Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-18

MANS In This COUNTRY AND
ABROAD.
WASHINGTON, D. c., September II.
One of the most remarkable religious
institutions in the country, the monas-
terry and college of the Holy Land, es-
tablished by the franciscan friars of
the the Holy Land. was dedicated to-
day with imposing ceremonies, in which
Cardinal Gibbons, Monsignor Martin
ELI, Bishop Blenk, of Porto Rico, Mgs.
Stephan, head of Indian missions in this
country, Mgr. Sbaretti, auditor of the
papal delegation in Washington, and
many other prominent figures of the
Catholic Church participated. During
the afternoon a flag raising gave a ma
tional and patriotic phase to this .ex-
tensive undertaking. The institution
is situated near the Catholic University,
on an emlnence commanding a view of
the beautiful university grounds.
A special branch of the Franciscan
order for centuries has devoted its en-
tire attention to the preservation and
protection Of the tomb of the Savior,
the stables of Bethlehem and other
sacred relics of the life of Christ. AS
many Americans are joining the pill
grimages to the holy relics, it has been
deemed advisable to establish in this
country a college which will prepare
those who will carry forward the work
of preservation. To tbs end a COM
misariat of the Holy Land for the
United States was located i'll New York
in 1880, and out of this has grown the
magnificent structure dedicated to-day,
with its subterranean reproductions of
the stable at Bethlehem, the home of
the holy family at Nazareth, the holy
sepulchre and other monuments of Pal
estine.
These have been executed under the
direction of the foremost ecclesiastical
architect of Rome, ST.. Lianori, who Wis
tied Bethlehem, Nazareth and other
sacred spots, making measurements and
taking note of stone and structure, in
order to make faithful counterpart of
the precious relics. The work has pro-
ceeded with the special favor of the
Pope. One of the grottoes, represent
ing the inner and outer sepulchre of
CT boc aio Nf ha
of the sepulchre, brought from Pales-
tine by special dispensation. At an
other of the subterranean shrines, the
remains of ST. Benignas will be depos-
tied. 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 observation of
holy relics.
The reproduction of the stable at
Bethlehem is perfect in every detail,
with the small stone manger in which
the Christ-child was born, and the de-
Placement which modern vandalism has
wrought. In the reproduction of the
holy sepulchre, both the outer sepul-
chre, where the angel sat, and the inner
sepulchre, from which the angel rolled
back 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 carried
on in the monastery, spacious build
ing separated from the shrines and
chapel, and devoted entirely to the
members Of the community. On the
lower floor are cobbler shops, tailor
shops, laundries, etc, conducted by the
friars, who make everything needful
for their simple and austere manner of
living. The habit is of coarse brown
material, with rope girdle and the
bare feet are perfected by sandals.
The upper part of the building is used
for living quarters, each member of
the community having cell with the
plainest and simplest furnishings 1t
is considered the most austere of the
active orders
The church connected with the mon
astery is a massive structure in the
shape of a fve-fold cross. with many
affairs and chapels The European
method has been adopted in the interior
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 devotion of the
sacrament will be practically conlin-
uous up to midday.
The order of exercises to-day began
with solemn dedication at 10 O'Clock
this morning. Cardinal Gibbons con-
Quoted the ceremony. There was a pro-
eession of several hundred members Of
the clergy, religious. students and friars
At 1890 pontifcal high mass was cell
ebrated by Most Rev. S. MartinelIi, the
apostolic delegate to the United States.
The sermon was preached by Very Rev.
4. f. Kearney, Provincial Of the Domin-