The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-07-20
FIRST CATHOLIC CHAPEL CAR,

FIRST CATHOLIC CHAPEL CAR.
An Important Event in History Of the
Church in America.
An event in the history Of the church
in America took place a few Sundays
since, when the first Catholic Chapel
car was blessed and dedicated by
Archbishop Quigley Of Chicago, assist
ed by Right Rev. P. j. Muldoon and
about one hundred priests.
The first chapel car marks an era
of progress in a new direction The
donor is Ambrose Petry of New York,
Catholic laynan, a man Of means,
who is using his wealth, not in buying
books and building libraries for the
well and the strong. for those who are
able to keep themselves-but for the
salvation of souls. It cost $4,000.
The car is named in honor Of st.
Anthony of Padua and placed under
his protection, for the reason that Mr..
Petry is specially devoted to this saint.
with everything necessary for a long
journey over prairie and desert and
through mountainous regions. The
length Of the car is ~ feet. Most of
the space. Of course, is given up to the
chapel, which has a seating capacity
of so and will probably accommodate a
total of IS persons. The altar, special
ly made for the car, is so constructed
that in its many drawers and recepta-
cles may be stored the sacred vessels
and vestments. In the center Of the
altar is beautiful painting Of st.
Anthony. The altar utensils, such as
candles. crucifixes, ETC., will be held
in place by screws. The communion
railing is movable and when needed
can be converted into a confessional,
There are two rows Of pews which
slide along a grooved rail, seating two
or three persons and divided by mar
row aisle.
The appointments Of the chapel car
are complete in every particular, the
entire effect being one Of extreme SIM
plicity. A set of stations will be added
within few weeks. The other COM
partments of the car are the Bishops
room, for the Bishops of the various
dioceses will travel in this car as often
as their manifold duties will permit
them. to administer the sacrament Of
Confirmation to their scattered people, ,
This room is not of large size, is in
reality composed simply Of two seats,
as are found in the ordinary Pullman
car. and at night is converted into a
bed chamber. The adjoining room will
be occupied by the priest who will ac-
company the car on it's travels. In
this room there is combination book
case and writing table. This room, too,
has sleeping accommodations for two
persons-all beds to be made up" in
the regular Pullman style.
The car has small kitchen COM
pletely equipped and the services of a
porter who is also cook have been
engaged. This is an important feature.
for to conserve the health Of the tim
Grant priest. a suitable fare is neces-
sary; and in view of the fact that the
car is intended to traverse the wild
and isolated regions of the west and
south, number of storage boxes and
refrigerators are provided, which will
enable the occupants to carry supplies
and provisions for a Journey of several
weeks. All these things were care
fully considered in planning the car,
with the result hat no essentials for
comfort. convenience and serviceabil-
ity have been overlooked.
The st. Anthony Chapel Car is now
making the rounds of the Wichita do
cese AID Bishop John j. Hennex,ey
will accompany it for some time. The
diocese of Wichita comprises one third
of the entire state Of Kansas, and
covering an era Of 42,a15 square miles.
The total Catholic population of the
Wichita diocese is 10000 and for this
number there are only "a priests, So
churches with resident priests and 81
missions and churches. There are only
SO parishes with schools. with a total
attendance of less than 1000 children.
IF there is anything to learn from
Corey's case" remarks a philosophic
contemporary, "the student may gain
new impression OF the sarac,tv y,