WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL CONSECRATED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10065, 12 August 1910, Page 3

WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL CONSECRATED.

SEVEN OP RITES. The conaecratioa , £ Westminster Cathedral, the majiotic Roman Catholic fane, the one example of Christian Bjzantice architecture in London, was eairiod out last month with a wealth of ancient rites and ceremonies. The cathedral haa been erected at a cost of £250,000. The Archbishop of Westminster,

!Dr. Bourne, was the principal officiating prelate, and with him were the entire Roman Catholic hierarchy of

bWiops of England. The music, always so excellent, was rendered by the permanent c! oir, numbering some forty voices, reinforced by chosen choristers, and the Gregorian modes were used exclusively, being sneeially selected by reference to MS. in the British Museum and at Cambridge University. CIRCUIT OP THE CHURCH. The rite of consecration began at 7.30 a.m. During the morning the Union Jack an the Papal Flag were broken side by side over the main entrance. Vested in amice, alb, and girdle, white stole and cope, wearing a plain mitre, and holding the pastoral staff in his left hand, the Archbishop, standing before the west door of the cathedral, exorcised water, cast salt into it, and then, preceded by acolytes carrying lighted tapers and accompanied by the clergy, his grace commenced an external circuit of the church. Three times the circuit was made, the Archbishop sprinkling the walls high up, then the walls near the foundations, and lastly the walls about the height of his face. Returning again to the door of the cathedral, Dr. Bourne knocked three times with his pastoral staff at the door above the threshold while repeating, in Latin, the words "Lift up your gates, ye princes, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in." A deacon within asked, "Who i 3 theis King of Glory?'' and received the reply, "The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle." The door was opened, and the Archbishop, with his immediate assistants, entered the church, Ashes were strewn on the floor, and the Archbishop traced upon them a cross composed of the letters of the Latin and Greek alphabets arranged sal-tire-wise. I

CONSECRATION OF THE ALTARS. The consecration of the high altar and of thirteen side altars next proceeded, and in this part of ths ceremony fourteen prelates were engaged. Archbishop Bourne consecrated the high altar, the Bishop of Middlesborough the altar of St. Patrick and the Saints of Ireland, the Bishop of Menevia the altar of St. George and the English Martyrs, the Bishop of St. Andrew, the altar of St. Andrev and the Saints of Scotland, and so on. The consecrator, having first dipped his thumb into a preparation of water, ashes, salt, and wine, duly blessed, marked the altar stone with five crosses, the choir meanwhile chantiDg the antiphon, "I will go unto the altar of God." Seven times the consecrator went round the altar table, sprinkling it with blessed water, and, this ceremony concluded, the Archbishop next went in procession round the interior church three times, during which the walls, on which had been traced twelve crosses, lighted candles being placed before them, were asperged and blessed, as well as the floor.

While the ceremonies were taking place in the cathedral the multitude gathered m Ashley-place and Ambroaden Avenue witnessed the procession of the relies of the saints from the Hall into the church, which followed immediately upon the consecration of the altars. Among the people were the Duke of Norfolk, leading his little dauhghter by the hand.