The morning call., 1894-10-08
CHILDREN LEAVING ST. DoMINIC's ON ROSARY SUNDAY.

has been practiced by the Dominicans
from the very foundation of their order in
the fifteenth century. The rosary is SYM
boiical of crown of roses. and the frag-
rant flo wers that have been blessed are
valued by devout Catholics as most effica-
cious in all kinds of sickness.
Yesterday 10000 Cath olics awaited them
selves of the opportunity Of securing one
of the treasur ed roses, particularly as the
festival was the occasion for plenary in
dull gence as often rs the worshinerS Wis
tied the rosary altar in St. Dominlc's
Church from o'clock on Saturday till
shutdown yesterday.
1t is on the first Sunday in October that
the feast of the rosary is annually OBJ
served by the Dominican fathers. and
their gorgeous ceremonial is all associa ted
with synbolical meaning. The great
procession, which attracted such vast
crowd yesterday. represented the Chris
tian's march through the wilderness of
life. Thousands OF people took part in it,
and Its appearance as it circled the entire
block on which 81. D0minc'S church and
monastery are built was picturesque in the
extreme.
The great banner Of the rosary, carried
by 2. j. White, led the van. followed by
the junior Rosarians, all the Sunday
school children and the members of the
hOiy Nduo oUCftbf. luCSt CONSISTED oil
about $50 girls, dressed in white and wear
ing gariands of roses, and 200 boys. Father
Netterville, .. F.. reciting the rosary, fol-
lowed at the head of his sOdality, which
consisted of the senior rosarians and a
portion of the Holy Name Society. The
hiteen banners OF the rosary were divided
among TINS portion OF the procession.
Next came the members of the Young
Mems Holy Name Society and the MEM
bers of the Third Order Of St. Dominic,
the latter INSISTING of over 200 ladies and
nearly 100 gentlemen. A large number of
members followed, enormously swelling
the length of the procession. Most of
those present carried a rosary in the left
hand.
Alter the congregation came four gen.
tlemen carrying the statue of the Blessed
virgin, the base OF which was entirely
wreathed in masses of choice roses. The
Dominican Fathers. in their picturesque
robes OF flowing white, brought up the
rear OF the procession. After circli0g the
block the concourse of people re-entered
the church, and finished singing the rosary
as the members Uf the congregation were
taking their places.
The blessing of the roses took place i'm
mediately before the late mass. The Very
Rev. Plus Murphy, the Vicar General of
the order in California, pronounced the
formula of benedictioD, which began:
God. the creator ana preserver OF the
human race, VINO glVetn 10 souls grace and
eternal salvation, degn to bless with thy holy
benediction these roses, which, for the purpose
OF thanking thee and uf showing our devotion
TO the ever Blessed Virgin Mary, the queen OF
| the rosary, we present this day to thee.
| After the last pile of roses had been
blessed they were distributed to the con-
| gregatloD, which SO tbrOnged the pews and
the aisles that IL took con side ira BILE time
| for those carrying the baskets of flowers
| to reach all present. In The mass which
followed the celebrant was Very Rev. AL
/ phonse Riley. prior; the DEACON. Rev.
Dominic MaheT; sub-deacon, Rev. Ceslaus
! Clancy. Beetb0ven's Mass Ia G was per-
| formed by the following choir: Sopranos
Misses K. Kelly, b. Price, NJ Lawler:
altos-Miss Nj. Grimm, Mrs. Poor; tenor.
| MIR. Griffith Jones bassos-Daniel Sheerip.
w. G. Roberts. Offertory, ''Veni Crea
| (Giorza). Owens. Brandt's symphony or
chestra ompanied the organ during the
! mass.
The Dominicans are the preaching order
4 Of the Catholic church. and the sermon by
| Father A. Netterville, an eloquent appeal
| on the subject Of the Feast of the Day."
was fully in accordance with the reputa-
| ton of his confraternity. After desert bling
how the rosary had been founded in the
| fifteenth century. and recting what it had
| accomplished under tie personal super-
| vision of st. Doininci, he gave a glowing
| word-picture of the battle of the Gulf Of
| Lepanto, when the very existence of
| Christianity trembled In the balance
against the overwhelming forces of the
| advancing Moslems. While The battle was
raging the people at home were reciting
tho rosary, and as the tide of victory