The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-16
TRlKINC
EVENT ON
JUNE nth.
Lay the Cornerstone Of
the Cathedral.
DISTINGUISHED
VISITORS EXPECTED
Apostolic Delegate Of United
States to Be Present.
FATHER BARLOW
TO BE THE ORATOR
An eminent and Eloquent Ecclesiastic
from New York-Many Expected
to Attend from All Parts Of the
.Country-something About
the Handsome Building
Now Being Erected.
Apostolic Delegate Of United
States to Be Present.
FATHER BARLOW
TO BE THE ORATOR

On the afternoon OF Thursday June 4th.
at o'clock, the date just fixed for the
event, the cornerstone OF the great new
Roman Catholic Cathedral now in pro-
cess Of. erection here will be laid with
much pomp and ceremony.
The occasion will be one OF the very
.lIvelicst Interest to Catholics throughout
Virginia and the entire South. The new
house OF worship, built at a cost OF at
least quarter OF a million OF money,
will be tho finest from here to Florida.
and many people from the outside. In
Guiding distinguished clergy and bishops
are expected to be present to witness the
blessing OF the foundations, Invitatons
have been sent out in great numbers. and
many OF them Will be accepted. At home
perhaps every Catholic In the city will
bc on the scene.
APOSTOLIC DELEGATE COMING.
After considerable work In connection
with the matter. Bishop Van de Vyver
has just practically completed all ar
rangements. and the first positive an
nounccments were made yesterday. The
date and hour will be as told above. The
cornerstone laying will be conducted by
Z His Excellency Diomede Falconio. apos-
tolic delegate to the United States. This
news will be received with general pleas
IRE. His Exccllency is one OF the dis
tinguished men in the church, and he has
never yet beento Richmond. HIS head
quarters at this time are in Washing
ton
The orator Of the occasion will be the
Rev. Father William Barlow. Of New
York. the distinguished and eloquent
Jesuit priest. The actual services Will be
marked more by simplicity than other
wise. They will consist in prayers and
psalms and so on. the blessing of the
foundations. of the place where the altar
will be situated and finally OF the corner
stone itself Bishop Van de vyver him
self and others will participate. The de-
tails of these services will be announced
later. The Bishop has not yet decided
whether or not he will have a process
sion
The particular pomp In connection
with the occasion will be the attendance.
Many bishops and out of town clergy and
others have been invited and great
number are expected to attend. Mr..
Thomas Fortune Ryan, of New York,
who contributes the entire amount for the
erection of the Cathedral, has been in
rIted with Mrs Ryan, but 1t is not yet
known II he can be here. The local Catho-
lies will probably be out in force. Ar
rangements will be made to seat some,
but there is ample standing room around
tho place to accommodate all
THE CORNER R-STONE.
Special interest attaches to the corner
stone itself. 1t Is block of stone cut
III the Garden OF Gethsemane. and is held
sacred, as coming from the spot where
the Lord Jesus Christ spent the last
hours of his life upon earth.
Fifteen years ago there was already In
the minds of the Catholics OF Richmond
the erection OF a great cathedral some
day. Archbishop John ]. Keane was then
bishop of Richmond, and he made trip
to the Holy Land While in Palestine he
had the stone cut from the Mount OF
Olives, in the Garden of Gethsemane, and
brought 1t home with him. Since that
time It has been carefully stored away
in the basement of the present cathedral
A short while ago It was taken out and
given into the hands of the workmen,