The weekly intelligencer., 1897-10-02

which will be remembered by many OF
orr citizens. This church was at the
sine of its completion a magnificent
structure. and was then the finest church
in Western Missouri. Scarcely had the
work on it Ipeen finished when the build
ing collapsed. This occurred about
twentr-four years ago. aud since that
time they have occupied their old church
buiIding in the western part of town.
Today they have recovered from the loss
which this blow was TO them financially
and otherwise. and their membership
now, at a conservative estimate, numbers
about 600; they are having built q church
which Will, when completed. be one OF
the best in this section of the country;
they have recovered from their temporary
back-set, and with the iiberality and gen.
erosity which religion implants In the
human heart, each member is giving as
much as he feels able to give toward
erecting a more commodious house Of
worship.
The Roman Catholic church. of which
the organization here Is only q small part,
Is the strongest religious organization 10
the world. 1t has played an important
part in the worlds history. 1t will per-
haps-be a surprise to many OF our readers
to know that the Roman Catholic church
has a membership OF more than SOC. .000,-
600. Their churches are established in
every cline and their missionaries have
been among the first and most jealous TO
90 forth and spread the gospel to all ha.
tions of a blessed Redeemer who came to
save the immortal souls of mankind.
Pushing far ont into the newly discovered
countries, their priests have established
missions, and there taught the wild saw
age the gospel given to man. They have
esta ablished schools in the wilderness
where the hardy frontiersman had just
come to traffic with the natives and
there they have taught the minds
which otherwise would have ever been
enveloped In the darkest ignorance to
grasp the grand ray OF intellectual light
which comes with the knowledge OF a
supreme being, Their church already
numbering 30O, O,0OO.o .o60 souls is growing
rapidly and is now stronger than at any
time since it's foundation. In the sorrow
which befell them here when they saw
their magnificent church lying in ruins,
they had the sympathy of all. And now
having decided to erect lne building
they have received a liberal support from
one and all.
They bought the La Bertew property on
the corner OF Main and Eighteenth streets
and there tho ch nrch will stand In one OF
the best localities In town. The building
will be an elegant structure and will have
a seating capacity OF several hundred. 1t
will be ninety four feet long and fifty feet
wide which Will give them o very large
room. The brick work on which the
steepie will rest will stand 60 feet high
and the wood work of which the steeple
is com posed will extend 90 feet farther up
in the air, which will give the goid bur-
nished cross, which will be placed on top
of the steepie, an elevation of 120 feet.
The interior will be finished In handsome
modern style and will present a beautiful
appearance when finished. The ceiling
will be 81 feet above the floor and will be
constructed in three arches, the arches to
be in panels. The walls will also be pan
elled and both the walls and the ceiling
will be frescoed. The pews will be of the
best material and will correspond to the
other furniture Of the phprch. The altar
before which they will kneel will be
beautiful one and the different emblems
on it will be composed OF the finest mate
rial. The sanctuary will be 20 by % feet.
The ceremony attending the corner
stone laying was conducted by Bishop j.
J. Glennon, of Kansas City. Bishop
Giennou Is one OF the ablest men the
Catholic church has in Missouri, and his
address on this occasion vas an unusually
one. He Is no stranger to the
citizens of Lexington, having spoken here