The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-13

weather, they might have made provis-
ions for a little more sunshine and
warmth, but as it was there were no
complaints heard. The men stood pa
tiently about the building with turned
up collars and the women closely en-
veloped in wraps while the ceremony of
blessing and laying the stone was in
progress.
When DIR. Garrigan assembled the al
tar at st. Johns, at 1890 in the forenoon
to celebrate the solemn ceremony Of the
mass, the church was crowded. 1t was
noticeable that the congregation was
made up, too, of Catholics from almost
every parish, apart from those that now
form the membership of the parent
church of Worcester
Ri. Rev. Bishop Beaver was within
the sanctuary during the celebration of
the mass. He was attended by Rev.
Robert Walsh of the Immaculate Con-
ception, and Rev. Joseph Brouillet of
Notre Dame church. Rev. D. F. Feehan
of Fitchburg was deacon of the mass,
Rev Philip J. Lee of ST. Peters, Wor-
cester, sub-deacon, and Rev. B. S. Con-
atty master of ceremonies. There was
special music for the mass The choir
was under the direction of Michael W.
Handlin. Miss Nora G. Reidy was or
ganist
Bishop Beaver preached briefly at the
mass, but the sermon of the day was by
Rev. John j. Mccoy of Chicopee, 1t was
in the reverend gentleman's best style
as follows:
Let Mount Sion rejoice and the
daughters of Juda be glad sur
round Sion and encompass her.
Set your hearts on her strength and
distribute her houses, that We may re-
late it in another generation-Ps. Xvii,
12,14.
These words could have been said by
some kindly Catholic man of Boston to
the three gentle sisters of Notre Dame,
under care of Sister Louise de GonZaga,
as superior. who, fifty years ago tomor-
row, were first of their order to put foot
on Massachusetts soil. Today our church
SymboliZed by the Sion of the scriptures
truly rejoices, and the daughters of Juda
are glad. Six hundred and fifty sisters
are encompassing her and distributing her
houses for th5ir converts throughout
the archdiocese of Boston and the do
cese of Springfield shelter the teachers of
eighteen thousand children, who will re-
late the glory OF their mothers strength
in another generation.
Many marvellous things have happened
within that fifty years. Great nations
have risen and others have gone. The
politics of peoples have changed; so, too
have the weights and measures by which
they gauge their conduct and their ma
tional honor. The scientific and Industrial
of years, and each last marvel would
seem to have marked the limit of the hui
manly possible. 1t was thought an extra
ordinary thing when Franklin could draw
the lightning from the skies and bury the
harmless thunderbolt in the ground but
we have seen the lightning made the do
Gle and controlled agent of our will,
Illuminating and warming our homes,
speaking in our voices across flood and
mountain, turning the wheels Of our ten
thousand industries, and carrying US up
NlV-s sch I'll
slowly as we may desire. Yesterday the
very winds were bridled to carry thoughts
between warships and the city. But there
is a thing more wonderful still; it is go
ing on about us almost unpsrceived; it
has noiselessly worked a mighty revolu-
tion wherein has been changed the face of
this land / mean the marvel of Catholic
growth.
When Doctor Carroll submitted to the
propaganda in 1885 the statement of the
condition of the Catholic Church in the
United States, he was able to compile.
says one who wrote in 1884, 'the census of
the churches upon his fingers. The num-
Der of priests was nineteen in Maryland
and five in Pennsylvania. and this com
prised the guard of Almighty God in all
the broad dominion from the Atlantic to
the Pacific. Doctor CARROTS estimate OF
the number Of Catholics placed the pion-
GERS of our holy faith at twenty-five thou
sand. Now, in the city of Worcester
alone there are forty-three priests doing
duty nineteen more than Bishop CarrolPs
more than forty thousand people. which
is beyond fifteen thousand more than
were then 10 be found within our national
confines. A conservative estimate counts
the Catholics of the United States beyond
twelve millions
In 1884 when Father Fitton made his
first visit to Worcester the diocese of
Boston, then embracing all of the New
England states, had twenty-siX priests
doing duty. There were thirty churches
and chanels. and fifteen stations, ON col
lege. one academy for females and one in
stitution Of charity. In the whole United
States there were but fifteen dioceses and
three hundred and twenty-seven priests;
now there are fourteen archdiocese 8
seventy-two dioceses and upwards OF
twelve thousand priests, assisted by monks
and nuns innumeraDle. NV England now
has one archdiocese, six dioceses and thir-
teen hundred and seventy-two priests. At
that time (ls34 there was not a single
priest stationed within the lines which
now make our diocese. Father Fitton
was the pastor at Hartford. and as a mis-
sionary went up and down from Hartford