The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-20
BLESSING OF THE
CATHOLIC CHAPEL
.No Unusual Ceremonies viii Mark
the Occasion.
BISHOP FARLEY WILL oFFlclATE:
bishops sunrasan for the Episcopal
Church-Poiicy of the Church.
Missionary Society
raj Religious News.
BISHOP FARLEY WILL 0FFlclATE.

The Roman Catholic chapel at West
Point is completed and the date set Tor
che blessing OF ii is june 1otn. Inc event
is desisnediy not 10 be marked by any
unusual ceremonies Bishop Farley, an
auxiliary Bishop canonicaily resident in
the Archdiocese Of New York, will Off
cate and there VIII be present several
visiting priests, But the event vii. not
be made more OF than would the blessing
Of any prominent place OF worship In
any city. There viii be a moderate dis
play OF military, but not more ttlan
would be given 10 any event occurring on
the Government reservation that had
official sanction. This course IS pursued,
30 II is said, in Difference to the coun-
sci Of Cardinal Gibbons.
For a quarter Of a century at least the
Roman Catholics nave been endeavoring
70 secure permission to erect chapel
a. West Point. Their contention has not
been alone for the cadets under instruc-
zion there, but in behalf OF the families
pf enlisted men. domestics employed by
officers and others resident ON and near
The reservation Apart from the cadets
there is al West Point a considerable
Roman Catholic population, which has
heretofore been without church home.
The gaining of the permission to erect
II Roman Catholic chapel on the reserTa-
;1lG,i. lis OppoSliIOIl ail0
.ae outcome of the controversy, these are
familiar to he general reader. All that has
need 10 be pointed out is that the law
which permits Il Catholic chapel at West
Point or Annapolis also permits the cree
zion at either Of these posts Of a Aletho-
dist, Baptist or ever a Christian Science
place of religious WORSHIP.
THE SITUATION.
The new Roman ,Caholic chapel stands
5uss around the bend in the military
road leading from The parade ground past
the officers quarters to the cemetery. II
faces north, and is Immediately at the of
the quarters 1t stands well abo-e the
ROAD In spacious plot. and commands
sweep OF Newburgh bay. Its architcc
ture is French Gothic and its material
nark stone OF the neishDorhood, with
some terra Gotta trimmings Il is cru
scirorn, and there is a square tower at
cne northeast corner. The interior is
Finished in oak. and the seating capacity
is 25a The decorations, not yet all com
splete, suggest nothing Of the military,
at Gne might expect from It's location.
but ere thoroughly ecclesiastical. A
feature is the fine organ, already In
place. and an effort is to be mate to
Giaye a musical service Of unusual excel
fence. The name selected is Holy Trim
Ety. The cost is $4,000. and while II has
mot Been possible TO place "a mortgage
upon It; there is an indebtedness for its
construction, so that on the first Sun
day in Whitsuntide 1t viii not be conse-
Grated. but only blessed
Next Thursday, in Rome. is to take
,siace The ceremony incident TO the can
sonizafion of TWO new Roman Catholic
.sainfs One of them, nun OF the Au-
grstinsan Order who lived In the fif-
tIteenth century, possesses little american
;.dnterest. but the other, John Baptist de
ia Sale. was the protector Of the educa-
.tional work out OF which has grown the
wonderful deeds of the. Christian Broth
ters The Pope will preside at the unu-
sua1 ceremonies. and there VIII be pres
emf O large number of American preiates.
besides many of the high French eccle-
riastics, De Ia Sale having been
T9euchman.
4 De Ia Sale was born in Rheims in 1851.
sIe early showed a fondness for the church
and after being priested accident threw
him into educational work, having been
assigned without his wish TO the chaplain
icy of q small school for girls. A relative
npened afterwards a school for boys, and
thus little by little De Ia Sale came TO
ssuow about education at a time when
fewer people knew of it than now do.
Being by nature an educator. he achieved
marked success, which led to his methods
being adopted and the organization in
France of a society of priests-Christian
brothers are not an order-for secondary
schools. The organization has spread into
snany Countries and now in the United
States there are thirty schools of various
grades conducted in De Ia. Sales name.
Trouble is on at present over the currl-
cula of these schools. owing to the de-
cisiun of the French Superior endorsed
by the Pope
CONGRATULATORY ARRDESS.
The Protestant Episcopal Board Of
Missions has prepared and forwarded TO
England congratulatory address TO the
Venerable Society for the Propagation
pf the Gospel in Foreign Parts, upon the
occasion OF the celebration of that So
ciety's bicentennial. This celebration is
10 last all Of the coming summer. It is
the Oldest missionary organization in
the world, and one of the very largest.
il grew out of the need created by Eng
3ish immigration 10 the American colonies
End st was throuSn~it that scores OF the
plder churches along the Atlantic Sea-
board came TO possess communion vessels
presented by Queen Anna fact which
the address points out The Bishop Of
Albany and the Bishop of Kentucky are
10 attend the celebration as representa-
lives OF the Episcopal Church in Ameri-
IA, and the first named is TO preach the
anniversary sermon in ST. Paul's Cattle
Erai. London. The address is understood
20 have been written by the Bishop Of
Washington. The other Bishop signing it
Is OF Connecticut and among the lay sig
natures is that of Capt A T. Mahan.
the naval author and strasetiSt-
Tire proposition by Episcopal leaders to
Srcride their Church with Bishops Suffra-
gan meets with warm endorsement from
those among them Who are engaged IN
work among the colored people Of the
South. Il is. indeed. more for The relief
Of that work than for the geiief of dioce-
sans IL large centres OF population shat the
innovation is advocated There is a feel
Eng that upon Episcopalians rests a fair
share OF the burden fer iIae uplift of the
negro. and the claim is made that in no
way can more be done. IN so FAR as the
Church can better accomplish the solution
OF problems presented lately at Montgom-
cry Than by providing bishops of the col
cred race 10 lead 1t SIS no white bishop can
do. II Is held not TO soe desirable 10 pro-
vide coiored bishops coadjrstor. With the
righ. OF succession. and that Bishops Suf-
frapa:s. VITO DO not succeed uoon the death
q. ~ vclEses the difficulty. The
s;lopesneis. h.ss been iarla - l..sed during
the past fortnight
ANOTHER INNOVATION.