Laying of the Cornerstone at St. John's Catholic Church, Defiance - 1895

St. John's Catholic Church - photo and article from the Defiance Democrat,

 May 30, 1895

It was a heavily overcast Sunday morning with drizzle and light rain showers by 9:00 a.m., but then the sun broke through to leave a beautiful day for the consecration of the NEW St. John's Catholic Church.  It was quite an event for the area, as this article will describe. Maybe one of your ancestors was there!

 "IMPOSING CEREMONIES

LAYING OF THE CORNERSTONE

FOUNDATION OF ST. JOHN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH

Consecrated to Divine Worship Sunday.

The Parade a Grand Demonstration of Civic Bodies.

  Thousands of People from the Surrounding Country Assist in Making the Event One of the Most Memorable in Church History of Defiance.

...The attendance at the corner stone laying was very large, estimated at five thousand people - and it no doubt would have been larger if many from a distance had not been discouraged from attending by the ominous appearance of the weather in the morning.

Trains consisting of many coaches came in over the railroads, bringing thousands to witness the laying of the corner stone for what will be, when completed, one of the largest and finest church structures in this part of the country.

The celebration of St. John's Golden Jubilee commenced at 9 a.m. by solemn High Mass at the church.  The room was crowded and the exercises were impressive indeed.  The sermon was by Father Westerholt, a former pastor, who spoke in German of the history of the church.  Father Westerholt was priest when the present church was built and is very familiar with the history of the congregation.

Bishop Horstman was present and made an address in English.  He complimented the choir on the fine music rendered during the services and spoke words of wisdom to Father Gloden and his congregation.  The Bishop was a fluent speaker and his words abounded with wisdom...

The services of laying the corner stone and invoking divine blessing on the foundation of the building was conducted by Rt. Rev. Bishop Horstman, of Cleveland, who was ably assisted by Rev. Joseph P. Gloden, Rev. M. P. Kinkead of St. Mary's church, Rev. Peter Holfeltz, Rev. W. S. Kress, Rev. Relbaaddt, Rev. Nigsch, Rev. Tapas, Rev. Hoeffel and Rev. M. F. Walz.

At the appointed hour the ceremonies were commenced by an invocation service at a cross raised upon a platform on the foundation for the altar and sanctuary.  From this point, they proceeded to the northeast corner of the building, where the corner stone was in position to be lowered to its final resting place...

In the lower side of the stone was chiseled a cavity of ample dimensions for admitting a large tin box, and when the time arrived, the box was placed in position before lowering the stone over it. 

The contents of the box consisted of church documents of the corner stone laying, a copy of the Catholic Universe of Cleveland, the Herold, of Defiance, a copy of last Saturday evening's News, and copies of other daily papers of the city.  The face of the stone was inscribed: 'St. John's Evg. Church, Defiance, O., May 26 A.D. 1895' and diagonally across the front, in the center of the lettering, was a large cross, bearing upon it the initial letters, 'I. H. S."

After the stone was in position, the Bishop and assistant priests, under escort of the uniformed Catholic Knights of America, of Defiance, walked around the foundation of the entire building and the Bishop conferred upon it a sacred blessing."

The Herold mentioned above was Defiance's German language newspaper, and the News was another Defiance paper.  After the blessing of the building, the speakers gathered on a platform and addressed the audience from there, some in German and some in English. When the speakers were finished, the congregation knelt for a benediction.  Then on Monday afternoon, the ceremonies continued with the blessing of the bells for the church.

"Monday morning solemn high mass was observed at the church at 9 o'clock, and in the afternoon, the two new bells were consecrated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Horstman with appropriate services.  The following is a brief description of the bells:

The large one weighs 1,700 pounds and has been named St. John.  Its tone is F and the inscription is 'Donated by St. Johns Dramatic Club in memory of the 50th anniversary of St. John's congregation of Defiance, O., established 1845 by Rev. Amadeus Rappe.'

The second bell weighs 1,200 pounds and is named St. Joseph and its tone is G.  The inscription is 'Donated by St. Johns School Children in memory of the 25th anniversary of the ordination of Rev. Joseph P. Gloden, ordained priest, Sept. 30, 1869.'  

 The bell that has done duty in the old church so long will be placed in the belfry of the new church.  This bell has been named St. Mary and its tone is A, and its weight is 800 pounds.

On Monday evening, the grand celebration was concluded with a banquet in the St. John's hall.  Various histories were offered by the speakers, including one by J. A. Deindoerfer on the Germans of Defiance and surrounding counties.

Upcoming posts will discuss Father Gloden in more detail and the history of the St. John Catholic Church.
The newspaper reported that the inscription and cross on the cornerstone were the work of G. W. Withrow, a workman employed by V.A. Shrimplin at the Perry Street marble works.