A CONGRESS OPENED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6622, 11 September 1908, Page 5

A CONGRESS OPENED

CATHOLICS IK LONDON PROGRAMME FOR THE GREAT EVENT. OPINIONS ON PROCESSIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, September U. Tho Eucharistic Congress was opened to-day. Two bishojjs met Cardinal Yanutelli, tho Papa! Legato, at Dover, and his Graco Archbishop Bourne (Archbishop of Westminster), the Bishop of Dunedin (Dr Verdon), and the Duko of Norfolk, and a large, enthusiastic gathering welcomed him at Charing Cross station.

The delegates include eight cardinals, fifteen archbishops, seventy bishops, twenty-two abbots, and many other dignitaries front all parts of tho world.

During tho four days of tho Congress 10,000 masses will bo said.

There will be elaborate music in Westminster Cathedral. One day it will bo Byzantine, another day English, another French, and another Italian.

X’upers upon various aspects of tho history and development of the worship of tho Sacrament of tho Eucharist will bo read at tho Horticultural, Caxton, and Buckingham Halls. Receptions and groat meetings will bo hold in tho Albert Hall.. The entire Congress relates to subjects connected with the Eucharist. Catholic peers will accommodate many loading visitors.

Eight thousand membership tickets ■were issued and sold days ago, and there have been many hundreds of fruitless applications since.

Tho “ Morning Post ” and " Westmiuster Gazette” consider the Act of Catholic Emancipation definitely forbids processions, and they see no reason why the law should not be observed. Both papers condemn tho promoters. Apart from extremists, many consider the proposal regrettable. SERVICE AT WESTMINSTER. RECEPTION OF THE PAP AL LEGATE. (Received September 10, 10.17 p.tn.) LONDON, September 10. In connection with tho inauguration of the Congress a solemn service was held last evening in Westminster Cathedral, in the presence of 7000 persons.

At the entrance to the Cathedral, Cardinal Vanutelli was received in state by Archbishop Bourne, and conducted, wearing the soarlet Cappa Magna, under a canopy Of white silk and gold, to tho high altar, attended by a procession of richly-habited oai'dinals and prelates.

The apostolic letters, announcing tho appointment of Cardinal Vanutelli as Papal Legato were read. In the letters his Holiness the Pope paid a tribute to the British Empire, famed lor the Übeity extended to its citizens, and “to whose authority and laws so many millions of Catholics render faithful and dutiful obedience.

The Legate then entered the pulpit, and, speaking in Latin, acknowledged Great Britain’s hospitality and offered an expression of respect to the wise ruler of her destinies. His Eminence also made his acknowledgments to those in authority.

The Pope, continued Cardinal Vanutelli, trusted that good results would follow from the Congress, and that the Divine Eucharist would he tho ultimate means of uniting all in ono faith.

The service, ih which the music used was that of modern English composers, concluded with the Benediction of tho Blessed Sacrament. PROCESSION SANCTIONED. FURTHER APPEAL TO THIE HOME SECRETARY. (Received September 10, 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, September 10. King Edward, through Colonel Sir Arthur Davidson, Bquerry-in-Waiting, has acknowledged the Protestant petition which begged, his Majesty to follow tho example of his mother, whoso Royal proclamation on June 15th, 1852, forbade the holding of a Roman Catholic ceremonial procession in tho streets; thereby preventing a precedent for tho beginning of religious strife.

Tho “ Daily Telegraph ’ ’ states that the Homo Office has informed tho Protestant deputation that Mr Herbert Gladstone and the Commissioner of Police sanctioned tho procession. The “ Standard ” appeals to Mr Gladstone politely to intimate that tho procession “must ho abandoned. A hint to tho promoters, it declares, will be sufficient.