The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-06-01


necessity, and then in low tones.
While the procession is crossing
street all traffic, including even the
dersely crowded and numerous trolley
cars, is stopped, the occupants of the
cars in many instances leaving their
seats ana hurrying forward to see the
most beautiful of all possible spectacles.
This homer and respect shown the church
may better be understood when 1t is
borne In mind that every bright Sunday
afternoon, such as we have had through
out this May in this city, thousands of
trolley cars speed through the church dis
tricts. taking an army of people to and
from the country resorts. According to
the location of the churches there Is no
necessity for professions TO cross the
downtown business streets; but those
! streets on Sunday are as dead as Thebes.
This Capital of the Nation is said to be
the most beautifully and extensively
| wooded and best paved city In the world.
In my own long extended travels In many
lands, visited no other city as beautiful
in respect to trees or pavements or in
any other respect.
Thus, cur Capital Is surely an ideal
place for a procession of children. Not
one of the May professions. for wonderful
example; one which I saw last Sunday.
| This procession emerged from great
old church about o'clock. There was
not a cloud in the sky. and the marvellous
sur shine had a golden hue that was to
me unfamiliar. The trees were brilliant
| ly green-that glitteripg, intense green
peculiar to the Isle OF Saints. of all lands
on the earth, and which gladdened Saint
Patrick in his weary wanderings more
| than fifteen centuries ago.
| Over the street into which that process
sion of children moved the trees so green
met and interlocked and interlaced, form
ing a mighty arch completely covering
the roadway, which was almost white in
its cleanliness and tidlness, as If 1t might
have been washed with pure water an
hour before.
Just outside the door of the great
church I stood until all children had
taken their places ard were proceeding
up that fright, green street. AS the last
sister took her place behind the last lit
| tie boy. che being the last soul In that
| procession of the children of the church
| for In the love of the church the oldest
| is as the youngest and the youngest as
the oldest-the first who had departed on
the procession was a half mile away, so
slowly and so soemnly, in serried ranks
of saintliness moved the faithful. 1
mounted stone wall to get better view
| of the proc ession, slow-paced upward
making its way like an army of little
| angels here awhile to lead the way for
| all.
Their, were probably FIVE and twenty
| thousand people on the two sides of the
| lane through which the children made
their way under the over-arching green.
Hundreds of sacred symbols and banners
| fiuttered In the soft breeze of May, lend
ing wonderful color to the army CT little
| ones in white, and those who bore the
| signs of ieligion were the happiest boys
in the world, save other boys the earth
around engaged in similar pious duties.
| The pious music from the bands sound
ed clear and sweet. and there was no rude
note to disturb the harmony.
| 1t was the most beautiful spectacle 1
ever witnessed. that procession up the
| hill. Every little maiden was dressed in
pure white, even 20 her Shoes wore a
white veil, and bore white flowers look
ing for all the world like a little bride;
and so she was-a bride of the church.
| Seeing the procession turn into another
street far up the hill, and being made
aware of its further course, 1 hurried
away to intercept 1t and see the march
past When I reached the crossing aim
| ed for, the procession was full under
| wey, and / mad q mcst charming view
The children looked very radiant In their
white raiment. and many of them were
| seraphic in their lovliness.
At one moment, one of the smallest of
| the little girls stumbled and fell to her
knees. Two others lifted her to her feet in
stantly. end instantly one Of the sisters
| had the child folded to her faithful heart
| In affection and the admonition of dis
| cipline. When the little one was releas-
| ed, there was N her eyes no sign of a
tear; sho was smiling ana nappN What a
wonderful discipline-how extraordinarily