Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-07-22
DEDICATION LARGELY ATTENDED.
Weather Conditions Ideal For Carrying
Out Days Program.

Sunday was beautiful dsV for the
dedication of the st. Mary's Catholic
church. The trains bringing the out
of-tof4r priests, delegations and visi-
tors were a little late and the process
sion formed at the Southeastern depot
about l1:30, headed by citizens on foot,
and followed by the Catholic Knights
of La Crosse and Cashton, the girls
/ from the La Crosse Orphanage, the
Third Regiment Band, Sisters carriage,
Bishop and Priests carriages, and pro-
ceeded to the church where there were
ceremonies dedicating the church out
side, followed by the special ceremonies
inside and the solemn high mass and
the dedication sermon delivered by the
Bishop Schwebach, of La Crosse, as
Father Murphy was unable to be pre-
| sent. He extended thanks to every
one for the assistance that had been
rendered in the erection of the church,
and especially to Father 0'Reilly, and
closed with an expression of the wish
that the little church would prove
blessing 60 the community.
Following the services at the church,
those who had listened to the sermon
went to the tabernacle, where large
number of people had proceeded, hav-
ing gone there upon finding that they
would be unable to gain admission TO
the church. Several long tables were
set on the grounds and after dinner
was served the little girls from the
0rphanage at La Crosse opened the
afternoon exercises with some songs
and some especially pretty flower drills
of roses and lilies by eight little girls
dressed in white. One of their num-
her recited ''Curfew shall not ring to-
night, which was followed by very
skillful and graceful exercise of dumb
bells by the girls.
Father 0'Reilly made a few remarks
about the undertaking of the building
of the church under difficult cireum-
stances saying that under ordinary con-
ditions such a work would have been
considered almost an impossibility.
However, through the kindness and
generosity of the Catholic and nom
Catholic friends in Viroqua and outside
it had been rendered decided success
and he was pleased to give the informa
tion that the little church was out of
debt with the exception of a very few
hundred dollars. He added that at the
commencement of the work the num-
ber of souls connected with this church
was only about 70 but this number was
now increased to about 100.
After some more songs by the girls
j. F. Doughtery of La Crosse delivered
short address, commencing with some
comments on the new church and some
explanatory remarks as to the Orphan
age girls and the charity which they
represented. He gave some very fine
tributes to the Catholic church and it's
work and spoke of the work of the
early French missionaries in Wisconsin
in a very interesting way. He said
that no man could be good Catholic
and be poor American citizen, closing
with the quotation from the words of
Pope Leo XIII: II bid you go forward,
holding in one hand the book of faith;
in the other the constitution cf the
United States"
Altogether the exercises were very
fine and enjoyed equally by Catholics
and on-Catholics. The special train
left at O'Clock but many of the out
of-town guests remained for the later
train which left at $50. In every way
the occasion was an enjoyable one and
the large crowd of people were well
entertained.