A NEW CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1151, 12 June 1911, Page 3

A NEW CHURCH.

AT BROOKLYN. OPENED BY 'ARCHBISHOP EEDWOOD. It was raining steadily ami heavily yesterday aflernaon, ami the streets of Brooklyn were running little rivulets of muddy water, but nevertheless every scat in the new Roman Catholic Church at Brooklyn was filled at the consecration ceremony. Tho church stands prominently on the Brooklyn hills, and overlooks the city and the harbour. Across the valley of the city, can be seen the little sister edifice above Oriental Bay. On the left again is the new Wadestown Roman Catholic Churchrconi, and the tune of their circle of bells will now be heard echoing round the' hills. His Grace Archbishop Redwood, the Ten. Archdeacon Devoy, the Rev. Father O'Shea (Vicar-General), the Rev. Father Hickson, and other officers of the parish first conducted the ceremony of consecration. A brief address was then given by the Vicar-General. He expressed the pleasure it gave them to have his Grace with them, and he apologised for tho absence of the Very Rev. Father Murray. Supevior of the Redemptorist Order, who had sent a donation to the building fund. A few years ago. continued the Vicar-Gen-eral, it had been considered advisable to purchase for a church a pifce of Innd in Washington Avenue, Brooklyn; and very soon about ,£SOO was raised bv socials, etc. The cost of the land they had purchased was ,£6OO. They had paid off .£3OO of that, and had £im in the bank. Then they had found that thn site was not central enough, and they decided on the present one, of about half an acre. Its cost was .£625. The sum of ,£2OO had been paid on deposit, and a contract was lot for the church at .£707. With architect's fees, etc., the amount reached .£7lO. There was, altogether, a debt on (he property of .£1165, but they also had, as an asset, the ..property in AVashington Avenue, for which they hoped eventually to got ,£6OO. The A'icar-Geueral continued that the Brooklyn people were deserving of every thanks for their work in connection with the obtaining of the church, and also friends in the city. Tho altar was the gift of Mr. N. Cromby, Mr. Healy, and a few friends; the set of vestments had been made and presented bv the Ladies' Guild of the Sacred Heart' Convent; the names of several other donors were also mentioned. His Grace had given five guineas towards the cost of the church. The building, continued fhe speaker, was built by Mr. Brow-man, and i Mr. Swan was the architect. An appeal I was made to the congregation for assistance towards paying off the debt. Archbishop Redwood expressed his thanks to all who had contributed so generously towards the purchase of the land and the building of the church. He felt sure that before long the debt would, be completely wiped off. The building had been dedicated to St. Antony. His Grace wished to say that the church was a credit to the locality and to those concerned in it.. It would be the means of bringing down upon the district and families the choicest blessings and happiness. He felt sure the congregation appreciated the advantages they had in possessing the church. They would now be able to participate in the two greatest gift's brought into the world by the Divine Master-gifts pointed to by St. John in the beginning of his gospel where he said "The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst ns full of Grace and Truth." Grace and truth were the two blessings. Truth enlightened a man as t'j what to believe;, and gave him the principles on which.to guide his conduct. In the church they would hear expounded,'explained," and when nece-sary, defended, tho'so truths which Christ Himself came into the world to teach.. In the church also they would receive grace in the Sacraments. What .a, blessing they had in being Catholics; in having the Truth as taught by Christ, which could never be overcome or destroyed, no matter what enemies might rise in the guise of science, corruption, or tyranny of State —nothing would be able to extinguish the Truth which Christ taught. Christ had said: "Heaven and earth may .pass away, but My Truth shall never pass away." What a blessing to belong to the Church and have such a Truth and have it brought home in a familiar and efficacious manner. ■He hoped they would appreciate the church and the great blessings it would bring to them in the Sacrament of the Mass. In conclusion his Grace hoped that as thnv would appreciate the church so highly they would contribute largely and generously to Day off the debt. A collection was then taken np, and the service ended with the Benediction.