Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-20

FOURTH DIVISION.
Mayors Band Wheeling.
P h,3ien Division Division A g H., , WheeIiing.
A. o. H of Bellaire.
Benwood Division, A. Q. H.
The ceremonies were performed be-
fore the arrival of the column. The
cross was blessed and placed where the
altar is to be in the future. The corner
stone was blessed and set in position
by Bishop Donahue, while the assisting
clergymen chanted number of Psalms,
and the foundation walls for the new
edifice were sprinkled with holy water
After reviewing the procession Bish-
OPP Donahue made an address which
was very attentively listened to by the
many people in attendance.
In his opening remarks bespoke of
the gathering of people before him as
being notable for the reason that it was
representative of the Catholic societies
and congregations of the various neigh
boring points and continuing, said:
"Some of us might we'll imagine that
it is an array of soldiers marching with
plumes, martial music and the stars
and stripes into town on the Philip
pine islands" When the Bishop laid
the cornerstone Of the new church this
afternoon this solemn invocation was
pronounced: "In the name of the
Father, and of the Son and of the Holy
Ghost I have been eagerly looking
forward TO this afternoon. | am told
that there are q number of societies
fourishing here who are endeavoring
to minimize or ignore the Roman Cath
Ole faith. You have taken an immense
contract upon your hands and | advise
you to throw up the job. I have been
awaiting the opportunity to tell you
this. 1t is because you do not know
what the Catholic church is, what it
means and what it stands for and
think this is a good occasion to talk
to you.
Gas Jesus Christ was the same yester-
day as he is to-day or will be to-mor-
row, the Catholic church, which is
the bride of Christ, is the same to-day
as it was yesterday and will be forever.
This Catholic church which you detest
yields a greater influence over the in
telligent men of the world than any
other church"
Bishop Donahue then called attention
to the converts to the Catholic faith,
speaking of them as not being those
from the uneducated class of people.
He said that among those who had been
converted to the church were Cardinal
Newman, Cardinal Naming, Father
Faber, Father Oakley, Father Dalgarius,
judges on the bench, the most distin-
glished and brilliant minded men Of
the bar, authors, scientists, and men of
high standing in society.
1T was 1902 years ago that St. Au-
gustine landed On the shores of Eng
land, heading a band of benedictines
1t was this band that evangelical Eng
land and has made it the grand empire
it is to-day. Two years ago the thir-
tenth eenteninary was celebrated and
another band of benedictines. clad in
the same habit. preceded by the arch
bishops and bishops, by bodies of relig-
ious orders and accompanied by a vast
multitude of the laity, marched in pro-
oession on the same Kentish strand
sang the same Miseeri. which was
chanted thirteen centuries previ-
Gus. They proceeded to an inn
mense tent, and there, upon the
same altar. with the same vestments
and the identical ceremonies, offered
the solemn sacrifice of the mass. Not
only that. but the same Gregorian
chant was intoned and mingled with
the roar of the oceans waves
as ii was thirteen centuries
ago. In those thirteen centuries
the Catholic church suffered persecu-
tons. expressions and martyrdoms in
every form. She is alive and strong in
England to-day. And if the greatest
empire in the world could not suppress
her, it would be readily seen that you
handful of men here in McMechen, no
matter how secret your conventions.
how intense your hatred. will not be
able to fulfill the contract which you
have assumed.
DO you think you can down a
church that has flourished for thirteen
hundred years? Again, I say that you
have taken too big a contract upon
your hands. / know it is in you to be
honest ard sin ere and I know thai the
object lesson Of the laying of The corner
stone of the St James church will have
the effect of opening your eyes and en-
larging your sphere Of thought.
Il have counted in the United States
seven or eight bishops and archbishcDs,
who in their youth were not Catholics,
who in later years were converted to
the Catholic faith. I have counted