
speech. Although claiming to belong
to no creed, he spoke highly OF the
work of the Catholic churches. He
welcomed the new institution In the
interests of education, and hoped for
it all the success that it's promoters
anticipated. He also reviewed some
of the early history OF the Catholic
church in this county, and paid an
eloquent tribute to Fathers Pierz
and Buh, whom he met here when he
first came to this locality over forty
years ago. Mayor Richardson's
remarks were received with vigorous
hadnclapping and other evidences OF
approval. fG
Bishop Martin Marty. Of the ST,
Cloud diocese, followed Mayor Rich
ardson, and his discourse was
listened to by the vast assemblage
with great interest. The distin-
guished prelate took for the subject
of his address, "The necessity Of Il
Christian Education" Bishop Marty
is an eloquent and forcible speaker
and his remarks in well chosen
words were logical and convincing.
He paid high compliment to the
public schools, stating that SO far as
preparing child for the needs OF
this world they were sufficient. lbut
he argued that religious training
should be added to that to fit them
for the life everlasting.
The laying of the cornerstone, a
huge block OF granite, bearing the
inscription, "a. D., 1885," was then
conducted with appropriate cere-
monies. The stone was placed in
position by Bishop Marty and his
assistants, and upon the building
and the purpose for which it will be
used the blessing of the Divine
Father was invoked with impressive
and appropriate ceremonies. A
large cavity was left in the stone
in which was placed a bottle con.
tanning church documents andcopies
of the three local newspapers, all
of which had published articles
relating to the building now in
course OF construction.
In addition to the several societies
from outside the city there were a |
number Of distinguished persons
present. including priests from sew
eral surrounding towns, .and Father
Stephan. of Washington, d. C.
Father Stephan has been connected
with tie Indian bureau for many
years, and is upward of seventy-five
years of age. This venerable old
priest received his first commission
from "Old Honest Abe" Lincoln.
and was an estimable friend of the
assassinated president. Father
Stephan conducted the services at
the French Catholic church in the
morning.
The song services, both at the
church during the morning services,
and at the ceremonies of laying the
cornerstone, were led by the choir OF
twenty voices of the Immaculate
Conception church of St. Cloud.
The morning services in the Ger
man Catholic church were conducted
bv BfshOD Marty. and his subject |