The Morning Star And Catholic Messenger

Pio Nono College, Macon, Ga.
LAYING THE CORNER STONE.
[Condensed from the Macon Morning Star.]

Sunday, May 3d, 1874, will long be remembered as marking a new era in the history of our beloved old commonwealth and as commemorating one of the grandest and noblest events that has ever transpired within the limits of Georgia's far famed central city. Proudly have our people, from the seaboard to the mountains, illustrated their State and covered themselves all over with glory in days agone upon the battlefields of the nation, but the culmination of their grandest achievements has been reserved for the times when sweet peace reigned supreme in the land. With a fortitude unparalleled in the annals of any other race or country we have withstood the shock of war and emerge triumphant from the desolation and blighting influences which follow in its track. Religion, Education, Science, Art and Commerce, instead of dwindling into insignificance, have been fostered and encouraged into a growth of colossal proportions to which we can proudly point and of which we can boastingly proclaim.

All nationalities and all sects have combined to aid in building up our waste-places and of elevating the tone and character of the people. Education is struggling to gain an ascendancy and hand in hand with religion, she is destroying the bulwarks of ignorance and rearing in their stead monuments of learning on every hill-top and in every valley throughout our State and section. In the propagation of the good work, the sons and daughters of Georgia, as if with one accord, responded to a call made upon them, and with the first blush of last Sabbath morning multitudes of people desirous of paying tribute, by their presence, to the cause of education, came teeming from every direction and in every conceivable way into our city. Every city, town and hamlet had its fair and gallant representatives, and as early as five o'clock our streets were dotted here and there with the many-colored regalias and flashing uniforms of visiting associations and military men.

Men, women and children gaily attired in the habiliments of spring were seen wending their way to the general passenger depot to meet the happy throng of guests as they arrived by the various trains from Augusta, Savannah, Atlanta, Columbus, Milledgeville, and other points along the line of railroads leading to this city. The refreshment saloons in the depot building were eagerly sought for, and following the crowds that made their way through the portals leading to them, we were pleased to find that nothing was left undone which would in any way serve to gratify the appetites or tastes of our stranger friends.

At 10 o'clock the church bells announced the hour for religious service, when the Irish Volunteers again assembled at the armory, and forming a line proceeded, with their band in advance to St. Joseph's Catholic Church to take part in the celebration of a grand military High Mass.

The crowd in attendance at the church on the occasion was simply immense, and was composed of persons attached to all the different denominations of the day.

At the Mass, Right Rev. Bishop Gross assisted in Cope and Mitre. The celebrant was Rev. L. Bazin, assisted by Rev. Wm. Pendegast of Savannah as Deacon, and Rev. P. LaRocque, of Key West, as sub-deacon. Rev. Wm. Hamilton, of Augusta, acted as Master of Ceremonies. The assistant priests at the Bishop's throne were the Rev. C. P. Gaboury, President of Pio Nono College, and Rev. J. L. Finucane of the same institution. In addition to these clergymen already mentioned, there were present Rev. Messrs. Chelet of Atlanta, Mattingly of Dalton, Butler of Augusta and others whose names we failed to obtain.

The musicians, supplied from different churches throughout the State formed a choir which cannot be excelled in point of ability, and the excellence of the music which was rendered.

Sister Peter, from the convent at Augusta, seemed the very soul of song, her solos throughout the mass being sublimely beautiful and inspiring. Her rendition of the Gloria in Excelsis will long reverberate through the halls of St. Joseph's and be remembered when perchance she may have passed away to join the angel choir in that land beyond the skies.

The services of the church being brought to a termination, the large crowd in attendance sought their homes, temporary and permanent, and whiled away the time until two o'clock, when the procession was formed on Fourth street in accordance with previous announcement.

The procession numbered twenty-seven different orders and organizations, and was without doubt the largest and most imposing body that was ever seen in the city, if not the State. Our well known fellow-townsman, Col. James T. Wilkinson, acted as Marshal of the day, and was ably assisted by Messrs. John Griffin, Dennis Sheahan, S. M. Nealon, John T. Ronan of Savannah, and Mr. Mulheren of Augusta, all of whom were mounted on richly caparisoned chargers. Arriving at the junction of College street and Georgia Avenue, the young ladies and children of the different societies left the procession and proceeded to the depot near St. Paul's Episcopal Church, where a train of cars was in waiting to convey them to the College grounds.

Just at this time the clouds, which had for a length of time gathered over head, gave unmistakable signs of the heavy fall of rain which subsequently followed.

Nothing daunted by the unwelcome shower the procession continued its onward march, and reached its destination as thoroughly drenched as it was possible to conceive.

The thousands who had by this time assembled in front of the stand proposed to be occupied by the Bishop, Clergy, Mayor and Council, were seeking shelter from the angry elements, and by the time the distinguished prelate in full canonicals appeared, there were but a few hundred who, in defiance of the storm, had remained to witness the laying of the corner-stone of Pio Nono College.

The corner-stone was then blessed by sprinkling holy water, when three signs of the cross are made with a trowel, after which is recited an Oremus, followed by a Litany of the Saints and the 126th Psalm.

This stone was placed in position, and the Bishop blessed a portion of salt and then blessed a portion of water in which the salt was placed. A large silver cross was then erected upon the corner-stone, which was sprinkled with the water just blessed. The 53d Psalm was then sung, after which prayers were repeated, and a tablet with the following engraved upon it was deposited in the receptacle of the stone:

"We place this corner-stone on this wall in the faith of Jesus Christ, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, in order that here may flourish the true faith and the fear of God and brotherly love, and may this place be a house of prayer for invoking the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth with the Father and the Son, and reigneth God forever and ever, Amen."

On a metallic box containing the articles deposited in the niche of the corner-stone an inscription in Latin was engraved, which we translate:

"On the third day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, Pius the Ninth, Supreme Pontiff: Right Rev. William H. Gross, Bishop of Savannah; Rev. Charles P. Gaboury, President of Pio Nono College: Ulysses S. Grant, happily ruling the United States for the second term; James M. Smith, Governor of the State of Georgia: W. A. Huff, Mayor of the city of Macon; this corner-stone of the Pio Nono College was laid in the presence of a vast concourse of people. R. N. McGrath being architect."

The brick and mortar is then laid, and the Bishop sprinkles the same again with holy water, while the 50th Psalm is being repeated.

During the singing of the 85th Psalm, the Bishop sprinkles the whole foundation. At every third part during the ceremonies prayers were recited. While the 121st Psalm is being repeated, the Bishop returns to the stone when the hymn, "Come Holy Spirit" is sung. After which the benediction is offered, and the ceremonies concluded.

Previous to proceeding with the ceremonial, the Bishop came forward on the platform and in the falling rain excused himself from addressing the assemblage as he had intended. He thanked every one for their attendance and their generosity in donating so liberally to the construction of the college. To the Mayor and Council of Macon and to the whole people of Georgia did he return thanks for the aid so freely given, and which promised to be fruitful of great good in the education of the children of the South.

After the Bishop had concluded his remarks, the vast concourse dispersed for their homes, and thus terminated a bright, auspicious day for the future of our city.