The Evening Standard, Ogden, Utah, Wednesday,
October 2, 1912
When was the Church built? The following article appeared in a Utah newspaper with regards to the dedication of the Church. It describes the interior. If you have been visiting the Church recently you can still find the fleur-de-lis pattern on the walls.
Dedication of Carlin Church
Sunday, September 29, will be long remembered as a red-letter day in the annals of the Catholic Church in the Sagebrush State. On that day the festival of St. Michael the Archangel, the pretty church in the well-known railway town of Carlin was solemnly dedicated. At 10 a.m. a large and representative congregation filled the edifice, visitors coming from Palisade, Elko, Lamoille, Wells and adjoining country to mingle with Carlin representatives of every creed and class.
The Rev. W. H. Corcoran, the pastor, delegated
by the Rt. Rev. Blaho Scanlan, Salt Lake City, carried out in every detail the
impressive ceremony according to the Roman ritual.
After the first Gospel, Father Homan, taking
as his text the words of Holy Writ, “Thou art Peter and upon this rock I shall
build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” delivered
a most eloquent and instructive sermon, dwelling with great force and logic on
the origin, infallibility and sanctity of the Catholic Church.
At the end of the mass the celebrant, Father
Corcoran, made a short but comprehensive statement dealing with the finances of
the church naming all those who contributed to its erection. He said in part:
The day’s opening ceremony and solemn dedication were of great moment to himself and the Catholics of Carlin. That they were fortunate in securing Father Homan’s services who had preached them a sermon worthy of himself and the occasion that brought them together. He cordially thanked, on the part of Bishop Scanlan and himself, all who contributed to defray the cost of building. He said a special word of thanks and recognition was due to the ladies who had rendered such signal services in the good cause, especially Mrs. Thomas McKenna, Mrs. Ellen Griffin, Mrs. R. El Keyser, Mrs. A. Stone and Mrs. Rosa Sperlich: they had truly borne “the burden and the rest of the day.” He complimented the Catholics of Carlin on their lavish generosity and extolled the noble sacrifices they had made in building such a handsome temple of worship and said it would ever remain a standing monument of their faith and religion. He looked forward to their church being the source of community of manifold graces and blessing from the high heaven. He thanked the choir for the beautiful and appropriate musical service they had rendered on the auspicious occasion. He paid a glowing tribute to Mrs. J.P. Tehan. San Bruno. Cal. for her donation to the church of artificially painted window of the Sacred Heart of Jesus surmounting the altar. On entering the church Father Corcoran reminded his hearers, the beautiful symbol of the loving heart of the Savior would be the first thing to strike them. He painted in glowing terms the tenderness of Jesus towards sinners, graphically describing the scene where Jesus pardoned the Magdalen and in conclusion, he exhorted all to practice devotion to the Divine Heart.
The altar was gorgeously decorated with choice
flowers. Miss Rosa Sperlich presided at the organ, which has just been
presented to the church by Mrs. A Stone of Carlin.
The church is 39 feet long and 26 feet broad. It has a pretty sanctuary and the altar, designed by Father Corcoran, is reminiscent of the Church of the Catacombs. The interior is of pressed iron, the walls 16 feet high are of beautiful fleur-de-lis pattern and are painted a deep rose; they are surmounted by a molding in tan: the ceiling is a light pink. The communion rails, pews and confessional are stained and varnished. The altar is in white enamel.
A pretty sacristy adjoins the church. The
interior is painted in the present fashionable French Gray with white facings.
The building is lighted with electricity.
Three magnificent statues of the Sacred Heart, Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Joseph, now on their way from Chicago, the gifts respectively of Mrs. Sherera, Battle Mountain; Miss Rosa Sperlich and Mrs. Thomas Griffin, of Carlin, will greatly add the beauty and embellishment of the edifice. Carlin may feel justly proud of the beautiful addition in their progressive town.
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WE NEED YOUR HELP! DO YOU HAVE PICTURES OF THE OLD CATHOLIC CHURCH? INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. ALL ARE NEEDED! EMAIL THE CARLIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY OR CALL US AT 754-2287 TODAY!
