Idaho County free press., 1924-07-31
'POMP MARKS
'DED|CA T|ON
of CONVENT

trude's convent, on the mountain west
of Cottonwood, was dedicated Sunday
with services in the large chapel that
were carried out with all the splendor
and solemnity that characterizes
events of this nature in the Roman
Catholic church
The ceremonies took place before
a crowd variously estimated at from
700 to 1000 persons, gathered from
all parts of Idaho county to witness
the unusual service, and later to view
the interior of the huge stone convent,
which was four years in the building.
The structure was on Sunday open to
public inspection, and Sunday night
was forever closed, save to the Bene-
dictine sisters and church officials.
The chapel was filled to its capacity,
and hundreds could not gain admis-
sion to the building during the cere-
monies. At 9:10 In the morning, the
Rt. Rev. Daniel M. German, d. D.,
Roman Catholic bishop Of Idaho, ac-
companied and assisted by the clergy,
opened the dedicatOry ceremonies, and
proceeded to bless and dedicate the
exterior and interior Of the chapel
and convent, whilst the Litanies Of All
Saints and other liturgical hymns
were being chanted by the priests.
Celebrate Pontifical High Mass =.
Shortly after 9:3O, pontifcal high
mass was celebrated by Bishop Cor
man. This mass was n.arked with elab-
crate pomp, such as had never before
been witnessed by many of the specta-
tors.
After the gospel of the mass, the
Rt. Rev. Abbot Bernard, o. s. b., of
Mount Angel, Ore, delivered an ora
ton, which was the keynote Of the
solemnities The abbot explained to
the people assembled the meaning of
the dedication of church. The
speaker drew his inspiration from
the biblical narration of the dedica-
ton of the temple of Solomon, by the
order of God. A church is a house
of God, the abbott told his audience.
1t is a place exclusively set apart
for the worship of the Almighty, and
this lofty ideal, he said, is peculiarly
the reason of existence of the Bene-
dictine monks and nuns, who make it
their life's duty to give glory to God
and chant His praises from early
morn till night has spread its shroud
Of darkness over dale and vale.
Singing by Choir Of Nuns
The st. Gertrude's Sisters choir
officiated at the organ. What is
called the "Kyriale," part of the
mass, consisting Of five distinct rem
ditions, was taken from the celebrat-
ed composition of the MASS ROyale, "
by H. Dumont. This ecclesiastical
contribution is centuries old, but still
retains its freshness and actuality.
This composition had been harmon
lied for three voices for the occasion,
with three violin parts to support the
singing. The violinists being Sr. M.
Fortunate, o. S. b., of the convent ;
Mrs. w. L. Orr and Frank Jenny,
both of Cottonwood. The sister or
ganist yielded the organ part to Mrs.
Herdemann, of Genesee.
Miss Rosemary Shinnick, of Cot
tonwood, rendered the AVE of
Gounod" at the Offertory, accompanied
by organ and violin.
The customary recessional march at
the end of mass was replaced by vo-
cal selection, when Mrs. w. f. orr,
sang the Holy City,"
Clergy in Attendance
Members of the clergy present were
The Rt. Rev. d. NJ. German, bishop
of Boise the Rt. Rev. Philip, o. S.
B.. abbot of Conception, Mo-, and
abbot Sresidt int of the :Benedict1ne
congregation the Rt. Rev. Bernard
O. S. b., abbot of the Mount Angel
monastery: the Rev. Fathers Willlb-
rord. Michael, Martin, Baerlocher,
Jentges and jerome. Very Rev. Fa-
ther Paul acted as first assistant TO
Bishop German.
Following luncheon and inspection
of the building and GROUNDS, pro
gram was held in the afternoon, at
which J. F. Jenny, of Cottonwood
was chairman. Addresses were made
by w. w. Flint, Cottonwood; M. X.
Hattabaugh, Granghville; George
Erb. Lewiston, Bishop German, Alb
bots PhiIip and Bernard, and Father
James, chaplain of the convent.
The building, of three stories and
basement, is 164 feet on the east SIDE
1877 feet on the north, and is sixty
six feet wide, with two chapel towers
ninety-seyen feet high. The interior
of the building is well finished, and
the structure is substantial in every
respect. However, all finishing Is
nlain. and the furniture is substantial
hut nlain. The building was scrupu-
lously clean, and everywhere were
seen the sisters of st. Gertrude, busy
at their tasks of caring for their
large new home.
In one corner of the building is a
print shop where several nuns are
daily engaged in printing church pup
lication. many of which are in Latin.
Statement of Appreciation
The Sisters of st. Gertrude's,
through the Rev. Father James, U. >.
r.. chaplain of the convent, have IS
sued the following statement on the
event: q
We must express the gratitude or
the mother prioress, M: Schoiastlc
and of the whole sisters community
TO all the good friends who have so
ahIv contributed to make the feast OF
tbe dedication of our new home such
a snlendid success. We thank In par