PAGEANT OF FAITH

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 240, 7 September 1928, Page 8

PAGEANT OF FAITH

3 P.M. EDITION

COLOSSAL RELIGIOUS DEMONSTRATION.

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received September 7, 11.20 a.m. SYDNEY, Sept. 7. Battalion after battalion of young men of Roman Catholic societies, marched into the Royal showground today to participate in the most colossal religious demonstration ever held in Australia.

Solemn benediction under the open sky was given by Cardinal Ceretti, tho Papal Lagatee, to 130,000. Onlookers at this simple pageant of faith will never forget the sight of over 100,000 human arms holding lighted tapers. The deep-toned responses of the worshippers preceded the triumphant thunder of the Adoremus, and then the huge congregation sang the hymn, 0 Sacrament Divine, and then before the Benediction, in Latin, O Salutaris Hostia and the Tantum Ergo. The service ended with the grandest of Catholic hymns—“ Faith of Our Fathers” and “Hail, Queen of Heaven.” A vast sea of faces looked toward the Papal throne at the far end of the ground and the official stand crowded with inter-State visitors.

Cardinal Ceretti yesterday laid a heart-shaped wreath on the Cenotaph, in the presence of the Returned Soldies’ League officials. An excited crowd gathered when they observed the Cardinal’s arrival

Archbishop CJane, of Perth, also placed a huge floral cross on the Cenotaph on behalf of chaplains who served in the war.