The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-01-19
UNIQUE DISPLAY OF FAITH.
Continued from Page


the placid waters of the lake. Now as every l-
habitant Of this singular locality has inherited III
faith from the earliest Christian ages. they tr.
irresistibly inclined, like every true Cathou.
should. to contrive a solemn public demonstrate
in honor OF the Blessed Sacrament. the day 81.
apart of old for this special purpose. But thcIH
peculiar streets being few and too narrow and
the lake front being nearly wholly taken up b.
spacious RonmaneSque church and other public
buildings, 1t was no easy task to devise ways and
means for a becoming display. Their child-Ij5
faith suggested TO them the novel spectacle of
procession on the lake. Hence this festive day.
Corpus Christi, soon mass Is over the prOcc--
sion is announced by the joyous peals of q chime
OF FIVE large. harmonious bells. the multitude of de-
vOut wOrshippcrs singing the old and mclodlou-
hymns with an enthusiasm coming straight from
the very depths Of these mountain souls begin q.
march i'll marrow files along the borders OF the lake
Suddenly the bells are silent. Everybody haIts
The first gospel Is sung under verdant canops
near the church Then the choir intones the enor-
getic strains of the "Iantm Ergo Young and
old take up the impressive melody along the line.
From the lake a salute of twelve guns is heard Tn
first public benediction is over Now the marshal
OF the unparalleled parade having given finish
ing touch to his preparations. retraces his STEPS
toward the church. Immediately the united voice
of the joyous bells invite everybody to embark.
Then all along the line all fall on their knees their
ment is going to pass This done, the several
groups of men. women and children move onward
according to the orders they had previously re
ceiyed. At some distance. along the shore. an end
less variety of richly decorated and freshly paint
ed white and azure crafts lie lii waiting. All th.
larger ones are manned by two. four more boats
men dressed i'll spotless white large gondoa,
more gorgeOusly decorated than the rest comes for
ward, i1npelled by the measured strokes of eight
uniformed oarsmen 1t is especially prominent on
account of a large. delicately carved canopy and
altar gilded and FURNISHED with such skill. that
both present perfect appearance of massive gold.
As the clergy and the army of altar boys
have boarded it. 1t starts to take the lead. With
out delay still larger gondola presents itself The
brass band with It's standaTd-bearer at its head
ters and the twelve rOwers move their charge to
close proximity Of the preceding one. Then follows
a commodious barge containing besides ? few nut
sicians, the members of the choir with their d
rector. Now come several hatboatS with neatly
dressed children, boys in blue, girls in white. all
in charge of their teachers. Next Is a genuin"
floating town hall for the city fathers and proud
display of the symbolic keys the national and the
local crests and banners. This is followed by hun
dreds of boats. skifs and shells containing ono
two at most four persons. Finally comes kind
of swimming fortress with battery Of not less
than twelve large mOrtars. Meanwhile the bells
keep up their gladstone peals. sacred melodies
hymns and the sounds of the alternate praying and
and re-echoed on the shore. Suddenly far AVA
in the lake. the fleet stands motionless. Not u
sound is heard. The second gospel is going to be-
sung. Again the band intones the martial air Of
"Tantrm Ergo" and Immediately all sing with an
enthusiasm which only such solemn surrounding
and marvellous scenery inspire. Perfect quiet
reigns again. Benediction Is given Every
stands with heads bowed and devoutly bent low
adoring their God All of sudden they are
aroused from their pious attitude by the successive
discharge of every mortar. The expression Of
every face is in keeping with the effect produced
The sound is multiplied thousand-fold. 1t would
seem that in every direction all the mountains and
rocky coasts, cliffs and peaks around the lake and
its vicinity trembling with emotion. An end
less echo is tossed to and fro till echo after echo
ascending higher and higher reach the highest
peak, thence to proceed with laundering applause
on its errand around the globe, bringing tidings
of q faith never to die.
For the third time the bells ashore send forth
their resonant appeal to proceed Every soul is II
resistibly moved. Songs prayers and music are
resumed with a fervor that seems beyond control
On the northern shore. between friendly cliffs
nature aided by skillful hands has prepared an
ideal spot for lovely altar and it IS toward this
favored spot the feet directs Its course next.
Then everybody disembarks save those in charge
of the battery. The third gospel is sung on shore
Benedietion follows with the same scenes of piety
and faith. The thunder of the mortars makes q
third successful appeal to heaven and earth not to
stay insensible but to join in the praise of tn
Lord. Once more the bells are heard. Each per
son takes his rank. The course is now close the
shore along the water front. At IT'S starting place
the feet halts Everybody goes ashore Slowly the
procession moves toward the church. And as IF
these sturdy mountaineers distrusted the earth the
Blessed Sacrament is now not in the front but
in their midst Immediately the bell men leave
their post-a fourth gospel is sung near the churcb
followed by Benedicton. the gunners fire a PARTING
salute and our dear Lord returns again to his ac-
customed home-the tabernacle. The grand cells
bration has come to successful issue. but its.
echoes survive in LOYAL breasts to burst forth a
year hence with undiminished faith