The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-05-28

Last Sunday and an Account OF
the Solemn Ceremonies.
Cardinal Gibbons arrived in Fred
erick at Ills a. m, last Friday morn
Ing. He was met by the Rev. Rector
OF the Novitiate, J. H. O'Rourke, S. j.,
and by the Pastor of st. Johns
Church, Rev. FIR. Giraud, S. j., and
after quiet greeting His Eminence
was Immediately driven to the Novi-
tiate. AS he stepped into the house he
saw the whole community assembled
together 10 receive him. Immediate
ly and with one accord all knelt for
his blessing, and the picture of the
white haired prelate, trembling with
emotion and invoking upon the bowed
heads of his children the blessing of
their common Father, was a vivid
representation of the true filial ac.
acknowledgement of authority granted
from on high.
His Eminence spent the afternoon
in visiting the convent and comforting
with the Reverend Mother on the well
fare of the institution.
The evening was passed in CONVEX
sation with the students of the Novi-
tiate. Saturday morning he said Mass
at the Convent, called on some per-
sonal friends and later in the day, to-
gether with Rev. Father O'Rourke, s.
j., Caughy and Giraud, S. j., drove
to Urbana, where he dined at Box.
wood Lodge with Mr.. and Mrs. Dixon
Walker.
The Cardinal celebrated Mass for
the children on Sunday morning and
took great pleasure in administering
to them their first communion. Rev.
Hector Pappi, S. j., former Secretary
to Cardinal Satolli in his office of
Apostolic Delegate to America, as
sisted.
1t was, however, at the 10 o'clock
Mass that His Eminence appeared in
all his dignity, enhanced as it was by
the magnificent ceremonial of Grand
High Mass.
The preparations for the occasion
had been extensive. The church was
decorated profusely. The massive
lines of the imposing edifice were sof-
tened by the tasteful and lavish ar
rangement, of the plants and flowers.
The air was heavy laden with the per-
fume of roses. The altar was one
blaze of light while the whole sanct-
uary was shrouded in a golden cloud
of incense. The magnificent vest
ments of the celebrant aud assistants,
the strains of the old Gregorian chant,
which rose alternately from each side
of the church, only to have its echoes
caught and re-echoed aud blended in
sweetest harmony from the other; the
more modern but no less beautiful mu-
sic of the choir; the large community
from the NOvitiate, their black robes
relieved by SUPPLIES, all combined to
take one back to the middle centuries
and effected scene, once witnessed,
not easily to be forgotten.
When those to be confirmed had
taken their places the first notes of
"Sacris Solemnis" reached in faint
tones the ears of the congregation;
they came nearer and nearer
until suddenly the whole volume of
the Novitiate choir, about $50 voices,
swelled through the church. Soon His
Eminence had taken his place on the
throne to the right of the altar; the
priests advanced to the foot of the al
tar; the choir of the Novitiate took their
places in the chancel, and the "Kyrie
Eleison" summoned the hearts of the
people into the presence of their God.
The celebrant was Rev. Father
Caughy, of st. Stephens, Washing
ton, ID. c. Rev. John Greene. S. j.,
was Deacon, with Rev Edwin Nc
Grath, S. j., as ub.deacon. Rev. Hec-
tor Pappi officiated as assistant priest.
Rev. j. HI. ORourke, S. j., and Rev.
John A. Moore, S. j., were deacons of
honor. Master of Ceremonies was filled
by Mr. Edward Sweeney, S. j., with
Mr.. John F. Melyleyn as assistant.
The choir must be compimented on
their excellent rendering of the most
difficult music. Prof Bion Flrestone
displayed and even surpassed his
wonted skill at the organ. Mrs. Hay
don was in excellent voice, while Mrs.
Allen and Miss Lucy Eisenhauer were
heard and appreciated as never before.
But the "Veni CREATOR and "Bene-
dictus" by the Novitate choir were
above criticism aud did great justice to
GOunod.
The Cardinals sermon on "Christian
Faithn was an earnest, eloquent dis
course, which seemed to gather force
from the circumstances. AS he dwelt
on the fact that exterior ceremony was
only the expression of the interior
faith, Catholic ceremonials appeared to
gain a deeper meaning than before.
The children, too, will long remember
the warm, feeling words addressed par
to them.
After the ceremonies, His Eminence
dined at the Novitiate; and in the af-
ternoon, attended by Rev. Father
O'Rourke, s. j., Rev. Father Cauhy
and Rev. Father Giraud, s. j., was
Dy the Catholic Club of
Frederick, the members having pre-
pared a reception at the Novitiate
Villa. Needless to say the hour spent
with the young men proved not only
extremely pleasant for all, but useful
as well. The time had passed only too
quickly when Rev. FIR. O'Rourke, s.
]. -, came to take His Eminence away.
AS he rose to take his leave the presi-
dent of the club in a short, but express
sive speech, thanked the Cardinal for
the pleasure he had afforded them, and
concluded by styling him, as he said
with pride "America's great Ameri-
can Cardinal"
Cardinal Gibbons responded in his
impressive manner by dilating upon