The age-herald., 1902-01-26

Washington, January 1s.-(specisL)- For the first time in history a Cardinal prince of the Catholic church today pom tifcated in a Washington church, the H. lustrious Cardinal Gibbons being the eel ebrant of pontiical high mass in St. Pat rick's this forenoon. Dr. Stafford, the renowned priest preached the ser mon, he having hurried back to Wash ington from Chicago. where, on Thurs day night in the Auditorium he achieved the greatest triumph of oratory ever heard in that city as the journals have already set forth.
 Last Sunday Dr. Stafford, who was the and did not preach, informed the congre- gation of the memorable honor which Cardinal Gibbons was about to confer upon the church.
 There Is no reason why the Cardinal should confer such signal honor upon us," Dr. Stafford said at the conclusion of the mass. He is coming of his own volition and in the abundance Of his pious affection for all Catholics who wor- ship here, and as 1t will be the first time
  Washington church. it is needful for you to know what is expected of you. The Cardinal has graciously been pleased to express the desire, to meet and shake hands with every member of the congre- gation. In order to satisfy his generous wish he will hold a reception in the rec tory immediately after the mass, and every one of you should enjoy the happy privilege and high honor of receiving his greeting and his blessing. You will tell him of your happiness in seeing him and of your good wishes toward him.
 And In order that all honor possible be shown him. the men of the congre- gation will station themselves in the formation of double ranks. facing each other, few paces apart and extending from the door of the rectory to the main door of the church. Between these ranks of the faithful the Cardinals procession will pass Similar order will be observed when the Cardinal passes from the church into the street and on to the rectory."
 This morning at fifteen minutes to II o'clock the Cardinals procession emerged from the main entrance to the priests house of St. Patrick's and passed into the street, and thousands of people were gathered there to witness the splendid pageantry in honor of the highest dignita- ry amongst the 14,000, GOO American Catho- lies. At the head of the procession walk ed two acolytes, each carrying aloft a large golden cross, and following them were twenty-four torch-bearers, togeth- CT with more than a hundred altar boys, all in vestments.
 The Cardinal in the splendid red robes of his rank and wearing massive gold chain with pendant cross walked alone, a company of eighteen priests attending him; and in this order the procession passed into the church. Every man of the thousands stood uncovered while the procession was passing and as the Car dinal and priests passed the multitude made the sign of the cross.
 This magnificent ceremonial of the Catholic church, never before witnessed in Washington proper, though 1t was en- acted on a still larger scale at the ded- icaton of the Catholic University, out side of the city, was awe-inspiring in the highest degree.
 In the celebration of the mass by the Cardinal all the great forms and stately ceremonies prescribed for the pontificating of prince of the church were carried out in elaborate granduer.
 Two prayers were said, to which Cath olic in this country are unaccustomed, for reasons not necessary here to dwell upon. One was the special prayer for the Pope-"God preserve His Holiness the Pope" is the substance of it in English; and the other was the prayer for our Republic-"God preserve the Republic" though there Is a wonderfully beautiful prayer in English said here every Sun day for our country and its rulers.
 "God preserve the Republic" as pr. Stafford had cried in noble eloquence on the Sunday before in explaining the full meaning of the prayer for our country; and he rung all spirit of that prayer in