The Dickinson press., 1905-06-10
ST. PatriCk's Church.
Beautiful in Architectural Design,
Rich in Finish and Adjournment.
Crowds Attend the Dedica-
ton on Wednesday and Were De-
lighted With This Edifice Erected
on the Parish Property in the
Western Part of the City.
THE NEW

THE NEW CHURCH, |
St. Patrick's church, Gothic in style. is
an architectural jem, 4 delight to the eye
| for beauty Of color and contour of form.
The corner stone was laid Oct. IS, 1904,
by Very Rev. Thomas Egan, represent
ing the bishop. The foundation is gray
! stone from New Salem while buff brick
from the Dickinson yards was used for
the superstructure, with stone Of a
| darker shade for trimmings. The build.
ing consists OF the main audience room
facing east and a south rear chapel
wing also fronting east. Entering the
church is the vestibule and stairway to
the gallery where no detail of finish has
been omitted or Sighted. Passing into
the the church proper the first view is
entrancing-the lovely tints and frescoes,
each making the other more beautiful,
the CLINT of gold, the white affairs and
statuary-and all enhanced and soften
ed by the light from stained glass
windows. The floor slopes gently to-
ward the chancel; the pews are of finely
polished oak in natural finish and are
supplied with reversible stools, book
and hat racks. The altar rail and the
| chAncel desks and fnishings are of the
same finely polished wood, heavily orna
mented with gold leaf. 1t is impossible
to give in a pen picture any adequate
idea of the interior finish. The chancel's
vaulted roof is decorated in blue thickly
studded with gold stars. The lower part
is finished in terra Gotta, and the floor
carpeted in soft greens above tine chancel
arch appears "Sanctus; Sanctus; Sanctus'
and a row of electric lights outlines this
arch. The main ceiling is a deep cream
frescoed in gold with touches Of red and
separated by a band Of terra Gotta from
the frieze Of light green, frescocd in a
darker shade of green; a tiny line of
pink separates this from the nextsec,ion
done in buff, stenciled in gold, while a
bit of red and gold divides this from the
light golden brown base. The lints are
all soft and the color scheme, while
complicated, is perfect.
The first large window on the north
"The Christ Of the Sacred Heart" was
given by Katherine Coleman in memory
Of her mother; the second Christ the
Shepherd by Mrs. Ray in memory OF her
husband; the third "St. Joseph and the
Christ child" by Mrs. Manning in
memory Of her son Willie; the fourth,
on either side by the boys and young
men of the parish; the window next the
altar of The Virgin, is a Madonna, given
by Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Schultz: the
next "St. Patrick" BY MIR. and Mrs. Nj.
McGinley; the third the "Sistinc Madon-
ma" by Mrs. Leonberger and Mrs.
McAndrews. The large window in the
gallery over the main entrance was
donated by the girls and young ladies
Of the church, the subject being "Christ
blessing little children" In passing we
note that no window in church, chapel,
vestibule or gallery is OF other than
stained glass.
The statuary, which is all very care
luliJ SeleStcu DUH lOi IOIIl anu COlOT,
was all donated. The statue OF St.
Patrick, occupying the center niche Of
the large altar, by Miss Ray; St. Joseph
on the right was the gift Of Mrs. Man
ming and FIR. Dignam is to fill in the
third space. The statue of the Sacred
Heart was the gift Of Mrs. Schultz; that
Of the Blessed Virgin was given by Mrs.
Joe Cuskelley. The altar lamp was the
offering of the altar boys.
Everything is new-candelabra, can
dlesticks, altar cloths, the beautiful gold
lace, censor-all is new.
The chapel is fitted with pews and a
combination altar and vestnent case,
and can be used for occasions when few
are present.
The church is located north of the
parish house on Cross street, St. Pat
rick's owning nearly half the block.
The cost of the building and furnishings
was over $4,000 the latter being princi-
pally donated. 1t is furnace heated
and electric lighted and ventilation is
provided by swinging sections at the
base of the windows.
Hancock Bros. of Fargo were the
architects and Charles Bake and An
drew Walsh the contractors, who both
feel justly proud Of their work. But to
Rev. J. Dignam probably more than
another belongs the credit of securing
the building and finding a way where
there at first seemed to be none.
REV. JOHN D1GNAM, PASTOR,
Rev. John Dignam, pastor of St. Pat
rick's parish, was born in Ireland, cdu-
Gated at Maynooth college-the great
ecclesiastical seminary of lreland-and
came to this country in 1903.
Alter a successful stay at St. Mary's
Cathedral, Fargo, under Rt. Rev. Bishop
Stanley, he vas appointed to take
charge of St. Patrick's parish, Dickin-
son.
His career in his present incumbency
has been marked by distinguished abil.
ity, intelligent zeal and staunch deter
mination of purpose, which have re-
suited in a success that is somewhat
phenomenal.
Supported by the loyalty of his PEG.
pie, he has accomplished in a short time !
results that are alike gratifying to his |
people and creditable to himself.
That his untiring efforts have been
successful and deserve the appreciation
so cordially extended, is evidenced by
the monumental work erected in tho