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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL,1 AS IT WAS referred to in contemporary sources, was built in the midnineteenth century, during a period of strife between Roman Catholics and Protestants in Philadelphia. The cathedral was modeled reportedly after the Lombard church in Rome, San Carlo al Corso.2 The cornerstone for the new building was laid September 6, 1846, and after several delays in construction,3 the building was dedicated on November 20, 1864. At the time of its consecration it was reported in contemporary newspapers to be "now the largest church on [sic] the Western hemisphere with the exception of one grand temple in Mexico."4 When construction began in 1846 Roman Catholics were a minority in Philadelphia, and the "Know-Nothing" riots did not provide a hospitable environment for building such a grand new edifice in the face of anti-Catholic sentiment. The fact that the cathedral was designed with no windows at street level is a reminder of that environment.5 In 1864, when the cathedral was completed and the opening ceremonies were announced, the front page of the Philadelphia Inquirer carried news of "Sherman's New Movement" with a map entitled "How he Outgenerals Hood: Line showing his Route to Charleston and Savannah."6 The Civil War was in high gear and for some time the papers carried daily reports of battles and deaths, reports of activities of the "Rebel" government, and "statements" and news from Washington. The economy was certainly not in the best state. It was not an opportune time to celebrate opening the largest church in the United States of America! However, it was clearly a major event; the Announcement of the Opening of the Cathedral, "By order of the Committee of Arrangements," carried eight points of order and instruction. "All persons seeking admission to the Cathedral for the Dedication Services must be provided with Tickets."7 The tickets were color-coded in at least three groups: red and blue tickets entitled holders to seats in temporary pews, and green ticket holders were to line up outside i and follow the procession into the new church. Special tickets were issued to reporters of the press and to the choir, with all groups being given specific instructions as to where to assemble and...