The evening times., 1899-09-02
new CATHOLIC BUILDINGS
Two Structures Soon to Be Dedi-
Gated TO Pious Uses.
Magnificent Edifices That Are Being
Added TO the University and which
VIII Be Consecrated This Faii.
Preparations Made for the Erec-
tion of Trinity College for Women.

magnificent buildings to the group of three
already forming the Catholic University
Of America, besides the laying of the cor
nerstone of a third new structure to be
closely affiliated with the University, and
TO be completed by next April. These i'm
proyements, together with active prepara-
tions for the erection nearby of the Catho-
lie Trinity College for the higher educa-
tion of women, will mark the Inauguration
of the second decade of the Universitys
existence as the most auspicious and men,
orable year yet begun.
Unusually interesting and important
exercises viii be held upon the occasion
of the dedication of the two new build
ings, while the cornerstone of the Marist
College is TO be laid with little Or 10 cere-
mony. The College and Commissariat OF
the Holy Land for America, which has
been in progress of erection for somewhat
more than year, is 10 be dedicated Sun
day, September IL, with elaborate cere-
monies presided over by His Eminence
James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop OF
Baltimore who will conduct tie solemn
conservation services in the presence OF
many leading Catholic churchmea OF the
country and thousands of visitors who VIII
come here on special excursion trips from
all the leading cities of the East and Cen
has been constructed during the last eight
months will be dedicated Thursday, Oc
tober u, when the archbishops OF the
United States will be present, to convene
in annual session later in the day. Cardi
Ial Gibbons will consecrate the chapel,
the Right Rev. Bishop of Peoria will de-
liver the dedication Grafton, and many
bishops and other dignitaries OF the
church, as well as many Distinguished rep
resentatives of the Federal Government,
including President Mckinley, viii lend
their presence to make the occasion one
of exceptional dignity and impressiveness.
The College of the Holy Land.
The college of the Holy Land, il is said,
is without doubt the most remarkable and
unique edifice in this country. 1t has been
established here as the first American
mother house of the Order of ST. Francis
for the education of American students as
missionary priests to the Holy Land Of
Palestine or as lay brothers whose Guty
il will be to serve this foreign mission in
the capacity of sacristans, household as
sistants, teachers, guides, cooks, bakers,
tailors, shoemakers, carpenters, masons,
blacksmiths, plumbers, painters, printers,
machinists, druggists, etc, in the various
missions and trade schools established by
the Franciscans in Europe. The college
structure is an extensive building zoe feet
at its greatest width and 300 feet deep,
built in two distinct parts, the church and
khe monastery, which are connected by the
8acristy and corridors extending across the
kntire width of the edifce.
SThe church, or chapel of the Holy Sep
MI is a most beautiful and lasting
rAHent TO the Catholic religion, impress
siveN ~ all its features, although modest in
size d u consisting only of the poorest ma
terra = rick and terra Gotta, so as TO be
unifo,~ to the spirit of St Francis of AS
sisi, who founded this order of Friars M nor
in the year 1909. The structure is built on
the ground plan Of hye-fold cross OF the
crusaders in the pure Byzantine style of
the Hagia Sophia, in Constantinople, and
il has a peculiar and sacred charm in that
IL contains exact reproductions of the prin-
cipal holy sbrines of Palestine, they being
the Holy Sepulchre, Calvary, and the Grot-
tos of Bethlehem and Nazareth. An oppor
tunity will thus be afforded American
Christians who cannot visit the Holy
Shrines of Palestine in person. 10 view as
perfect limitations as could be effected OF
these memorable places in their own moth
er country, and the visitor to the National
Capital Will thus find himself transported
in spirit TO the sacred monuments Of Jesus
Christ.
The Holy Sepulchre and Calvary are sit
uated in the head transept of the church,
Calvary being reached by two side. marble
imitation staircases ar a height exactly
equal to that of the sacred place in Jeru
salem. The grottos of Nazareth and Beth
lehem are underground in the right and
left rransepts, respectively, and they are
connected by subterranean passages in the
guise OF the Roman Catacombs. which lead
from a chapel of the Poor Souls. The floor
of the church is laid in the finest Italian
mosaic work, perfect coat-of-arms Of the
Order of st. Francis being the design of
the work, the large cross covering the
body of the church and the small crosses
being placed in the four right-angle chap
els.
Plan OF the Monastery.
The monastery is a rectangular structure
about 200 feet square, two stories and base
ment in height. 1t is based on the regular
monastic plan, forming a cloister in the
interior, which has been transformed into
an enchanting flower garden having a well
in its center. The plan of the building is
very simple and severe throughout, plain
brick being used without any ornamental
tions, and the floors being of cement. the
whole effect breathing the spirit of Ser
aphic poverty. All the living and working
apartments of the students and friars are
contained in the monastery, including
study rooms, class rooms, sleeping cham
bers library, eating apartments, the work
s0Ops Nnere the various traces VIII be
taught, and Offices of the Commissariat OF
the Holy Land which has been located in
New York city since 1880, and which is now
being installed in the new Seraphic College
at Brookland, ID. c.
The College will be under the immediate
and exclusive direction of the Franciscan
Fathers of the Holy Land. Instruction will
be given in the Oriental languages and in
the study Of Holy Scripture and Biblical ar
chaeology by instructors secured from the
many European monasteries of the ST. Fran
els Order. Manual labor is obligatory with
the Franciscians, and they will devote their
energies TO the cultivation of the forty four
acres of ground surrounding their institu-
tion, which is situated on an eminence or
hill named Mount ST. Sepulchre Full af-
fliation has been secured with the Catholic
University so that the Franciscan stu
dents may enjoy all the educational adyant-
ages offered by that eminent institution
The aim of the friars is the rescue and pre-
servation Of the Holy Shrines in Palestine
in connection with which duty they main
tain ffty-fve sanctuaries, nine converts,
forty-two residences, enty-eight parishes
one commercial college, ten trade schools
ffty-two elementary schools, one SeraphiC
College, six study houses, nine hospices
eighteen mission churches, thirty-four chap
els, five dispensaries. two orphan asylums
and four hundred and fifteen poor houses
within their custody of province of the
Holy Land.
The new and permanent College OF the
Holy Cross edifice was begun last January
and will be taken possession of next week
Its dimensions are 135 feet frontage by AZ
daaf u-ifh nj Il