The Washington herald., 1907-05-20
MARCH IN The RAIN
Catholic Exercises of Crown
ing Nay Queen Held.
WEATHER MARS PROCESSION
Some Events POstponed-Hundr
of Children I'm Parade from Coma
ga College TO st. AlOysius' Church
to See Miss Brady Crown Statue of
Blessed Virgin-Pnrents Out Also.

Undaunted by the threatening weather
and rain, the professions participated in
by thousands Of children, attired in white
dresses and carrying armfuls Of flowers,
in commemoratlon OF Mary. the immacu-
late Queen Of May. took place yesterday
afternoon at st. Aloyslus' Church and at
the other Catholic places Of worship
about the city.
Hundreds Of children, many Of them
mere tots and others ranging from nine
70 twelve years Of age, congregated at
St. Aloysius' during the afternoon. pre-
paratory to the annual procession and
Queen Of May exercises. -Four O'Clock was
the hour set for the ceremonies. While
the little ones formed in line. the rain
began, and continued for half an hour.
The children were hurriedly taken into
the church and other adjoining buildings
and waited patiently for the downpour TO
cease. At first it was decided 20 postpone
the procession until next Sunday, Later,
after the rain had gone. the children were
greeted with the goods news that the
programme as planned would be carried
out.
Led by the Gonzaga College Band, and
with the St Vincent de Paul Society and
members Of the Aloysius Club and the
altar boys, the procession, several blocks
in length. moved from the college along
North Capitol street, more than an hour
fter the original time set for the display,
20 X street. west 20 Second street, thence
to I street. and to the church, where the
youngsters assembled while the Queen Of
May, Miss Annie Brady, crowned the
statue OF the Blessed Virgin.
Rev. Father Henry A Leary, S. J.. de-
liyered the sermon. Solemn benediction
OF the blessed sacrament was given by
Rev. Father J. B. Pittar, s. J.. with Rev.
Father H. A. Leary, s. J., and Rev.
Father P. J. DeBold. s J.
The procession az 81. Pstrick's took
place on time. Just at o'clock, as the
rain began. The children OF the parish
assembled in Carroll Hall. and were
about TO march when the sprinkling
started. Moving through G street to-
ward the church half a block away. the
/ procession continued while the rain fell.
Hundreds OF mothers who had gone 70
great pains and expense In dressing their
children for the exercises were on hand
and. with umbrellas. endeavored 20 keep
the rain Of the children and their gar
ments.
With their heads adorned with wreaths
Of flowers. and carrying others IN their
hands. in twos. the little ones marched
toward their destination. where the an
nual exercises we're 10 take place. BE.
! cause Of their anxiety 20 protect the little
marchers from the rain. there were many
soaked fathers and mothers in the line
the grown-ups being almost as strong
numerically, as the children.
| Just as the rear guard Of the column
reached the church the rain began com
ng down In greater torrents than ever
( The little ones gathered in the church
/ 70 witness the crowning Of the statue OF
/ the Virgin by Miss May Clarke, selected
as Nay Queen by her pastor, Rev. Dr
Stafford. with the unanimous approval OF
the members Of the Sunday school
At several other Catholic churches the
professions occurred before the rain
while some of the exercises were post
pOned altogether because of the unprO
ptious weather.
/ Elaborate preparations had been mad.
[ for the display AZ St. Aloysius and ST
Patrick's churches, as well as I'm the
/ other parishes, and had II not been for IN,
weather the professions would have beer
more magnificent than any that have eyei
taken place in Washington.
Largest Ever Held.
The procession at the Church Of III,
/ Shrine Of the Sacred Heart was tht
/ largest ever held in that parish, and ;
/ big congregation was present. despitt
the rain. The pretty little edifce a
/ Fourteenth street and Park road wa
neatly decorated for the occasion.
The first communion class at the morn
/ ing, service consisted Of forty-fve younl
/ persons. the largest class ever known il
the parish.
Catherine Sullivan was the May Queen
with Catherine Simmons and Edna Smltl
I as her attendants. The pages were Lam
bert Simmons. Edward Smith. lie
Drury. and Francis Rafferty,. The corona
tion party consisted Of Ella May Sulli
van, Anna Gallagher, Mary EIery. Lo
retta Shea, Rita Rafferty,, and May Atchi
son. Maids of honor were Helen Marti
/ and Catherine Liston. Willie Cullina
was the master Of ceremonies at the al
tar, with the following as acolytes. Par
Ashburn. Earl Simmons, John Simmons
and James Nolan.
T0HAI MTNTTON