The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-18
COLLEGE OF THE HOLY LAND.
DEDICATION OF REMARK ABLE RE-
LIGIOUs INSTITUTION.

Established by the Franciscan
Friars to Aid in Perpetuating the
Work of This Order-Its Mission
Has Been to Preserve and Protect
the Tomb of the SnviOr-This ana
the Stables of bethlehem Repro
duced in Washington.
Washington, Sept. r.-One of the most
remarkable religious institutions in the
country, the monastery and College Of lse
Holy Land, established by the Franciscan
friars of the Holy Land, was dedicated
to-day with imposing ceremonies, In
which Cardinal Gibbons, Mgr. Martinem
Bishop Blenk of Porto Rico, Mgr Ste
phan, head of Indian missions in this coun-
try, Mgr. Sbaretu, auditor of the papal
delegation in Washington, and many other
prominent figures of the Catholic Church
participated.
During the afternoon a iag-raislng gave
a national and patriotic phase to this ex-
tensive undertaking. The institution is
situated near the Catholic University. on
an eminence commanding a view of the
beautiful university grounds.
der for centuries has devoted It's entire
attention to the preservation and protee-
ton of the tomb of the Savior, the sta
bles of Bethlehem and other sacred relics
of the life Of Christ. As many Amerl-
cans are joining the pilgrimages to the
Holy Relics IL has been deemed advisable
to establish in this country a college
which VIII prepare those who will carry
forward the work of preservation. To this
end commissariat of the Holy Land for
the United States was located in 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 Pales-
tine.
Faithful Counterpart.
These have been executed under the d.
rection of the foremost ecclesiastc archl-
tect of Rome, Senior Lianon, and the result
is impressive and a faithful counterpart.
The friars, who will live in the mona stery,
make everything needful for their simple
and austere manner of living. The habit
is of coarse, brown material, with a rope
sandals The upper part of the building
is used for living quarters, each member Of
the community having a cell, with the
plainest and simplest furnishings. II is
considered the most austere of the active
orders.
| The church connected with the monas-
terry is a massive structure in the shape of
| a five-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 inte-
| rior is so vast that 1t is expected to cee-
brate mass at several of the altars, or at
| all of them simultaneously, and the devo-
| ton of the sacrament will be practically
continuous up to midday.
Impressive Exercises.
The order of exercises to-day began with
solemn dedication at 10 o'clock this morn
| ing. Cardinal Gibbons conducted the cere-
mony. There was a procession of several
| hundred members of the clergy religious
| students and friars. At 1890 POntihcal
high mass was celebrated by Most Rev.
| S. Martnelli, the apostolic delegate TO
| the United States The sermon was
preached by Very Rev. l.. F. Kearney.
| provincial of the Dominican Order, of Co
| lumbus, o. At O'Clock solemn pontihcal
vespers were celebrated in the Alverno
! chapel, and al O'Clock the patriotic exer-
| cises closed the days ceremonies.
The institution begins It's work with
about fifty frars in attendance, most of
| them from this country, although a few
come direct from the Holy LanS The
purpose Of the college is set forth as
| follows in the prospectus:
| 1.-The establishment of the college will
revive IN our American youth the spirit
| Of the Crusaders, for 1t will afford them
| an opportunity Of embracing religious life
| and of cultivaung higher studies at the
| university, with the noble aim of serving
| as missionaries in the country of Christ.
| of standing guard at His holy tomb and
of imparting to the natives the bless
| fngs of civilization and culture. while the
| pilgrims and tourists from the United
| States will be delighted TO find American
| advisers when far away in a country dou-
/ NJ ~ LhnLn hL. lann.llae1n