The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-11-30

he rules his aock, stands 90 tie diocese
as the church % the paris--t1e Crcat
fountain head and source - authority
and zea.. The church pre-curlnrat amouR
OIL others, Wtc-r0u rho entire people law
isA t-cir choicest gift- IT, every CATH
l-c Eotac in he State the conservation
wls au ovens % the greatest moment.
and While thousands could NOT f1r sari-
o-s re.-sons. attend. rul =til fewcr could
sAia cntrnnce. tle thoughts @. al were
turned toward ttr capital ct-v. Long
wears % hope were seeing thcir frUltion
there. through tile m-uihccnce % one
family Prom time beyond tile memory
~ most men. old ST. Peters had htcu
t1e episcopal seat. and though once tno
fuost notable church edlrce 81 Richmond.
.t was NOT in keeping with The present
Importance and dignity % tAe diocese.
lo see arise in is place snagrllcent
temple that might .n some more adequate
measure express the Catholics id-s ~ what
Constitutes Cd nt abiding place Tor Almighty
God had been great and cherished hone
fpr quarter ~ "a century. But Tor many
years the cornerstone brought from tic
Garden OF Gethsemare by one % tho care
-er bishops. was all taat had been an-
comp -sned toward this lorged-cor cnl-
Ihe sudden realization % This apparently
-tl. far-ci-tant possession. and in q fo,m
t1.t cannot but exert tremendous iu-
Nrenrc tpr the uubuild.ng pf che church
il this diocese. was ODD event Of signal
.mportarce. This was the real meaning
~ Tho cnnsecratlon % tLc 10000 Catho-
lies 81 N.reinIa apart from the mere
presence ~ tie Nlstr.ols and reverend
clurehrneu.
What the Ge.out Catholic fe.t was app
rrc.lltod ln smaller degree bv many
~ different creeds. TIE opening OF
great temple II worship enlisted tic
sympathie- o. an Christian peoples. ana
'.la .il.f r.f rrrF raH t'
that places Richmond among tho catlc-
dral cities Of the world. was "a source of
civic pride and satisfaction 20 all
Combining these elements of interest
ana attraction. the event was notable IN
the history OF Richmond and the SER
vices were attended with the interest Of
tile entire community.
The Consideration.
While the city slept and darkness stM
lay over the city. the service began The
quictness OF untroubled night prevailed
in the vicinity of the cathedral. street
cars mad not vet begun 10 run. and but
Tor am occasional pedestrian or a lum-
heriug wagon there was no movement
in the streets apart from those gather
ing at the shrine. The gray pile OF tho
cathedral was ablaze with light cleaning
through the darkness like a giant beacon
IL was still more than an hour before
sunrise when in twos and thrces and
shivering in the chill air the people be
gan to gather Through the bare trees
OF Monroe Park the scene was picturesque
and impressive
T-shers surrounded the church and pre-
vented the crowd from approaching
Shortly after the angcius had chimel
in the distant churches. family sounding
for those gathered at the cathedral, Arch
bishop Falconio. papal delegate the only
dgnitary of high rank present. appeared
in tho street robcd i'm vestments Of white
with mitre and bearing the pastoral stan
Preceded by altar boys and clergy Ills
EXcellency passed entirely around tho
church three times. blessing the exterior.
inc great silver crucihN rose high at
the head Of the procession. Tho torches
or the acolytcs sent nUul CLEANS into
the darkness.
striking the front door OF tho church
with lis stan. the delegate commanded
that II hc opened in tho name cr ill.,.
Most High God. The procession .1tcreI
ana tho doors were closed. Five 5isbors.
including Bishop Van de- Vyvcr. drov.
mp and entered the building They were
the consecrators. For three hours tha
ceremonial on tbe interior continued. tho
public being excluded. Tn the satbcriD,,
light on the outside people stm stood
patiently. Many were there from, cu-
riosity. but they were subdued and rev
crent as tho occasion demanded. MANY
others were devout wOrshipors. whose
thoughts were centred upon tho solemn
but unseen services within.
Most OF these latter bravcd tho cola
and tho dark Cor long time after the
procession passed into the building; the