The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-06
LAID CORNERSTONE
FOR FINE NEW CHURCH
Exercises by Congregation
Of st. Vincent de Paul.
AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY
Procession of Catholic Societies Pre-
ceded Actual Services-Car-
dinaPs Vicar Officiated.


portion of which was made up Of promi-
uent Catholic clergy and societies. the
cornerstone OF the new Catholic Church
of st. Vincent de Paul was laid, yester-
day afternoon. at South Capitol and NJ
Streets southeast.
The Right Rev. Bishop Curtis. of Bal
timore, vicar to Cardinal Gibbons, Off
ciated at the ceremonies, and the Rev.
Charles Warren Currier, pastor of ST
Mary's Church, preached the sermon of
the day. In addition to these, many
local and out-of-town priests partici-
pated in the ceremonies. Among them
were the Rev. j. p Manley, pastor Of
the new church; the Rev. James F.
Mackin, of St. Paul's Church; the Rev
Edward L. Buckley. of St. Matthew's;
the Rev. Ambrose A. Beaver. of the
Church of the Immaculate Conception;
the Rev. J. c. Kent, of St. Dominic's; the
Rev. Father Meany. Of st. Dominic's;
the Rev Francis McAtee, of Holy Trim
ity; the Rev. Eugene A. Hannah, of st
Martins; the Rev. Father Roache, of
st. Aloysius; the Rev. Joseph F. MCGEE
of the Church of the Sacred Heart; the
Rev. Peter Reding, OF Ammendale. Md;
the Rev Father Bede. o. F. M: the
Rev. John NJ. Barry, of St. Joseph's
Church. Baltimore; the Rev Francis
Drury. of St. Augustine's. Baltimore;
the Rev. Father McKale. Lynchburg
Va; the Rev Charles o. Rosensteel. of
St Johns Church. Forest Glen, Md, and
the Rev. p. J. o'Connell. st. Stephens.
Procession to the Site
Before the cornerstone laying cere-
monies began there was a procession of
many Catholic societies OF the District
Of Columbia. This procession formed at
St Dominic's Church and moved from
there to the Washington Athletic Club
building. where, through the courtesy
of the Richards family, the congregation
has been worshiping while preparations
for the building of the new structure
were in progress. Awaiting the process
sion at the rectory, which adjoins the
clubhouse, were Bishop Curtis and other
| clergy.
The procession was led by Grand Mar
shall Campbell. Following the grand
marshal and his six assistants were the
State officers of the Ancient Order of
| librarians; several divisions Of that
/ order: Knights of Columbus; Catholic
/ Knights. together with the Holy Name
societies of st. Peters and st. Dominic's $.
/ The personal escort to the bishop was
| formed by the Knights of ST.. John. Altar
boys from the church preceded the body
OF clergy, the last OF whom was Bishop
4
the Rev. Fathers Bede and Kent. The
I bishop carried the crosier and wore tae
mitre The members of the Sunday
school of st. Vincent de Paul brought up
the rear Of the procession.
Blessing the Water.
Arriving at the scene of the eere-
monies the bishop, with impressive ok
| ercises, proceeded to bless the water to
be used in the ceremony. Following this
the cTcss Eas blessed, after which the
cornerstone was sprinkled and lowered
into place. The procession then moved
around the site to bless the structure
and TO sprinkle water on the foundation.
The sermon OF the day was then preach
ed by the Rev. Charles Warren Currier.
who laid stress on the fact that the
youngest church in Washington had
been founded on probably the oldest
church site. He emphasized the work
| OF a church and invoked blessings on
the latest link which bound all Catho-
lies closer and closer to st. Peter.
The site upon which the church is to
be built is historic. About 1O2 years
ago the square Of which it forms a part
was donated by the Carroll family OF
Maryland for a cathedral site ami has
never been used for building purposes.
When IT was decided TO erect the "a
thedral in Baltimore three-fourths OF
the cathedral site was sold. leaving the
present corner, or about a quarter OF a
block, for the new church, which plot
will be ample for it's needs.
Cost of Edifce.
The new church will cost $4,000. and
will be Of pure Romanesque type Il
will be OF granite trimmed with Indiana
limestone and surmounted by larg,
tower. Ground was broken for tn,
foundation last April
The congregation Of St. Vincent do
Paul was formed last December and
Cardinal Gibbons appointed the Rev. ]
p. Manley its rector. Father Mamie!
was born in ireland, but educated il
America and ordained in 1856. He was
rector of st. Peters Church in Han
cock, Md; assistant pastor OF St. Pa
tricks and St. Johns Church. Baltimore
and rector OF st. AIMS Church. in En-
mittsburg. Md.
The builder Of the church VIII be w
z. Speir, and the building committee il
T.. o. Flaherty, Z. NJ. Gunden, ]. A
Black, and William A. Richards.