Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-22
A NOTABLE FUNCTION
Record Group of PreIates at
Church Centenary
IN PHILADELPHIA TODAY
Opening Event of Week of Cele.
brations.
ARCHBISHOP RYAN THE LION
Coloring Of Vestments Lends Bril-
liancy to Magnificent Reception
Held Last Night.
ARCHBISHOP RYAN THE LION
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PHILADELPHIA. April 22.-The great
est gathering Of Catholic dignitaries ever
assembled in the United States last night
attended the reception to Archbishop
Ryan at the Bellevue Stratford given by
the ST. Vincent de Paul Society in honor
of the centennial of the creation of the
diocese of Philadelphia. The reception
marked the fietieth anniversary of the
society, and was attended by upward OF
of the diocese.
The archbishop and visiting prelates as
sembled in the red room. and from there.
dressed in their cassocks, feriolas and
zuchettas, proceeded to the clover room.
where they were received by the ladies'
auxiliary of the st. Vincent Society.
Archbishop Ryan led the line arm in
arm with the venerable Cardinal Gibbons.
Next walked his excellency, Most Rev.
Diomede Falconio. apostolic delegate to
the United States, and his excellency
Most Rev. Joseph Aversa, apostolic dele
gate to Cuba and Porto Rico. Behind
them were the archbishops. bishops, mon
signori. and priests in the order of their
seniority.
But few prelates wore their barettas,
and many priests representing most of the
parishes in the diocese were scattered
through the audience that attended the
concert. The cardinal retired when the
concert started
Telegram From the President.
Just before the opening event of the
celebration Archbishop Ryan was in re-
ceipt of this congratulatory telegram from
President Roosevelt:
My Dear Archbishop Ryan: Pray &C.
cept my hearty congratulations for you
and your parishioners on the occasion OF
the celebration of the founding of the
Roman Catholic diocese which is now the
archdiocese of Philadelphia.
with all good wishes. Sincerely yours
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Although the reception was attended by
Cardinal Gibbons. Apostolic Delegate tC
the United States Falconio and a score Of
more Of the leaders of the Catholic
Church in America, the dominant spirit
Of the occasion was one of reverence and
respect for Archbishop Ryan. the central
and commanding figure Of the jubilee now
under way.
Eagerly Seek Archbishop.
At the head of the receiving line he
was most eagerly sought by the fashion
able assemblage, and later, in the box al
the head of the gallery in the ballroom
he was naturally the most observed OF
all the thousands in attendance.
Before the reception was held Archbishop
Ryan said that the centennial assem-
blage had been the most notable gather
ing of the hierarchy of the church that
has ever met in the United States on any
occasion.
Primarily the reception was rendered to
Archbishop Ryan. and he took his place
at the head of the receiving table. Prece-
dence was given to other dignitaries ac-
cording to ecclesiastical order, as fol-
lows:
Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Balti-
more; Monsignore Diomede Falconio.
apostolic delegate to the United States:
the Rev. John M. Farley. Archbishop of
New York; Bishop Ortynski, Greek Bish-
op to the United States; the Rt Rev.
James Davis Bishop of Davenport, Iowa
the Ri. Rev, H. p. Northrop, Bishop of
Charleston, s. G.: the Rt. Rev Joseph NJ
Koudelka. Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland
the Rt. Rev. ]. d. O'Connell, rector Cath.
Ole University of America, Washington;
the Rt. Rev. John w. Shanahan Bishop
Of Harrisburg: the Rt. Rev NJ. ]. Ho-
ban. Bishop Of Scranton; the Rt. Rev.
Rt. Rev. John p. Fitzmaurice. Bishop OF
Erie; the Rt. Rev. James A. McFaul,
Bishop of Trenton. N. j.: the Rt. Rev.
Charles Cotton. Bishop of Buffalo. N. Y;
the Rt. Rev. p. j. DOnahue, Lishop of
Wheeling. w. Va; the Rt. Rev. George
Albert Guertin. Bishop of Manchester. n.
H.. and the Rt. Rev. Thomas b. Beayen.
Bishop Of Springfield. Mass.
Roses for Cardinal Gibbons.
As an opening incident in the reception
came the presentation of 100 American
beauty roses to Cardinal Gibbons. the
Ngift Of the Society of st. Vincent de Paul.
They were presented by z. j. Pequignot.
president of the society. The cardinal re-
ceived them graciously. and took his place
a head tn
op Ryan
First to greet the cardinal was Mrs