Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-18
DEDICATION
Of Monastery and College Of
the Holy Land.
Remarkably Religious Institution Built
by Catholics at Washington.
Reproductions Of Ho!y sepuIchre. Stable al
Bethlehem. Stone Manager &c.

Washington. Sept. 17.-One Of the
most remarkable religious institutions
IN the country. the monastery and col
lese Of the Holy Land, established by
the Franciscan Friars Of the Holy
Land. was dedicated. today. with i'm
posing ceremonies. in which Cardinal
Gibbons. Monsignor Martinelli. Bishop
Elenk of Porto Rico. Mgr. stephan.
head Of Indian missions in this coun-
try. Mgr Sharett. auditor of the Papal
delegation in Washington. and many
other prominent figures Of the Catholic
church participated.
4 special branch Of the Franciscan
order for centuries has devoted its en-
tire attention to the preservation and
protection ~ the tomb Of The Saviour.
the stables Of Bethlehem and other sa-
cred relies Of the life of Christ. As
many Americans are joining the pill
CRANES t. the Holy relics. it has been
deemed advisable to establish in this
country 4 college which will prepare
those who win carry forward the work
Of preservation. To this end a commits
sariat NJ the Holy Land for the United
States was located in New York. in
1850. and out of this mas grown the
magnificent structure dedicated, to-
day. with lis subterranean reproduc-
tons Of the stable at Bethlehem, the
home Of the Holy Family at Nazareth,
the Holy Sepulchre and other monu-
ments Of Palestine.
These have been executed under the
direction of the foremost ecclesiastical
architect of Rome. Sr. Lianori, who Wis
tied bethlehem. Nazareth and other
sacred spots. taking measurements and
taking note of stone and structure in
order to make a faithful counterpart
of the precious relics. One of the grot-
toes, representing the inner and outer
sepulche Of Christ, has a piece of the
actual stone of the Sepulchre. brought
from Palestine by special dispensation.
At another of the subterranean
shines the remains Of St. Benignas will
be deposited. They are being brought
here by one of the friars of the order
and will find a final resting place in
glass catafalque, after the manner
adopted in Europe, to permit the OBJ
SerVation of Holy relics. The repro
duction of the stable of Bethlehem is
perfect in every detail, the small stone
manger in which the Christ-child was
born. and the DETACHMENT which mod
ern vandalism has wrought. In the re-
production of the Holy Sepulchre, both
the outer sepulchre where the angel
sat, and the inner sepulchre. from
which the angel rolled the stone. are
shown. The inner tomb shows the
great marble slab placed there to keep
the Turks from desecrating the tomb
and the slab bears even the irregular
crack Of the original.
The main work of the friars is car
ried on in the monastry. spacious
building separated from the shrines !
and chapel and devoted entirely to the |
members Of the community. On the 1
lower floor are cobbler shops. tailor |
shops. laundries. etc. conducted by the
friars, who make everything needful 4
for their simple and austere manner OF
living. The habit is of course brown
material. with a rope girdle and the
bare feet are protected by sandals. The
upper part of the buildings is used for
living quarters. each member of the
community having a cell with the
plainest and simplest furnishings.
The church connected with the mon
astry is a massive structure in the
shape of a five-fold cross, with many
affairs and chapelS. Inc European
method has been adopted in the inter
ior of the church. so that those who
come to worship will stand or kneel, as
there are no seats. The interior is so
vast that it is expected to celebrate
mass at several Of the affairs or at all
Of them simultaneously. and the devo-
ton Of the sacrament will be practi-
cally continuous on midday.
The order of exercises. today. began
with solemn dedication at 10 o'clock
this morning. Cardinal Gibbons con-
Quoted the ceremony. There was pro-
cession of several hundred members of
the clergy, religious students and
friars. At 1890 pontifical high mass
was celebrated by Most Rev. S. Mar
-enilli, the apostolic delegate to the
Continued on page 81 II