The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-04-30
CELEBRATING anniversary
Baltimore Cathedral Was Erected
100 Years Ago Today.
ELABORATE PROGRAM WAS CARRIED OUT
MANY NOTED CATHOLIC CLERGY
MEN OF COUNTRY TOOK PART
IN EXERCISES.
ELABORATE PROGRAM WAS CARRIED OUT

BALTIMORE, Md, April 30.-The
two days' celebration which began here
Yesterday in honor of the one hum
dredth anniversary of the laying OF
the cornerstone of the old Baltimore
cathedral, has attracted to this city
larger gathering of prelates of the Ro-
man Catholic church than any event
since the last plenary council, which
was held here in 1884. Bishops, arch
bishops and other high dignitaries of
the church from all parts of the coun-'
try met here for the purpose Of taking
has entered upon its second day. Nat
uralIy, the magnificent old cathedral,
now fully completed and thoroughly
renovated and redecorated for this oc-
casion forms the central scene Of the
celebration. The Baltimore cathedral
is the second oldest cathedral in this
country. The oldest one, that Of ST.
Augustine, Fla, was built by the Span
iards.
The official church celebration took
place yesterday and was one of the
most magnificent and gorgeous spec
tacles ever seen in this city. 1t began
with a procession of twelve archbish-
ops, a hundred or more bishops, mon
signors, abbots and other high digni-
taries of the church and hundreds of
minor members of the clergy. The
procession marched around the cathe-
dral grounds and finally entered the
cathedral, where pontifica. nigh mass
was celebrated, with Archbishop Far
ley, of New York, officiating. Arch
bishop Ryan, of Philadelphia, preached
the sermon The cathedral was crowd
ed to suffocation. At the vesper SER
vice Archbishop Messmer. of Milwau-
kee, officiated and Archbishop Ireland,
of st. Paul. preached the sermon.
The social part of the celebration is
taking place today. During the day
there are a large number of receptions
held in honor of the visiting prelates
and in the evening there will be a large
meeting at the Lyceum. There all the
visitors and the members of the local
clergy will gather at reception. Sec
rotary of the Navy Charles J. Bona
parte will deliver the principal ad-
dress.
The cornerstone of the Baltimore ca
thedral was laid by Bishop Carroll on
July Z, 1906. Baltimore had at that
time a population of only about 10000,
and the Catholic community numbered
scarcely more than 5000. Archbishop
Carroll was appointed first bishop of
Baltimore by Pope Plus VII and was
consecrated on August Is, 1890, in the
chapel attached to Lulworth castle,
Dorsetshire, England. His see, the
oldest in the United States, embraced
then the whole country. The conse-
Grating priest was the Right Rev. DR..
Walmesley, vicar apostolic of the Lon
don district
The site selected for the cathedral
was purchased from Governor How
ard, of revolutionary fame, whose
equestrian statue adorns Mount YER
non Place. The architect of the cathe-
dral was Benjamin Henry Latrobe,
many times mayor of Baltimore. Mr..
Latrobe also designed the capitol at
Washington. The granite of which the
cathedral was built was brought from
the quarires of Elliott city in carts
drawn by oxen. The work of construc-
ton proceeded slowly until 1872, when
it was interrupted by the war with En-
gland. After the war the wor was re-
sumed and carried on until the COM
pletion of the structure in 1921 On
May 31.1S21. the edifice was dedicated
by Archbishop Mareschal. About fifty
years ago the portico was constructed
by Archbishop Kenrick The cathedral
was consecrated on Ascension day,
Thursday, May %. 1876. by Archbishop
Beyley. The sacristy was erected in
1879 aid the building was enlarged
and the new sanctuary added in 1888.