Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-10
Noted Edifice Opened for Catholics in
Once Undeveloped Section Of Capital
Observance of 18th Anniversary Had Been
Postponed From July Until This Week
To Avoid Torrid Summer Weather

Sunday, when mass will be celebrat-
ed by the Rev. Walter Tredtin at
1915 pm. ana sermon will be
delivered by Msgr. Connolly.
This Sabbath pontifical mass will
be celebrated by Archbishop Michael
J. Curley in honor of the 18th an
niversary of the birth Of the par
ish, and the sermon will be given
by the Very Rev. Ignatius Smith,
Q. P.
The anniversary of the dedication
Of this church occurred on July 2,
last, but the Rev. DR.. John K. Cart
right thought 1t would be best to
carry the celebration over to the
present time, and thus escape the
summer heat, and when we look
back to the torrid days of last July,
when the murcury on one occasion
reached 100 degrees, we must ad-
NIT that he acted very wisely.
Churches are great institutions
regardless of creed. They all teach
obedience and subservience to the
Masters will. Some differ in style
and form of worship, but all look
to the Great Creator for His help
and guidance and humbly bow to
His will and wisdom.
Dedicated in 1865.
For the time that Immaculate
Conception Church has been in ex-
tstence, it is safe to say that no
Dc
more favorably known In this city,
where 1t pioneered in its faith in
the once sparsely settled section OF
the North and Northwest.
Prior to 1865, when this church
was dedicated, st. Matthew'S
Church, formely at Fifteenth and
n streets; st. Aloysius Church,
at North Capitol and I streets,
and st. Mary's Church, on
Fifth street, between G and H
streets, were the northernmost
Catholic churches in the District Of
Columbia. st. Patrick's Church,
then located on F street near Tenth,
saw the need for a chapel to care
for the people who resided in the
undeveloped section to the north.
Spread out to Florida avenue and
beyond lived a number of members
of its faith who undoubtedly found
It difficult to 60 to st. Patrick's
and the other churches mentioned
on account of the wretched roads
over which they had to travel.
Magnificent Edifice.
But st. Patricks Church, with
unerring wisdom, came to the rescue
Of the isolated Catholic families liv-
ing in this section and erected, in
1865. the church at Eighth and N
streets, which has grown to be the
magnificent edifice of today.
At the time this church was
erected, The Star of July 3, 1865,
said:
THE Church of the Immaculate
Conception, the new Catholic church
of this name, just finished. at the
corner of Eighth street west and N
street north, was yesterday dedicated
In the presence Of a large congrega-
ton, among whom were many OF
different denominations, and the
services were of a very impressive
character. At 10 o'clock brief serv-
ices took place at the altar, after
which the ceremony of blessing the
church was performed.
Archbishop Spoke.
"a nrocessitn was formed, headed
BY a boy bearing the cross, on either
side being small boy bearing
lighted candles; Rev. Fathers Walter
and Mccarthy, the pastor and as
sistant pastor of ST. Patrick's
Church; Archbishop M. j. Spaulding
OF Baltimore, and the principal
members of the church, which
passed down the aisle and thence
around the outside of the church,
chanting the litany; and the arch
bishop, blessing the church, and
then back to the interior OF the
church, the procession passing
around the walls. After arriving at
the altar, silent solemn prayer was
offered that those who hereafter
worship here may be especially
blessed and comforted.
"The archbishop then addressed
the congregation, congratulating
them on the erection of the church
In a locality where it was so much
needed. He commended the lib
erality of the Catholics, and also
those who were not attached to the
church who had aided IN the cree
ton Of the building. 1t is the in
tention to erect magnificent
church edifice on the large lot at the
corner. which will afford accomno-
dations to the population OF this
part of the city, but the debt now
due is to be extinguished first. This
house is IS by so feet, with accom-
nodations for schools in the lower
story, which is thought may be put
In operation by the LIST of Septem-
Der. The ground has cost about
5000, of which about $4,000 has
already been raised. 1t is contem-
plated ultimately to make this a
church to itself, with its parish
bounds, but for the present it will
be attached to st. Patrick's, whose
pastor will see to the wants OF the
people. He would as soon as pos
sible supply a priest, but in the
archbishopric there is a great lack
Of priests, and he could give work to
20 additional at this time if he had
them.
Valuable Records.
High mass was performed, Rev.
Father Walter being the celebrant,
assisted by Rev. Father Mccarthy.
Haydns Sixteenth Mass" was finely
rendered by the choir of st. Pat
rick's. the principal performers being
Miss Mary Murray, Miss Mollie Har-
rington, Mrs. Newton, Mr.. George
Paddon and Prof j. P Caulfield.
1.-THE archbishop preached the
dedicatory sermon, taking for his
text the words of Mary when Eliza
beth visited her. My soul doth mag
nifty the Lord"
Marriage Lists.
To many Catholic families in
Washington, this old church means
everything and its records contain