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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA 7 The custom of the Catholic Church forbids the consecration of a church until it is entirely free from debt, dedication only being permitted before that time. The consecration, therefore, in addition to the un usual and impressive character of the ceremony, was of special interest to the members of the congregation themselves and an occasion for special rejoicing. A very elaborate ritual, descending from the early days of the church, is followed in such a ceremony, with chrism, oil, salt, water, and ashes as the sym bolical articles used in the blessing of the church in side and outside, its walls, doors and altars; with the relics of saints carried in solemn procession and de posited in the altar stone; and with antiphonal pray ers, psalms and litanies recited by the clergy. Five bishops and about forty priests took part in the service. Bishop Keiley, of the Diocese of Savan nah, was present, but did not take an active part in the service. With him in the sanctuary was Rt. Rev. Leo Haid, O. S. B., of Belmont Abbey. The beautiful Gothic marble altar of the Cathedral was adorned with quantities of flowers and lighted by many candles for the pontifical mass which came as the climax of the consecration service. An aug mented choir of thirty male voices under the direc tion of the organist and choirmaster, James B. Copps, sang the mass, using many of the Gregorian chants and ancient church music, which gave it the greater solemnity. The Rev. Father G. X. Schadewell, former rector of the Cathedral, acted as deacon. Father T. A. Foley, of Savannah, was subdeacon. The dea cons of honor to the celebrant were Father G. Obrecht, of Savannah, and Father Bernard, O. S. B., of Sa vannah. The chaplains to Bishop Haid were Fathers Ambrose and Eugene, O. S. B., of Savannah. The chaplains to Bishop Keiley were Father Henry Clarke, of Athens, and Father O. N. Jackson, of Atlanta. The assistant priest at the mass was the Very Rev. J. D. Mitchell, V. G. The master of ceremonies was Father Leo M. Keenan, assisted by John O. McNamara. The following boys acted as servers and acolytes: Reid Lucas, Joseph Lucas, Walter Kraemer, Joseph Sheehan, William McDonough, John Hennessey, John Fitzpatrick, Dan McCarthy, James McDonald and Wal ter Berry. The trainbearers to Bishop Keiley were Thomas Anglin, William Sasseen and Thomas Cor coran. Solemn Pontifical Blessing. A solemn pontifical blessing, followed by benedic tion of the blessed sacrament, concluded the mass, which was marked by the usual ceremonials reserved for this service on great festivals, the carrying of in cense and the incensing of the congregation, the in toning of the prayers, the carrying of lights at the canon of the mass, and the exchange of the kiss of peace among the clergy. Archbishop Glennon’s ser mon was beautifully suited to the occasion and was heard with interest by the large congregation. Within the cornerstone of the altar of the Blessed Virgin the relics of the saints, Sts. Innocent, Modes- tinus and Constantius, were laid and sealed at the conclusion of the consecration ceremony preceding the mass, with the following inscription on parch ment: “A. D. 1920, on the 3d day of the month of June, Bishop Russell of Charleston, has consecrated this church and altar, and enclosed therein the relics of the holy martyrs, and has granted to all the faith ful of Christ, on this day, one year of true indulgence, and on the anniversary of this consecration, to them that shall visit it, forty days, in the usual form of the church.” This had not taken place until the entire consecra tion service which began at 5:30 o clock had been completed. The relics in a sealed packet had been deposited outside of the church and vigil had been kept over them by the clergy, with the singing of matins and lauds. Holy chrism, oil of catechumens, incense and a thurible, a pan of burning charcoal, ashes, salt, wine and hyssop were all placed in the church, together with such other articles as were needed, before the service began, with a deacon in charge, no one else being within the church. One vessel of water to be blessed was kept in the sanc tuary, and one outside the church. Twelve crosses had been placed on the walls of the church, three on each wall, with a sconce holding a candle at the top of each. Bishop Russell entered the church alone when the hour for the service arrived, and the twelve candles were lighted at his order. On returning to the door of the church the litanies were chanted and the salt and water were then blessed with the tradi tional prayers and ceremonials of the Catholic Church. The procession moved around the church three times, the bishop sprinkling it with holy water, and stopping each time to knock at the door while the following responsive reading was given, the deacon within the church replying to the words uttered by the bishop: ‘‘Lift up your gates, ye princes, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in.” ‘‘Who is this King of Glory?” ‘‘The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” Having completed the procession for the third time the bishop traced the sign of the cross with his crozier on the threshold and entered, saying, ‘‘Peace be to this house.” An attendant strewed ashes in the form of St. John’s cross from opposite corners of the church while the litanies were said and the name of the patron saint of the church twice repeated, and Bishop Russell then traced in the ashes the letters of the Greek alphabet, to typify the enlightenment received by the catecumens in baptism. Approaching the altar the bishop blessed the vessel of water, the salt, ashes, and the wine, mixing them, and with them a cross was traced on the church door and then three times on the altar while the prayers of blessing were recited. Four crosses were traced on the altar with holy water while the blessing was repeated, and the clergy then passed around the altar seven times in procession, the bishop sprinkling it. Passing to the interior of the church, holy water, symbolic of purification, was sprinkled here, the walls