Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-12-25
THE NEW CHURCH.
First Services in the Catholic Church Held
sunday.

1 f1tst SeTNitts III VIC thIhOii' Ohhi'h ''tih
sunday.
! The first service in the new Catholic
church was held Sunday morning, Dec.
90, when large congregation was pres
ent, requiring considerable work on the
part of the ushers to seat the people as
! the pews, of necessity, had been changed
somewhat from the plan of the old
church. But after a time all found
their places and there proved to be
plenty of room for all and some space to
spare.
The epistle and gospel were the regular
ones for the fourth Sunday of Advent
and were followed by short remarks by
the pastor, appropriate to the occasion.
Speaking of the opening of new temple
for the worship of God, Father Shannon
reminded his people of the words of
Christ, "The Lord thy God thou shalt
adore, and Him only shalt thou serve"
Continuing, he said that the zeal that
has made this magnificent edifice pos
sible is but manifestation of the faith
that was in them; that they should
rejoice because in this move from the
small to the large church we can witness
an expansion of religion. 1t shows that
they have faith in the durability of the
Church of Christ, else why would they
build building too large for present
needs? Again, he said the people should
rejoice. because they have a new temple,
wherein their children would be bap-
TIED, instructed, edited, receive all the
sacraments, and where perhaps finally
their bodies would be brought before
burial He said that they could well
have a laudable pride and could well
rejoice in this great work, because they
had given with willing hearts that mite,
which with others, had helped to accom-
plsh so much But that while they
were re ioicing they should not be moved
with worldly motives, but should rather
say, 81 have given cheerfully because
God has given me this privilege to he
factor in the erection of a new temple to
His Name
"And at the last OF this and the begin
ming of a new year let us strive each to
make of himself a temple, Swept and
garnished' that the saviour may find
new dwelling within our hearts and souls
at this time" The pastor then heartily
gave his personal thanks to the people
for the generous cooperation which had
made possible the success of his work.
The new church is constructed of
white marble, rock faced. and is one of
the most imposing and beautiful build
ings in Addison county. The iounda-
tiOns were laid in 1898. From August
of that year till May. 1902. no progress
was made on the building.
Rev. j. ID. Shannon, the present pas
tor, came here in October, 1899, and
began Immediately to look up ways
nd means to create "A fund to 90 for
ward with the work of completing the
church and he has been wonderfully
successful i'll Ills vifOito. The structure,
columns, is of beautiful design and
everything about it has "A look Of solid
beauty, durability and permanence; the
handsome slate roof contrasting nicely
with the white marble walls. Only the
nortion alone Ios g. sa.ting canac;tv
P lor,rd,. t,a,' tI1o LII ch,rci hmildinol
T. , Ill., ran,,;ra s.,.'raI tb"msnn5 mora
70 fri "ni tbe Irhnrch and if viii tban he
one a', nc tI,n finest in tLe state Father
Channo, o' did mood uorl, ~ 1irdorbiII
y, , No ,r.s eiocat.d hafora con,in,r 70
M;ddIeh1r~ "' Hn there fnmnd am neon W
nIeted chnycb adif;ce ,yhicb wa. finisbad
E r., lie atTnrts ana thnsa t,~n nhnrcb
byyiIdingS vii he n'amoriaIs r. Tho ',rata-
fri afrection in Which ne is b.Id hy lis
, ~, f e. liz dar",in od aar, r1