The Washington herald., 1922-12-11
CHURCH DEDICATION
CERE|NQHlL
New Sacred Heart Structure
Blessed BY ArchbIshsp Cur
ley at First Services.
WESTERN BISHOP SPEAKER
Great Assembly Of Washington
Clergy and Religious Or.
ders Attend Rites.
WESTERN BISHOP SPEAKER

Catholics are building their pres
ent day, temples az an evidence of
their faith that the present ctvfliz-
ton VIII endure"
This was the assertion Of Arch.
bishop Austin Dowiing. OF St. rspl.
Mimi. who delivered the sermsp AZ
the dedicatory services held st the
new shrine Of the Sacred Heart
Catholic Church. Sixteenth street
and Park road northwest. ysstsr-
day. Dr.. DowiinE 10 one Of the
most noted OF Western Csfholic
orators. He was formerly bishop Of
Des Moines. Iowa
MANY CLERGY PRESENT.
characterized by the presence of
more than nifty members Of the
Catholic clergy. all the pastors OF
Washington Catholic parishes. and q
crowd that fiIisd every available
foot OF floor space. the new edffice
was solemnly blessed and dedicated.
Archbishop Curiey. OF baltimore.
presided at the ceremony.
Headed by a professional OF
acolytes and a choir OF chanters.
consisting OF Washington priests.
Archbishop Curley blessed the main
entrance TO the building. circied the
structure on the outside and inside.
and dedicated the affairs. pipe organ.
and statuary. A pontificsl high
mass. with the archbishop ~ csie-
brant. followed. The services were
the richest in the Catholic liturgy.
fIOLY ORDERS REPRESENTED.
q Representatives Of the Jesuits. the
Dominicans. the Franciscsns. the
Carmelites, and other prominent re-
ligious orders were in the sanctuary
with the local and diocesan heir
archy. Members of the various or
ders Of nuns from Catholic schools
and hospitals were present
Special sacred music by the
church choir, assisted by music
from the rich new pipe organ at
the shrine. which is one Of The
costliest and richest In tone OF any
in the diocese. featured the serv-
ices. II was the first time the or
gan had been used.
BELIEF IN GOD.
The intense study of the physical
sciences, with the resultant Grass
msterialism naturally resulting. 10
the cause of the decline in Chrts-
tianity as such. declared Archetehop
Downing. in his sermon. fms
study has lessened the belief In. q
personal God" he said.
Modern economies and the atten.
ton being given 10 Il by STUDENTS
and teachers is also partially re
sponsible for present conditions. sc-
80 WAGfArn rarolafa
HOURS OF IDLENESS.
lie assailed the opportunity OF
idleness which Is the outgrowth OF
the reduction Of the hours Of la
bor." and asserted that pleasure
seeking. which is the natural reac-
ton TO this situation. tended TO
make men forget a personal God
in their search for pleasure.
Modern churches are spending
their time in praising man and not
God. he said. Praise for the soli-
darity Of the Catholic Church on its
stand for the older dogmas and fua-
damental beliefs. and for it's service
during the flurries OF ''bisotry and
religious persecution was voiced
by Archbishop Dowling.
THANKS CONGREGATION.
Monsignor p. c. Gavan. rector OF
the shrine. thanked the members OF
his congregation for their loyalty
and vision and for their energy and
charity which made the new edifice
a realty. This is a dav of great
happiness for Catholics Of wash-
ington," he said.
While no attack was made on the
Ku Klux klan as an organization.
each of the speakers flayed Il in
their appeals for a larger charity
of thought and lberality of ideas
on the part Of the American peo-
pie.
TREND TO BIGOTRY.
There Is a tendency toward big.
otry, which is a real menace 10
America" said Archbishop euriey,
who also spoke These are trou.
blesome times for America-sn is
not well with our country" he said.
Following the services. the visit.
ing clergymen were the guests OF
Monsignor Gavan at luncheon N
the rectory.
Bishop J. T. Shahan. president OF
the Catholic University, delivered
the address at last nights vesper
service held in the shrine. Mon.
signor Gavan presided.