New-York tribune., 1899-06-12
CORNERSTONE LAID.
FIFTY THOUSAND PEOPLE WITNESS THE
CEREMONY.

BISHOP wrGGER LAYS THE FoUNDATfoN STONE
OF THE CATHEDRAL OF THE SACRED
HEART IN NEWARK.
The LAYING OF the cornerstone Of the Roman
Catholic Cathedral of the Sacred Heart In Newark
yesterday afternoon was the occasion OF an I'M
posing demonstration by the clergy and laty OF the
Roman Catholic Diocese Of Newark
picture OF the cathedral. with full description
of It's architectural features, was recently printed
in The Tribune The site is an elevated and com
manding one on the block bounded by sixth Cnf-
ton and Fifth and Rdge-st. Tne oock
fronts two hundred feet Sixthave. and runs Dack
eight hundred feet 10 Fifth the style OF
architecture will be Continental Gothic OF the
thirteenth century. The building viii consist OF
great nave, two transepts. chancel the width OF
the nave and an ambuatory the width OF the aisle
At the front will be two tall towers. the atrium and
vestibues and other features will be an organ gal
lery two sacrsties spacious trifaria eight chapels
with affairs six confessionals in the side walls and
a large octagona baptistery. One Of the chapeis'
which will be known the Lady Chapel will be
large and supplied with separate sacristy and
coistered passage to and from the episcopal resi-
dence Of the Bishop. which Is to be built adjacent
TO the cathedral The total interior width VIII be
Sc feet and the total interior length. exclusive OF
the front atrum and rear chapel Will he Z9s rect
The exterior width across transepts will be loo
feet and exterior length from front 10 rear vans
3O9 feet height OF nave 81 feet height OF aisles 10
feet: total floor area 5000 feet. There will be seats
for 1000 people The eastern or "Gesu' tower VIII
be $50 feet high and the western tower, called the
"B NJ tower will be 325 feet high The towers
will be Of different design. the one representing
strength and dignity and the other elegance and
grace The is to be embematic OF the LORD
and the other Of the Virgin Mary The nave and
chancel columns TO be of polished Scotch and
American red granite with unpublished granite
bases All the wood furniture and trimmings VII
be of quartered oak
THE CORNERSTONE.
The cornerstone. which is of granite. I feet in
length. 8 feet wide and 2 feet high. set in the
foundation wall OF the In the centre
face OF the stone marble blocks, two feet
square, brought from Palestine. one marked Jeru-
salem and the other Bethlehem. Within the
cornerstone Is metal box containing records Of
the diocese. the Of Federal. State and mu-
nicpal officers. and other data.
Preparations had been made by all the railroads
for running extra trains TO carry to Newark the
thousands of Roman Catholics of other cities and
take part in the parade and early in the afternoon
heavily loaded trains began arriving at the various
Newark and other cities were crowded with pas
sengers. The Roman Catholic societies turned out
s1a s1atdl many members came ''0 ''''a"' p1'' TIC
LARGE PARADE
1t was arranged that the parade of the societies
and church organizations should take place before
the ceremonies at the cathedral. and accordingly
James Taafe, OF Newark the grand marshal Issued
an order for formation at the new Military Park at
2 o'clock. The organizations included the Ancient
Order OF Hibernians, the Catholic Benevolent
Legion. the Knights OF Columbus. ST. Patricks AL
lance. the German Catholic societies the Young
Mems Catholic associations. the various church
Italian and other organizations The streets were
with 0 Hwar sDe Ta ore Sand han
had ever heard before on SUNDAY Between
Mefe in Ss paTad snS h
All the east and sides Of the city, rein
City CITY Orange Elizabeth Paterson Passaic, Ho
boken. New-York and other cities, poured into
PARK to Central-ave. TO Norfokst to Chiffon to
and by way OF Fifth-ave. to the cathedral site.
covered platform had been erected over the sanetu-
about four hundred persons, and on this were
seated the representative Roman Cathoics OF tne
facing on Sixth,ave was also large enough to
accommodate FIVE thousand persons; on tne i; Hiuge
appropriste music There was also a chorus of
one thousand voices, embracing most OF the choir
da4sd the ot bHmG tHe ey Goa and the end Of the
ceremonies united in the rendition of America
BISHOPS AND PRIESTS PRESENT.
There was an imposing array Of the clergy.
Amcng the visiting prelates were Archbishop Cor
| rigan. OF New-York; Bishops McQuaid, of Roch-
ester; Mcdonnell. OF Brooklyn; Burke OF Albany
Peoria, III. The clergy were seated on the plat
| form during the ceremonies.
| Bishop Wigger of the Diocese OF Newark
assisted in the laying of the cornerstone by Vicar
General John }; o'Connor. The Rev Thomas A.
! Wallace the former Chancellor, and the Rev.
George Doane O'Neil, the present Chancellor. were
! masters OF ceremonies. The procession formed for
! the ceremony included large number OF priests,
| with acolytes and altar boys.
| After the stone was laid Bishop Wigger blessed
the spot where the main altar is to be placed and
| then the procession passed around the foundation
! walls and the Bishop blessed the exterior and in
terror After the singing of the Iitany by multi
| tude OF voices Bishop McQuaid preached the ser
! mon and Bishop Wigger pronounced the benedic-
| ton
When the procession reached the cathedral site
and the societies took the places assigned 10 them
It was estima ted that less than fifty thousand
| people filed the space fronting and on either side
! of the covered stand. The ceremonies were not
ended until after s o'clock. but before that hour
| thousands of people unable TO get near enough TO
the platform to or hear. left the scene and
poured through every street and avenue homeward