The Washington herald., 1913-04-02
CHURCH PRINCES
BLESS EDIF|CE
St. Matthews Catholic Church
IN Rhode Island Avenue
Is Dedicated.
CARDINAL GIBBONS HERE
History Of Parish Reviewed BY Arch
bishop Keane, Of Du.
buque, Iowa.

With all the religious grandeur ant
| solcmnity of ceremonial with which TIT
| Catholic Church surrounds her special oc
casions, St. Matthews Church, on RHODE
Island Avenue. near Connecticut Ave
nue., was yesterday dedicated In TIT
presence of the highest princes OF thu
| Catholic Church in America Com
mencing at 9 o'clock in the morning ane
continuing until noon the ceremonies o.
consecrating the magnificent new edinc'
were most impressive.
His excellency, Most Rev. John Bon
zano, apostolic delegate TO the United
| States: hfs eminence Cardinal Gibbons
Archbishop Keane, of Dubuque. Iowa
Archbishop O'Connell. Bishop Donohue
Bishop Macs, Bishop Kelley, 1t. Rev
Mgr. Russell OF st. Patrick's Church
Rt. Rev. Mgr. James F. Mackin, OF st
Paurs Church; Rt Rev. Mgr. Shahan
of the Catholic University; Mgr. Starr
Of Baltimore; Mgr. Lavelle, OF New YORK
and other ecclesiastical dignitaries TOOK
part in the ceremonies.
ROBBED in gold vestments OF riches,
cloth, Cardinal Gibbons and the other
prelates braved the wind ana cold OF
yesterday morning, and c!rcled the
church building several times, while the
Cardinal blessed the exterior portions
blessed the interior.
Promptly at II o'clock. solemn pontifical
high mass, with Mgr. Bonzano as cele-
brant, was commenced. A procession
which entered the church from the rec
tory, and which included long line OF
Francisco and Dominican friars. preceded
the apostolic delegate to the altar.
Archbishop Keane, Of Dubuque, one OF
the ablest preachers in the Catholic
church, delivered the sermon of the morn
ing. He reviewed the long and honorable
history of st. Matthews predicted a glo-
rious future for the church, and declared
that religion is the biggest fact in the
world today. The argument that the ex-
act sciences undermine religion is mis-
take, he declared. Religion welcomes in
vestigation into facts, said the arch
bishop. and will never be harmed by the
discovery Of new facts.
History of the Church.
Solemn vespers were chanted in the
church last night at 7:45 o'clock. Arch
bishop O'Connell of Richmond, formerly
rector of the Catholic University, In this
city, officiating. Bishop Donohue, of
Wheeling, w. Va, preached an eloquent
and forceful sermon. The ceremonies OF
the day were concluded by the benediction
of the Blessed Sacrament.
Greens and beautiful flowers adorned
the sanctuary of the church yesterday.
Much of the interior decorating Of the edi-
flee is still incomplete. and 1t will be some
time before the work is completed. Mod
eled after one of the most magnificent
temples in Europe, II is said that St Mat
thews Church. when completed. will be
the most imposing Catholic structure in
this diocese.
ST. Matthews has been a power In
Washington church circles for years.
The church formerly stood at the cor
ner of Fifteenth and II Streets North
west. on the site now occupied by the
Southern Building. The old structure
was begun in 1888 and used continuously
until a few years ago. 1t was decided
finally to move because of the encroach-
ments of the business section.
On Thanksgiving Day, 1892, Cardinal
Gibbons laid the corner stone OF the
present edifice. Because of lack of
funds. however, work since that time
has been halted on various occasions.
worship. which has aroused the admira-
ton of priests and laity in Washington,
Mgr. Lee continued his efforts so vigor-
ously that at last the cathedral-like
church is nearly complete.
The altar in the church is said to be
the most beautiful and complete in this
country. towering dome surmounts
the structure, which is Of brick. A COW
cred passageway connects the church
with the rectory, next door.
In carrying on the work of st. Mat
thews parish, Ri. Rev. Mgr. Thomas
S. Lee the rector. is assisted by Rev.
Edward l.. Buckley, Rev. John M.
Cooper, and Rev. Philo Mills.