The Irish standard., 1908-06-06

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stration ever seen in the northwest,
the ceremcnials of the laying Of the
procathedral cornerstone at Hennepin
avenue and Sixteenth street were en-.
acted with pomp and solemnity. Un-
der cloudless sky fully 100000 per-
sons gathered to get a glimpse of the
ceremonials from their vantage points
in the streets, on the amphitheater
formed by the embankment about the
walls, on lawns, In nearby houses and
from the tree tops.
To have the personal representative
of the pope officiate at the cornerstone
laying was in itself sufficient warrant
that multitude Of faithful Catholics
would be present. Mgr. Diomede Fall
COMO, apostolic delegate to the United
States. was the central figure. next
to him Archbishop John Ireland Of st.
Paul, whose earnest desire to see Min
neapolis Catholics have a procathedral
in keeping with their piety and num-
bers, was honored.
On the Rrandstand erected at the
site. there were 1000 persons who had
been honored by being assigned seats
that they might be near the central
ceren1ontals Of the day and hear the
speeches.
At 2:s5 p. m. the procession of clergy.
headed by the orossbearer and acolytes,
seminarians, priests. bishops, arch
bishops and Mgr. Diomede Falconio.
attended by Rev. James O'Reilly. dea-
con. and Rev. Othmar Erren, sub
deacon, arrived at the reviewing stand.
They had vested at st. Margaret's ac-
ademy, within sight Of the grounds.
The prelates were assigned seats un-
der a canvas canopy at the northeast
corner Of the stand over which the
three great elms spread their branches
Promptly at 2:5o p. m. the platoon nf
mounted police rode by the reviewing
stand at the head of the parade.
The parade was viewed by the clergy
seated and they were not amiss in ap-
plauding those sections which impress
sed them. Loud cheers went up as the
Father Hennepin float appeared and
marked honors were given the students
from the Christian Brothers school,
and the ranks of the Church of tho
Immaculate Conception, Father Cul-
lens church, where the movement to-
ward building the procathedral found
Its early supporters.
The firing OF salute Of twenty one
guns by the squad from Battery B. un-
der command Of Captain Helon Leach,
announced that the parade had ended
at 4:05 p. M. an hour and forty-f five
minutes after its first columns reach
ed the stand.
Turning to the central ceremonies.
the procession of $50 seminarians fol-
lowed by the apostolic delegate. pro-
oeeded to the foot Of the twelve-font
cross which marked the location of the
high altar Of the edifce. Here tho
apostolic delegate was vested with
amice, cincture, alb. stole and cope
over his purple ecclesiastical robes. The
deacon and subdeacon put on their sa-
cred vestments.
The ofticiant. in miter and crozier.
sprinkled holy water on the cross and
about it, consecrating the spot upon
which will rise the main altar of the
procathedral. The seminarians chanted
In Latin the eighty-third psalm. ''riow
lovely are Thy tabernaoles. Oh, Lord
Of Hosts" Returning to- the corner
stone. the officiating minister sprinkled
it with holy water, traced three crosses
on each of its six faces with an ordi-
nary masonry troWel.
The copper box containing the rec
ords was deposited in the cavity of
the f1ve-ton stone and after a recital
Of the major litanies by the seminari-
ans and assembled clergy, kneeling.
Psalm 1875 was intoned. 81.
With all eyes straining to get a
glimpse of the big stone, 1t was then
slowly lowered into position. while the
apostolic delegate. placing his right
hand on it, said: I'm the faith of
Jesus Christ. we place this cornerstone
within this foundation. in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Ghost" Frank Anderson and
assisting masons had placed cement
under the stone and now leveled it.
Filling by the stone. which was now
set. the visiting prelates tapped it with
a masons hammer. The last part Of the
triple ceremony was the blessing Of the
foundation, which was now attended by
procession of the seminarians and
| the apostolic delegate Three times