Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-19
[By J. F. T, McGrath]

by y. r.. i. MCGrdCnj.
Tyrone, Iowa, Feb. 16.-The cere-
mony of rededicating the Cathlic
church at Georgetown was performed
Tuesday at that place by the Very
Rev. Dean Hoppman of Ottumwa, rep
resenting the Right Rev. Bishop Davis
of the Davenport diocese in the pres
ence of large congregation Of Catho-
lies, gathered from different points in
Monroe county to witness the services.
The people of the Georgetown parish,
known as st. Patrick's parish, deter
mined, through their committee, last
August, that they would improve and
beautify their massive stone church
building and make it one of the very
incest in the state. With this end in
view specifications were drawn calling
for about s4,O0O.0O interior improve
ments, which taken in conjunction
with the donative improvements will
bring the cost of Tie entire work
up to $6,500.00, new steel ceiling
being the chief improvement. An
incline floor having a fall of feet
from the vestibule to the altar.
distance of one hundred feet and new
pews-120 in number came next, the
pews alone costing S1,05O.OO giving the
building seating capacity of 700 per-
sons.
The interior of the building is a
beautiful blend Of buff and gold.
A new two furnace system
of hot air heating plant has been in
stalled at cost of $500 which rend-
ers the building comfortable in all
weather-a vast improvement over the
old plan of heating it with stoves.
Three handsome new affairs, which
by the way are the very acme of
modern altar building. have been
placed in the building together with
many new and appropriate pieces of
statuary. Father P. j. Gaule, the
pastor has every reason to feel
pardonably proud when he views this
good work for it is largely owing to
his untiring energy and effort that
the transformation has been bought
about and the committee, of which
he is the head, is entitled to the pro-
found gratitude of the parish for the
zeal displayed in directing the i'm
provments. The members of the con-
gregation have been particularly gen
erous in their response to the COM
mittee's call for funds and have met
their calls promptly.
| The Services.
The services attendant upon rededi-
eating the building were commenced
at 1890 A. M. and were very impress
sive. The procession forming in the
sanctury headed by the altar boys
who were followed by Dean
Hoppman, who had the service in
charge and who was followed by
assistant priests. They proceeded to
the main vestibule, down the center
aisle, where the services were begun
with the chanting Of the Lituary of
the Saints while the procession was
moving toward the main altar, upon
the conclusion of which the procession
passed around to the side aisles
blessing the building and statuary IN
accordance with the ritual prescribed
for such ceremony. Upon the con-
clusion of the services the mass for
the occasion begun. The following
were the officers OF, the mass: Cele-
brant, Rev. P. j. Gaule, Resident
Pastor: Deacon, Rev. e. F. Saule Of
st. Ambrose, Des Moines; Sub-deacon
Rev. w. J. Guinan of Abba; Master
of Ceremonies, Rev. Thomas Brown
rigg of Melrose; Acolytes, Masters
Pierce Grady, Leo Flattery; Cross
Bearer James Flattery The sermon
was preached by the Very Rev. Hop
mann and was a master piece Of
oratory, replete with beautiful
thoughts. dwelling particularly upon
faith in Gods church-the faith that
impels men to make sacrifices to
erect beautiful temples wherein to
worship the living God and to insti-
tute schools wherein to inculcate in
to the minds of youth Christian
thought and Christian virtues in con.
juction with secular learning.
The Rev. Clergy present were: Very
Rev. Dean Hoppman, Ottumwa; Rev
Thos. Smythe, Lovila Rev. w. j.
; Quinan, Abba; Rev. Thomas Brown
rigg.
Personal Donations.
The personal donation to the i'm
provements were as follows
Main altar by Mr.. and Mrs. J. P
Heffron and family 100000. s;
st. Joseph's altar by Mrs. L. Cough
lin, 100000.
, Blessed Virgins altar by Mrs
: Thomas Collins, $500.
Statuary, The Twelve Apostles by
Div, 1 A. O. H. and L. A. o.. H.
s25O.0O.
st. Agnes by Miss Mary Heffron
$4,000.