Evening journal., 1904-05-23
CORNERSTONE
DULY LAID
Two Thousand People Wit
messed Impressive Ceremo-
nies at Delaware City
HISTORY OF ST, PAUL'S CHURCH
Special to The Evening journal.

Special to The Evening Journal.
Delaware City, May 23.-The corner
stone of the new st. Paurs Catholic
Church was laid at this place yesterday
afternoon with impressive ceremonies
by Rt. Rev. John T. Monaghan, d. D.,
Bishop of Wilmington.
With reverent mien two thousand
people listened i'm rapt attention to the
ceremonies which were interesting,
beautiful, touching. Many of these
people had Travelled miles to witness
the rites. BY trolley car, carriage and
on foot they began to enter the town
long before the hour set for the serv--
Ice. All highways and byways seemed
10 lead to Delaware City, and by noon
the visitors began to arrive.
The principal point of interest was
the new church. which has reached the
top of the foundation walls. 1t stands
at the east side of Washington street
and within a half block of the trolley
line as the town is entered. The cor
ner-stone, of Brandywine granite, occu-
pied conspicuous position at the
southwest corner Of the fundations
The visiting clergymen, Hibernian
knights in fun uniform. and St. Pet-
er's T. A. b. Society, the latter Of New
Castle, arrived on special trolley car.
They proceeded to the present st.
Pauls Church where the orders form
ed in line and marched to the new
church, led by Brooks fife and drum
corps, of Wilmington. The altar boys
and the clergy proceeded to take up
their positions about the stone while
the T. A. b. Society acted as a guard
of honor and protected the clergy from
the pressure of the crowd.
Bishop Monaghan wore the full re-
gala Of his office and conducted the
service, assisted by the following
clergymen in their vestments The Rev.
James L. McSweeney, pastor Of st.
Pauis, Delaware City; the Rev. e. J.
Brady, of st. Peters, New Castle; the
Rev. William J. Birmingham. Of st.
Patrick's, Wilmington; the Rev. Hugo
Paf, Of Sacred Heart, Wilmington;
the Rev. William Scott, of st. Joseph's
on the Brandywine; the Rev. John S.
| Gulcz, of st. Hedwig's, Wilmington;
the Rev. John A. Clancy, st. Joseph's
Colored Church, Wilmington; the Rev.
George J. Kelly st. Mary's, Whining
ton.
Throughout the exercises Father
/ Monaghan's assistants formed a semi
circle about him, and as he took the
trowel and pronounced the formal cere-
mony over the stone a hush fell upon
the crowd of spectators which was
broken only by the Reverend Fathers
voice.
The stone holds a copper box in
which is placed a number of coins,
church documents and copies of to-
days Wilmington newspapers. The
actual sealing Of the stone was not
done at the ceremony.
on the face of the stone Is the fol-
lowing inscription; 'Invocate Sancto
Paulo Apostolic, 1904" surmounted by
the cross.
Behind the Bishop stood little page
with an urn of holy water. After
sprinkling a few drops on the stone
and its contents the Bishop passed
around bestowing his benediction on
the barred brows Of the hundreds who
stood to receive it.
The sermon was preached by Father
Birmingham, who took his text from
the Gospel according to ST. Mark. 2Sth
chapter, 18th to 21st verses. being the
divine adjunct of the Lord to his apos-
ties; Behold, I am with ye at all times,
even unto the consummation of the
world"
He gave a short history Of the Cath
olic Church and spoke of its strength
and the beauty of it's faith. He cited
the trials through which the early
Catholics passed, their final triumph
over Rome, their growth and the spread
Of their doctrine throughout the world.
He congratulated the people Of Della
ware City for attaining to the dignity
of $4,000 edihce in which to worship,
and hoped that it might be completed
speedily and dedicated to its holy mis-
sion.
The following musical program was
rendered by forty voices under the di-
rection Of l.. B. Preston, with VIII NJ.
s. Brown as accompanist: Gloria" +"
Mozart's twelfth mass; "Lauda Zion"
Mendelssohn; "Veni Creator" Rossini,
soprano solo, Mrs. Mary c. Preston;
Praise Ye the Father" grand tri-
umphal chorus, Gounod; '"re Deum"
The ceremonies consumed about an
hour and a half. and as soon as they
were finished the visitors who had
come by trolley boarded the waiting
cars and left for home.
Delaware City had no Catholic
! church up to 1852, mass previous TO
that time having been celebrated in
the residence of Mrs. Ellen O'Neu. who
, lived on Washington street Through
the efforts Of Thomas Cosgrove per-
mission was obtained In 1852 from
Bishop Newman to erect a church here
In 1858 is was dedicated by Acting
Bishop Suran. At that time the church
belonged to the Philadelphia diocese. II
is the church in which the congrega-
tion worships at present 1t is a brick
II NafNra 90
and was erected at a cost OF $1,000
Services were held once a month by a
priest from Wilmington. After that
New Castle and Delaware City were
made parish.
Among the priests who labored in
Delaware City were Fathers Corbin
Susantine, Corneiey, Daily. Donohue
r Bourneman, Kiely. now Bishop Kiely
Of Savannah, Ca; Rebman, Brady
Daley Higgins and McSweeney, the
s latter being the present pastor.