ever was a more brilliant scene witnessed at the dedication of any parochial church in this country than that around the new St. John the Baptist's, at Robinson and Cresson Streets, Manayunk, last Sunday morning, April 1st. The massive pile, bordering on the Reading Railroad, rises far above all the surrounding buildings, and its tower, when completed, will command a view of rare beauty and long extent both up and down the Schuylkill Valley. It is the great attraction of the town, a monument to the devoted piety of Bernard McCane, who left the money to pay for it, and to the fidelity to his trust of Mr. Patrick Loughrey, the executor of Mr. McCane's will, and the builder according to plans drawn by the architect, Mr. Keely, of Brooklyn.
As a prelude to the day's special service, the fine new bell, described in these columns last week, was, by His Grace Archbishop Ryan's special permission, blessed at half-past seven o'clock in the morning by the Rector, Rev. James A. Brehony, assisted by Rev. Philip McEnroe, of South Bethlehem, and others.
Early in the day crowds began to gather in the neighboring streets, whose sidewalks were roped off, and before ten o'clock these crowds became dense all along both Robinson and Cresson Streets. Those having tickets of admission made their way to the church and took their proper places there. But among the many spectators, thronged as they were, order was easily preserved. Over one hundred policemen had been detailed for this special duty, but apparently not a fourth of them were needed.
Every arriving morning train brought large numbers of priests and lay persons from a distance; indeed, never before at a church dedication, perhaps, in this country, were there so many of the clergy . . . .

THE ALTAR DECORATIONS

A beautiful feature of the ceremony was the brilliant decoration of the building, especially of the high altar, and of the four small ones. Innumerable lights, in addition to the Eucharistic candles, shone from the main altar and reflected on the white marble, with its massive banks of flowers artistically disposed, made the picture most effective, the whole being completed by the rich vestments of the high dignitaries, the lace surplices of the priests and the scarlet and purple cassocks of the numberous acolytes.

THE COMMITTEE

The Committee of members of the church who made the general arrangements consisted of Dr. J. V. Kelly, C. J. McGlinchey, James Cunnie, Dr. L. A. Kelly, John McBride, Michael J. Nolan, James Wilson, William Devereux, Patrick Tobin, P. F. Dever, James Welsh, T. Fisher, James Farrell, T. Fagan, John Stimmler, Patrick McDevitt, George Loughery, Hugh Wilhere, J. P. Holt, J. F. Gallagher, John Reilly, T. A. Richman, D. McBride, L. H. Scheerer, Martin Costello, Samuel A. Reagan, Maurice F. Wilhere, John J. Foran, Patrick Loughhery, Patrick Powers, John Boyle, J. F. McBride, Marcus Haugh, John Haugh, R. J. Barr, Edward O'Donnell, J. Fitzpatrick, Daniel McBride, Peter Powers, J. Reilly, James Wilson, Patrick McAnally, P. Lyons, J. F. Boyle, P. A. Connellan, Francis Fleming, T. Bateman, T. Fagan, Dennis Haugh, James H. Kinney, M. N. Nolan, and Patrick W. Maxwell.

IN THE EVENING

Solemn Vespers were sung at 7:30. The music consisted of the march from Wagner's "Tannhaeuser," Rosewig's Vesper Service for choir and orchestra; "Gratias Agimus," by Guillaume, for soprano solo; Motzart's grand "Magnificat," Giorza's "Regina Coeli," Barilli's "O Salutaris," a duet for soprano and alto; Rossini's "Tantum Ergo," Rosewig's "Laudate Dominum," and "Adoremus in Aeternum," intoned by sixty-four altar boys. The "Coronation March," by Kretachmar, concluded the evening's programme.

-- as initially reported in The Catholic Standard, April 7, 1894