The Washington herald., 1920-09-20
Catholics From Al World Coming Here for Laying
Corner Stone of National Shrine on Thursday
Stone to Be Put in Place by
Cardinal Gibbons-Rep-
resentatives Coming from
Far Off China and India
To Attend Ceremonies at
Catholic University.

More than $4,000 Catholic clergy
and laity are expected TO gather at
the Catholic University Thursday to
witness the laying of the corner
stone of the national Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception. Elaborate
ceremonies will mark the laying
OF the stone. which promises to be
the ecclesiastical event Of the year
in the United States.
In the presence OF the Amer
lean hierarchy. including seventy
bishops, the stone will be put in its
place by his Eminence James
Cardinal Gibbons. archbishop of
Baltimore. Representatives from
all shrines are expected, including
China and India. Government Off
cials, both civil and military and
naval. have been invited.
To HIVE 5000 Capacity.
The shrine. which is planned both
as a religious edifce and as a me-
mortal to the American dead in the
world war, when completed will
have capacity OF 5000. It will be
one of the most notable church edI-
hces on the North American con-
tinent
The exercises will open at 3
o'clock with an address by the Rt.
kev. Thomas J. Shahan, rector Of
the Catholic University. Following
the dediCatory ceremony by the
cardinal. the Rt. Rev John T Nc
Nicholas, q. P, d. D.. Of Duluth
Mimi. will preach the sermon,
Inc program will end with the
singing OF a recessional hymn.
Solemn High Mass Next Day.
The dedication will be followed
next day. by the observation of the
feast of Our Lady Of Mercy when
solemn high mass will be celebrated
Tor American soldiers and sailors,
both dead and living. The ceIe-
brant Of the mass will he the Rt
Rev. MGR. Edward 4 Pace. u. D..
III" Very Rev. George A Doherty,
ID. D.. will act as master Of cer..
monies.
The corner stone arrived at the
Catholic University from Baltimore
Yesterday afternoon, brought by
motor truck from Bridgeport. Conn,
by the donor. James ]. Sexton, of
mat city. II was received at the
cathedral in Baltimore by Cardinal
Gibbons and other clergy.
Narrowly Missed Blast.
BY the sheerest chance the stone
escaped destruction in the Wall
street bomb outrage Wednesday. ac.
cording to word received here yes-
terday. The original plan was to
have Archbishop Patrick ]. HAYES,
Of New York. receive the stone in
Wall street near the banking house
of J. +. Morgan & Sons at l2 o'clock
Wednesday. the day OF the bomb
outrage. Through the inability of
the Archbishop 10 be present at that
time the reception Of the stone was
postponed until Saturday when it
was received by the preIate and
other clergy at St. Patrick's Cathe-
dral in Fifth Avenue.
The stone measures four feet
square and bears q forty-word in
scription in Latin in which the
name Of President Wilson is men
toned.
To Entertain Visitors.
Members of the International
Federation of Catholic Alumnae have
organized committees to provide for
the accommodation and entertain
ment Of Catholics who are coming
to Washington for the ceremony
Wednesday. Miss NJ. Louise Darr is
chairman of the advisory commit
tee in charge of arrangements; Mrs.
Charles w. Semmes is head OF the
automobile committee, and Mrs.
Raymond 4. Heiskell is in charge Of
the committee on booths. The chair
men of the hospitality reception,
and publicity committees are Mrs.
Florence COltord. Miss Regina Sulli-
van. and Miss Elizabeth KearneY.
respectively. Miss A. NJ. Hopp is
one OF the members of the publicity
committee.
An invitation has been sent to
President and Mrs. Wilson to attend
the ceremonies, and il is expected
that Mrs. Wilson will attend, al
though it is not vet known whether
the President will be present.