DEDICATION" OF ARMAGH CATHEDRAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 32, 6 December 1873, Page 11

DEDICATION" OF ARMAGH CATHEDRAL.

(London 'Tablet.') Ireland made a new aud solemn repetition of her many declarations of faith, standing in the footprints of St. Patrick, her glorious apostle, on Sunday last. In the numerous bright days in her history she will scarcely have any more gratifying to record than that of the 24th August, 1873. Gathered around and within that magnificent church, ■with whose posirion, history, and associations your readers are familiar, were at least 40,000 persons, drawn from the most distant quarters. For many days previous extensive arrangements had been made for monster excursion tiains from all parts of Ulster, and North Leinster, H8 well as from Dublin, to transport the vust bodies of intending pilgrims to the .Jerusalem of Catholic Ireland. The raiu which fell in the morning «•,[s unable to act as a deterrent, and from an early hour train after train brought its heavily-laden contingent to swell the multitude that reverently pressed round the church, or, from the eminence upon whose ci'erft it stands, surveyed the city and the surlounding country, rich with a glorious harvest, but richer still in historic memories clear to all the native iacc. Approaching the city from the railway station en the north side, the Cathedral is peen to disadvantage, obscured as a large poition of it is by the College of tho Yinccntian Fathers. It is only when you descend into the town, nulil you reach the foot of the eminence where the entrance to the grounds opens, that, from the south side, the noblest and most imposing view of the majjstic structure is obtained. As you nseend the city, built on a similar but much lower moat, stands the Protestant Cathedral with it 3 dwarfed towers. On the right, in the valley, is the flue Convent of the Sacred Heart, with its extensive schools, and lower still, within the city, the monastery and schools of the Christian Brothers. The whole district teems with historical interest. Emania, now Nuvan iForf, the ancient seat of the kings of Ulster in the pre-Christian tiuie3 lies below, on tho west side of the city — "When her Kiugs, with banners of green unfurled. Led the Hed Knights to danger ; Ero Uie emerald gem of tho western world Was set m tho crown of tho stranger." The sites of the early churches and religious houses founded by St. Patrick have been identified, as well as the site of the great school* Brian the Brave, the hero of Clontarf, sleeps in Arniaoh! Benburb and Beal-an-alh-buide, the famous battle-fields, are hidden from view from the towers of the Cathedral, not, however, owin<* to djstanec, which is only a few miles, but to the intervention of some of those undulating hills which are so characteristic of tho vicinity. JS'o epot in Ireland can approach Armagh in early and continuous interest

—an interest fully sustained in the completion of the great National Cathedral, and in the proceedings attending its dedication. About 10 o'clock the doors of the Cathedral were opened, as the maguifieent bell, the gift of tho Primate, tolled the long-expected advent of the ceremony. Rapidly the spacious building filled, the increased pressure, on the arrival of fresh trains, throwing largo contingents upon the overtaxed capacity of the church and the patience and resources of the officers. At no timejduring the solemn functions were there less than about 7,000 persons in the Cathedral, *in portions of which the pressure and inconvenience were at times very great indeed. Even during the High Mass aud the sermon, changes to the extent of some thousands took place in the crowded auditory. Between the morning eervice and Vespers the open ohurcli received many thousand persons, while at the latter the congregation was mainly different from that in the morning. By these transitions the whole 40,000 pilgrims were enabled to enjoy the happiness of being in the Cathedral and participating in some of the holy offices of the day. The episcopacy of the three kingdoms was well represented. His Eminence the Cardinal of Dublin, who had been Primate of Armagh during more than two years, presided, besides whom there were present : — The Archbishop of Armagh, Primite of all Ireland j the Bishop of Meath, the Bishop of Derry, the Bishop of Olosjher, the Bishop of Baphoe, the Bishop of Down and Connor, the Bishop of Armagh, the Bishop of Cromore, the Coadjutor-Bishop of Kildare and ' Leighlin, the Bishop of Killaloe, the Bishop of Waterford and Xisniore, the Bishop of Ross, the Bishop of G-alway, Apostolic Administrator of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora ; the Bishop of Elphin, the CoadjutorBishop of Achonry, the Bishop of Killala, the Bishop of Clifton, the Bishop of Liverpool, and Bishop Strain, Vicar- Apostolic of the Eastern District of Scotland. It may thus be seen that all the nine Bishops of the Province of Armagh, three of those of tho Province of D.ib'in, three of the Province of Cashel, and three of the Province of Tuam, or 19 Bishops from the 2S Irish Sees, Mere present. The absence of the other prelates is due to age, infirmity, or temporary illness. The English episcopacy was represented by the Bishops of Clifton and Liverpool, but the deepest regret was universally felt and officially declared by Hi 3 Grace the Primate when proposing at the banquet the toast of the English Hierarchy, that upon such an occasion Ireland should have lost the support and the presence of His Grace the Archbishop of Westminster. Scotland was represented by Bishop Straiu. There } were thus 22 Bishops present — nineteen Irish (including the CardinalArchbishop and the Primate), two English, aid one Scotch Bishop. The canons aud dignitaries of the Diocese of Armagh were all present, while 500 priests represented the clergy of the second order, secular and regular, of the three kingdoms, there being a numerous contingent from England and Scotland. There were 200 priests in the episcopal procession which walked from the sacristy to the sanctuary ; the remainder were dispersed throughout the church. The laity was thoroughly represented, nor was there wanting a strong Protestant element. Lord Lurgan, Lord-Lieutenant of the County Armagh, was there, acting as one of the collector*, and on Monday entertaining His Eminence the Cardinal, the Primate, and all the Prelates, at nis hospitable mansion, Brownlow House. Lord Beaumont, Sir John Bradstreet, Bart., Sir Bernard Burke, and other Catholics of nf>te were there. The House of Commons was represented by Major O'Reilly, Mr P. J. Smyth, Mr Edmund Dease, Mr D. C. Heron, and Mr P. Callan. There were uome forty magistrates present, while the bulk of the audience included gentlemen embracing every grade in the community, from Ulster, Dublin, and elsewhere. The sum subscribed or realised at th« dedication on Sunday last, is, however, in the eye 3of the incredulous, the most substantial evidence of popularity. To receive £4000 at the dedication of the church,extpnded to more than £8000 through admission tickets, and likely to expand to £10,000 when the publication of the proceedings shall have reached the population at home and abroad to the magnitude of this national undertaking, is a remarkable fact. In the annuls of Irish generosity there has been no such noble subscription. The great ceremonial of the day may be briefly stated. The dedication of the Church was performed by His Grace the Primate, in the presence of His Eminence Cardinal Cullen ; after which the High Mass was celebrated by the Bishop of Clogner, with Rev. — Marks as deacon, and — Moon as sub-deacon. The Rev. Burke, 0.P., delivered a discourse ranking with the highest efforts of his life.