The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-28

The cornerstone Of the new Church
of st. John, the Evangelist, on the
southeast corner of Pittston avenue
and Fig street, was laid yesterday ar
ternoon with appropriate ceremony by
Rt. Rev. Bishop NJ. J. Hoban, assisted
by a number of the clergymen Of the
diocese, in the presence of an enormous
throng of people.
Prior to the laying of the stone,
street parade was held on Pittston ave-
nue., passing the church and counter
marching up the avenue again. This
parade was headed by John Gibbons,
the grand marshal, and his aides, AL
on horseback Following these same
the Forest band and then the st. Paurs
Pioneer corps, Of West Scranton, whose
evolutions evoked much applause all
along the line of march.
The other societies IN line were as
follows: Holy Name, of the cathedral;
st. Aloysius cadets, st. Patricks Total
Abstinence and Benevolent society, St
Peters Total Abstinence and Benevo-
lent society, Divisions Nos. II, %, 20
and 32. Ancient Order of Hibernians;
Columbus council, Young Mems Inst.-
tute. There were several bands In line,
including the Cumberland. The Holy
Name society, under the leadership of
Rev. J. A. O'Reilly, dropped out of line
as they passed the church and grouped
themselves around the temporary plat
form which had been erected. They
sang several selections during the ex-
ercises, including Nearer My God to
Thee"
THE CEREMONIES.
The ceremonies proper were begun
about $50 o'clock, when the bishop, at
tended by Rev. N. J. McManus and
Rev. p. e. Lavelle descended into the
| basement of the church, directly under
the spot where the altar will be located,
and blessed the foundations. The fol-
| lowing vestured priests accompanied
| the bishop: Rev. j. j. Loughran, Rev.
]. A. Moffat, Rev. George Stopper, Rev.
| John Fricker. Rev. Walter A. German,
Rev. NJ. b. Donan, Rev. ]. ]. Dunn,
Rev E. a. Garvey and Rev. p. ].
| Cough.
The crush OF people around the plat
| form was enormous when the bishop
| ascended and, with the solemn ritual OF
the Catholic church, laid the stone. The
| stone had been followed out and In 1t
! was placed a box containing copies Of
| the local papers, coins, a history Of the
| church, the names of the parish COM
mittee and a document containing the
! names Of the president, governor and
mayor, and the name OF the church
| with the date of the ceremony.
| The sermon OF the day was then
preached by Rev. ]. J. McCabe, Of
| Auburn, Pa, formerly an assistant Of
| the present pastor of st. Johns, Rev.
| f. ]. Melley. Father McChbe took his
| text from the first epistle of st. Peter,
| chapter 2, verse 6: Wherefore, also It
is contained in the Scripture behold
l lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect,
| precious; and he that believeth on him
shall not be confounded." In commenc-
ing, he said:
This occasion is one of great Joy,
because 1t marks an epoch in the his
tory of St. Johns parish which has
outgrown the limits of It's present
church and is now seeking a more pre-
tentious and substantial structure. 1t
is day Of great Joy, also. because
when this structure Is completed 1t
means the diffusion of religion and the
diffusion Of well-dolng, which is the
cause Of all real JOY" Continuing he
said:
TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD.
"In the psalms which have been sung
and in the prayers which have been
said today. frequent reference has been
made to that other temple, the mystic
temple OF the living God. The stone
that has been laid today Is typical of
Him, for He is the cornerstone of that
other temple. This is metaphor
both ancient and apt. Jesus Christ is
the cornerstone because the church
rests on Him. who is the author OF
faith and OF all the graces. Jesus Christ
is the cornerstone because there can be
no other foundation laid where one is
already placed" In conclusion, Father
McCabe said:
I'm conclusion, must say q word OF
encouragement to the pastor and tC
you, his flock. Twenty-Five years age
he Frustrated himself at the altar OF
God and consecrated his young life tC
the upbuilding of the church Of God
His zeal at first may have been like s
fiickering blaze, but 1t has now mel
lowed down to a good, steady, warming
flame, which warns the hearts OF al
with whom he comes in contact
would be presumption on my part t
, say more to him than God-speed.
, ITO you, who have intrusted you
confidence in him for the past tel
, years, would say, sustain his hands
Unless you do, there is no hope tina
, the work begun today will be com
, pleted. Grow not tired with well-dong
and remember that when the church 4
! finished and consecrated, 1t will be use
less without multitude of devout peo