The age-herald., 1900-11-30

ham district and to all Alabama a model hospital not surpassed or surpassable in this or any other country.
 Cost Quarter of Million.
 st. Vincent's Hospital represents a total outlay of more than quarter of a million dollars, that immense sum being made up of the voluntary gifts of charitable people all over America; considerable proportion of the money coming from men and wom- en of charitable impulses in Bt ming ham.
 Ground was broken for the hospital in February, 1Se9 and the corne. stone was laid in May following. The contract call ed for the completion of the building at the beginning of the present year, but ow- ing to numerous unexpected difficulties the work was delayed So the opening is ten months later than was planned
 The building as it stands is the triumph of years of material effort and faithful endeavor. The site originally purchased was out near Fountain Heights on the Northside, but chance remark of the late Dr. Johnston, elder brother of the Gov ernor of Alabama, led to the changing of the site to where the hospital now stands. This is the place of all places," he urgede
 
 so the hospital was built on the beautiful hill at the top of Twenty-seventh street, South.
 There has been much heart-burning, real sorrow, on the part of the devoted Sisters and of Father O'Reilly on account of the delay in completing the building; but to- day all of them rejoice. The Sisters of Charity and Father OReilly are the hap piest persons in all the valley, and the source of their happiness will bring com fort and joy to thousands of sufferers yet unborn
 The Dedication.
 The ceremonies in connection with the opening of St. Vincents yesterday were begun at a. m. in the little chapel adjoin- ing the parlor. The Rt. Rev. Edward P. Allen, Bishop of Mobile, attended by a number of priests, first dedicated the chapel, following closely the order prescribed by the Roman ritual. This office being con- cluded, a procession of altar boys and clergy, including the bishop in rich vest ments and carrying his crozier, moved solemnly through the great building. In front was a crucifer bearing the process ional cross. Next came boys with lighted candles; and then followed the priests the celebrant, attended by a bearer Of the aspersorium or holy water vessel and a thurifer or incense bearer, walking in the rear. As the procession passed through the halls the bishop sang the Benedictus In the progress each room of the hospital was entered by the bishop and blessed After the building had been duly dedicated, the procession returned to the chapel, and the officiating prelate, exchaniging the cope for a chasuble, celebra ted pontificial mass There were only few persons present ow- ing to the limited seating capacity of the chapel.
 Catholics living in a cathedral city have frequent opportunity of seeing the bishop pontifcate, but this was the first time that pontiicial mass was ever celebrated in Birmingham Solemn high mass is an im- posing ceremonial but when the bishop pom tifcates the ceremonies are even more elaborate and impressive The celebrant was assisted by Father Meurer, as assistant priest; Father Galland, as deacon of the mass; Father Downs, as sub-deacon of the mass; Father Theodosius, o. s. B., and Father Ignatus, o. s. B., as deacons of honor; Father O'Reilly as first master of ceremonies and Father Kennedy as second master of ceremonies And, In addition 10 those named, Father Wright and Father Burns occupied seats in the sanctuary.
 At the conclusion of the mass Bishop AL len and the attending clergy had breakfast in the hospital.
 The Public Exercises. The opening exercises proper, which took | place in the afternoon, under the auspices of the St. Vincent's Hospital Association, were held in the main hall on the first floor. Mr. H. H. Sinnige, the president of the association, and Bishop Allen occupied seats on the landing of the grand stairway, and this landing served as a platform for the orators of the occasion. After an overture by the orchestra, MT. Sinnige called the assemblage to order and opened the pro- gramme with brief but appropriate ad- dress He said:
 This is the third time within the last eighteen months we have gathered here on work of charity which is now about to bear its fruit. It is just about eighteen months ago since the first spade of soil
 (Continued on second Page).