The Washington herald., 1907-05-06
HONOR QUEEN OF NAY
Catholics in St. JOseph's Par
ish Revive Old Custom.
MARCH IN QUAINT PROCESSION
Line Three Squares Long Composed
of Boys and Girls I'm White and
Blue, Carrying Flowers, statues,
and Banners ReveFentIy watched
by Large Crowds on the Streets.

In honor of Mary, "the Queen OF May,
to whom that month has ever been dedi-
Gated by Catholics. a May procession.
calling up memories of the gorgeous cere-
monies OF the church IN the Latin coun-
tries, took place in ST. Joseph's parish
| yesterday afternoon.
As in the climes where pontin, priest.
ana laymen join together In celebration
of the May-day, so the pastor, deacons.
and congregation joined and professed
their devotion TO the Mother OF God.
For three squares the long. unusual
pageant extended when the doors of the
church We're thrown open. Two hundred
little girls in white frocks and blue
| sashes. the c0lOrs OF the Virgin, led the
/ procession. Entwined in their hair We're
crowns OF lilies of the valley, while In
the hands each carried a tiny basket
from which We're sprinkIed rose leaves
and petals over which the pageant fol-
/ lowing tread.
Make an Interesting Line.
Symbolic Of the spotIess purity Of the
Virgin, the little ones walked, consciously
and with many bushes. lavish Of their
| flowers as long as they lasted, and down
cast when the supply was exhausted. Fol-
/ lowing the girls came an equal number of
| boys, with shining faces, carefully irOned
white shirt waists and perfectly adjusted
! blue ties. over their shoulders they wore
a long blue ribbon, a symbol Of their
knighthOod-and they, too. sprinkled
flowers before the statues Of the. Virgin.
lnterspersed in the long line were six
statues of Mary borne by larger girls in
white and blue, while others caHTied ban
ners on which was imprinted the image of
the Queen Of May.
ReVerentIy Watch Parade 60 by.
Well in the rear with barred heads, the
adult members Of the congregation
marched, and at the end came the pastor
Rev. Valentine Schmidt escorted By the
assistant pastor. Rev. Ignattus Fealy.
As the procession passed along Second
and B streets and Massachusetts ave-
nue.. the thrOng that lined the sidewalks
on either side stood with uncovered heads,
irrespective of their creed OF calling
Cars stopped and conversation hushed at
the revival of one of the most venerable
customs of the Catholic Church. which
seemed suddenly transplanted from the
old continent to the new
ne NTHAlNdSd 0oltSt bdlQ escorted the
procession. The statue bearers were
Misses Antoinette Dittoe, Eleanor Mace
ron, Edith Schalt, Johanna Mcdonald.
Florence Getz, and Pauline Mcdonald
Returning to the church. the vesper serv-
ice was sung and benediction celebrated.
4 sermon 10 the children on the life and
mission Of the Virgin was delivered By
Rev. Robert Pratt, of the Apostolic Mis-
sion House
Procession at ST. Dominic's.
Another May procession Of more than
ordinary beauty took place In St Dom
inic's Church at night, when all the chill
dren Of the congregation, arrayed in
white, and carrying flowers in their
baskets, marched several times around
the church behind banners representing
the mysteries of the holy rosary.
This latter feature Is a monthly oc-
currence IN the church. but was cele-
brated last night in conjunction with the
special honor 10 the Virgin. AS the lire
moved through the church the entire con
gregation Joined in singing the May
hymns % pa Issise.
The procession was followed by Bene-
diction of the Blessed Sacrament, during
which the 20 Salutaris" and the ''Tantum
Ergo were sung.