EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 342, 31 October 1908, Page 10

EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION.

AN IMPOSING SPECTACLE. PAPAL LEGATE'S FAREWELL. London had never Been beforo such a demonstration in force of Roman Catholicism as that which took place on September 13 in. the streets around the great Byzantine Cathedral at Westminster. Hours before the time' fixed for the proceedings to begin crowds" wero pouring into these thoroughfa ros, and when at last was on its way the people were packed in closo ( discomfort. Sometimes tlio crush was so terriblo : that ugly accidents seemed inevitable. Women shrieked and' many fainted. Repeatedly-the bugle of tlio Catholic Boys' Brigade sounded a call for the ambulance men. Owing to the density of. the crowd, they were not always able to respond, and some distressing sccnes were witnessed, as wemen fell unconscious into the. arms of those around them, to be revived only with tho greatest difficulty. Papal Colours and Papal Cuard. The Papal colours, white'and gold, were everywhere. It was impossible to step a few yards in Westminster, or Victoria, without seeing at least a dozen Catholics who avowed their religion by means of rosettes or aluminium ■ Foreign priests in long black cassocks .and furry .black hats beamed upon the multitude. People came from every part of Great Britain, and Ireland appeared to have supplied a very large contingent. Rich, poor ( middle-class —every portion of the. community was represented. The arrangements that stewards, with white and yellow armlets, should form a sort of 'Papal guard four deep along the route could not bo carried out in its entirety because of the size of the crowd. Papal Decorations. In the immediate neighbourhood of the Cathedral, from the balcony of ( which the Legato had been announced to give the Papal Benediction, the throng was thickest. It grew in strength every moment. Every window which commanded a view of' 1 the route had its group of spectators. Some of the houses were gay with Papal 1 decorations, and from either side of the entranco to the Cathedral flew the Union Jack and the Papal flag. And hero, on tho very balcony from 'which tho Legato was to have performed the Elevation, as well as from tho side balconies below, favoured onlookers (including youths in uniform) laughed in gay conversation and puffed cigarettes. Intense interest was taken by those who had come from long distances in the recognition of their favourite priests. Women called them by thoir names, delightedly, and beamed with gratification when tho prelates wavod their hands and 'smiled. From one end to another of the crowd Catholic songs rolled in a gigantic wave. In this way "Avo Marias" were recited, and "Faith of pur Fathers," "Oh, Sacrament Divine," and "God Bless our Pope" were sung. Prelates Cheered. , , Cheers arose in mighty volume whenever a well-known prelate passed towards' tho Cathedral, and these swelled enormously when at last, a few minutes after four o'clock, the procession had set forth in state from tne great front doorway of Ihe Cathedral. Tho master of ceremonies, with the Cathedral choir in white lace-trimmed surplices, and the Cathedral chaplains in. plain' ecclesiastical attire, led tho way. Next came the canons, tind then the abbots, venerable men, some of them, and impressive figures in their cream surplices, white coppas, and'cream birettas. :The- bishops , and archbishops brought a long splash of red- andpurple.into the picture. And_then, behind a chaplain' carrying the crozier, camo a commanding .figure in brilliant red. silk and red hat,.whoso passage was made to the tireless accompaniment of a deafening ■ roar of applause. •It was that of Cardinal: Vincent Vanutollii the Papal Legate, who showered blessing upon the peoplo who saluted, him. Some, of those in front bowed l the. knee as he passed, by, but this was-impossible to the great majority. „> .v: Elevating the 'Host.' Behind his Eminenco walked the chaplain of the. mitre, the members of" the Pontifical Missibn,, (with Papal counts iii r-full .court dress), and the attendants upon the Legato. Thqn. came Cardinals Logue, Mercier,: and Ferrier, in red, with t.hnir rot;n"n<>" and tliere was another loud burst of cheering as Archbishop Bourne came , in sight, precedod and succeeded by masters of ceremonies. Behind.him walked a strong body, of: generals, provincials, and superiors of .the various religious orders and congregations. It was, on the-whole, an imposing spectacle, though it lacked much' of tho colour that would have attended the carrying out of tho original programme; ... . A Mile of Procession. The procession was nearly a mile long. Tlio route was along Ashley Placo, Carlisle Street, Francis Street, New Road, Rochester Row, Artillery - Row, Howick Place, Ashley Gardens, Francis Street, and Ambrosden Avenue, whence it returned to the Cathedral. • That part of the ceremony which took placo inside was of oxtreme magnificence. The Cardinal changed his attire for' an exquisite white cope embroidered with gold, and in this almost weirdly beautiful attiro he appeared in the temporary pulpit, draped with scarlet plush, which had been placed in the middle of -the balcony. Candles wero lighted in sconces opposite as two gorgeous lanterns were placed on either side of this forum. And theii the tempest of song and cheering was quelled to. a deep hush as tho Duke of Norfolk and other peers walked forward, bearing candles. A fanfare of trumpets broke the stillness, and then the Legate, a singularly impressive figure in his dead white garb, advanced to tho -forum,..bearing .the Host, Ho elovated the symbol solemnly, arid then pronounced the Papal. Benediction. From ■two- other positions .the Legate pronounced the Benediction, for which so many of the faithful had waited so long; and then the ■ecclesiastical dignitaries returned-to the interior of tile Cathedral for tho conclusion of the unusually ornate service. Adverse Feeling Shown. ( Although there was no disturbance on'an organised scale, there were a few minor rows. 'At: the. Victoria Street corner of Ashley •Place, for instance, a fight was proceeding briskly, when the police, interfered. Representatives of the '.'Old. Paths -Brotherhood" distributed handbills. Oppqsite Rochester Row Police Station some thirty or forty members of .the Protestant Alliance sang evangelistic hymns, which, wore lost in the volume of song from the Catholics around them. .When the procession'arrived in Rochester Row the Protestant Alliance partisans raised cries of "No Popery!" '''Remember' tho Martyrs 1" and "Down with the Cardinal!" which tlioy kept up all the time it was passing, also throwing bundles of lcaflots on to the priests. On the Saturday about 20,000 children, most of the girls in -white, with veils and sashes, assembled on the Embankment and marched to tlio cathedral, where a special ■service was held for them. Farewell Speech by Papal Legate. Cardinal Vanutclli,'tho Papal Legato, made a speech in French to the crowd which assembled at Charing' Cross to see his departure for Dover and the Continent. He said he was delighted with his visit to London. Ho had come to England not in his own name, but in that of the Popo, and for tho sake of the Holy Eucharist. Ho had been most pleased with all that lie had seen, and particularly-with the attitude of tlio crowds in tho street. Now he knew 'the meaning of English liberty. On his return to Romo lie would report to the Pope all that lie had seen and heard in London, and would inform his Holiness that, despite the attitude of a few irresponsible persons, the feeling of the English people towards him'and towards the congress had been excellent, and that the heart of England beat only for liberty.

"I shall never forget," Cardinal Vanutelli said in conclusion, "the lmppy days 1 have spent in London at this Eucliaristic Congress. It has boon to me a wonderful revelation of the faith and courage of the' Catholics of the United Kingdom. May God bless you all."

Afterwards the Cardinal gave his benediction, everyone 011 the platform kneeling to receive it. Cheers were raised as his Einiiiinence waved his farewell when the train moved out of the station,