The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1915-12-03
CATHOLIC CHURCH DEDICA
TON


ing of St. Williams Catholic church
was the event of the week in Fitzger-
aid. The church was beautifully
decorated, the whole of the sanctu-
airy beng covered with fancy rugs and
! centerpieces, and the three affairs
were gorgeous with the display of
lights and flowers. The electric
lighting of the building was also ex-
ceptionally fine.
Some time before the service of
the dedication began, crowds began
to gather, and by $50 a. m, the time
! set for the dedication service, the
church was filled to OVERLOOKING, ey-
cry available space in the church
proper and even in the choir gallery
) being occupied. The Catholic people
. were much gratified by the presence
Of such large number of their non
Catholic friends and neighbors who
; came to extend their congratulations
and good wishes.
At $3.50 the procession formed ia
the sacristy of the church, and head
; ed by cross bearer and two AGO.
) lytes, carrying lighted candles, pro-
ceeded from the main altar to the en-
trance of the church. Bishop Kelley
; was the celebrant of this service, and
clad in metre and cope and carrying
the crozier, he walked in the pro-
cesslon around the outside of the
) church, reciting with the priests the
words of the 50th psalm, meanwhile
sprlnkling the outer walls of the
; edifice with holy water; when the
) procession re-entered the church the
. Litany of the saints was intoned, and
this was concluded when the bishop
) reached the altar The interior walls
Of the church we're then blessed in
a similar manner and the concluding
prayers of dedication were said.
This ceremony was followed imme-
; diately bya solemn High Mass, cele-
. brated by Rev. c. M. Reich, of AL
! bany, who was assisted by Rev. John
Salter, S. J., of Augusta, as deacon,
. and Rev. Ralph Herbert, S. M, of
Atlanta, as sub-deacon. Rev. Dan J.
McCarty, of Milledgeville, acted as
; master of ceremonies. The music
of the mass was rendered by Messrs.
Geo. Kratzer, Alex Schmitz and Prof.
Setterich, Mrs. H. DeVald officiated
at the organ. At the conclusion of
. the mass the English hymn, Holy
God, We Praise Thy Name" was
! sung. The choir was assisted by
Rev. Anthony Meyer, o. S. B., and
Rev. Jas. D. Mitchell, both of Savan-
nah,
The sermon was preached by Bish-
op Kelley, who presided at the mass
and gave the blessing at its close.
The bishop complimented the peo-
pie of Fitzgerald on the attractive
churchbuilding erected in their city.
and paid special compliment to the
zeal and interest of Father Schon-
hardt, who warked so hard and dill
gently for its erection. He spoke of
the meaning of the church. referred
to its first establishment by Christ,
and said that the authoritative voice
OF Peter and Paul and the other
apostles was always recognized as the
voice of Christ; and this voice speaks
in the world to-day through the
apostles successors, in the same
church with the same authority. He
spoke of the misrepresentation made
against the church from the very be-
ginning, and urged his hearers to
come to the church and see and hear
for themselves what the church
stands for, and not go to her enemies
fortheir information.
The following priests, besides other
visitors from Columbus, Savannah
and other places, were present at the
services:
Ri. Rev. Benz. J. Kelley, Bishop of
Savannah.
/ Rev. JAS D. Mitchell, Savannah.
Rev. Anthony Meyer, o. S. B. Sa-
vannah.
Rev. John D. Mccarthy, Savannah.
Rev. Ralph Herbert, S. NJ, At
lanta
Rev,G. X. Schadewe11, Washington.
Rev. D. ]. Mccarthy, Milledgeville.
Rev. John M. Salter, S. J., Augusta
Rev. P. H. Mcmahon, Augusta.
Rev. R. F. Kennedy, Atlanta.
Rev. c. M. Rich, Albany.
) Rev. H. A. Schonhardt, Albany.
Quite large number of the mem
bers of the church received holy COM
munion at the early masses and even
: Few at the high mass.
Mass viii bo