The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-09-22
GREAT EVENT IN HISTORY
Of SACRED HEART CATH0-
Lie CONGREGATION,
Cornerstone OF New Edifice Laid.

Sunday was memorable day for the
members of the Sacred Heart Catholic
congregation. 1t WAS day of solemn
devotion, for the cornerstone of the new
church edifice that is being erected by
the Sacred Heart con rgregation at State
and North Seventh streets was laid.
The services and exercises occupied the
greater part of the day.
The services began early in the morn
ing. Low mass was celebrated at 8 a. IN.
by Archbishop Messmer. He was assist
ed by Rev. J. T. O'Leary, the pastor of
the Sacred Heart congregation. At ten
o'clock high mass was celebrated by
Rev. d. Traudt, secretary to the arch
bishop This was solemn service.
The small church was filled to the
limit of its capacity at both the low and
high mass even the aisles being occupied
by attendants. An eloquent sermon
was delivered by the archbishop. The
distinguished prelate spoke on questions
relating to Catholic faith and other
matters of vital interest to the Catholic
church. He also pointed out the far
reaching significance of the erection of
the new church edifce, school and par
sonage. The music was another special
feature of the occasion.
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon the out
door ceremonies and exercises began. A
procession consisting of all the Catholic
societies in Manitowoc, Two Rivers and
Meeme formed at the court house square
and marched to the new church site in
the following order under the direction
of Marshal G. w. Kennedy: st. Boniface
society, Manitowoc; st. Joseph's society,
Two Rivers; st. Peters society, Two
Rivers; Catholic Knights, Two Rivers;
Sacred Heart Court, Catholic Order of
Foresters, Manitowoc; Catholic Knights,
Manitowoc; Catholic Knights, Osman;
Knights of Columbus, Manitowoc. The
procession was several blocks in length.
The city council also participated and a
large cOncourse of citizens, both Catho-
lies and Protestants, tiocked to the
grounds to witness the solemn cere-
monies At least 800 people were in
attendance
Upon arriving at the grounds the
marching column, with their beautiful
banners and flags, occupied the floor of
the new structure, whose foundation
had just been completed, and awaited
the coming of Archbishop Messmer,
Father O'Leary and the visiting clergy,
who arrived fifteen minutes later.
The chanting of the litany of the
saints by the archbishop and the clergy
was the first ceremony. The archbishop
then consecrated the grounds and the
structure and blessed the cornerstone
with holy water Rev. O'Leary read d
document. This and copies of the news
papers published in this city, were de
posted in II copper box which was
placed in the stone by John E. Plumb,
president of the city council Masons
then put the cornerstone in place. After
this ceremony an able and eloquent
address was delivered by Rev. P. II.
Durnin of St Mary's church, Milwaukee.
The theme of the discourse was Chris
tian Education. On opening the sermon
the speaker took occasion to congratulate
the congregation of the Sacred Heart
parish of this city on their successful
efforts in securing church home. He
said that true education must be ground
ed on religion Religion and intellectual
education were not Incompatible.
With impressive eloquence and marked
lucidity he dwelled upon the scope,
aims. purpose and far reaching signifi-
canoe of Catholic education.
Among the priests who assisted at the
ceremonies attendant upon the laying of
the cornerstone were: Revs. d. j.
Ohearn, Milwaukee; Thomas Johnson,
Racine; Joseph Geisler, and L. Lechrow-
ski. Two Rivers; j. Heyde, Meeme;
Joseph Van Treck, Alverno; VIM. Peil
and Joseph Chylewski, city.
The ceremonies were concluded short
ly after four o'clock and memorable
day in the religious life Of The Sacred
Heart congregation had passed into
history.