New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-13
EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS-
PROCESSION rs ILLEGAL.
anomalous Situation Caused by
Infatuated Statutes.
Especial by French Gable to The Tribune
rCorr-ira,t raas q, TIT Tribune Association.


rCopyrieh, 1905 b, TIT Tribune Assoca;ion.l
London Sept IA novel feature of the
Eucharistic Congress is the Byzantine Liturgy.
which is rendered to-day at Westminster Cathe-
6ral for the first time I'm England. 1t is sub
sestute for the Latin Mass in the Eastern
churches in communion with Rome. and. while
originally composed in Greek, has been trans
lated into old Slavonic and dozen other Ian
guages II Is longer than the ordinary mass
and seems exceptionally foreign by reason OF
the strange Byzantine plain song and the con-
cezlnent Of the sanctuary by a great screen
The Archimandrite Of the Melikite Church at
Paris conducted the liturgy at the cathedral
with the assistance of several Augustinian
monks with full boards and long hair The
Byzantine plain song was chanted by the cathe
oral choir which had been practising 1t for
many weeks II was stately, solemn. religious
ceremonial and attracted a great throng of de-
won't worshippers II ended with polchronion
especially composed for the occasion proclaim
ing the Pope lesate and archbishop of the
cathedral.
While this function has been the chief nov
city FOR Anglo Catholics, the outdoor procession
arranged for Tomorrow will be the most pict-
urescue feature OF the congress. This will be
headed by the choir Of the cathedral and canons
sbbots bishops archbishops and cardinals will
follow the professional of the vestment of the
Papal Leeate. carrying the sacrament under a
canopy borne by peers, members of Parliament
and laymen The route of the procession Will
be lined by guard of honor of fifteen thousand
men, mainly recruited from religious fraternities,
and all viii kneel the Host passes and fall
in behind the clergy. The line of march will be
through back streets around the cathedral and
the prominent thoroughfares viii be avoided.
The Cardinal Legate on returning 10 the cathe-
dral viii give blessing from a balcony over
the big door
The proposed procession has excited much
controversy. II Is distinctly illegal according
10 the text Of the statute. The emancipation
act 90 the reign Of George " prohibited the
use Of the streets for ceremonials of this kind.
The organizers of the procession assert that the
Law is dead letter. Protestant extremists re-
ply that il was enforced by a proclamation in
1851 and has never been repealed While the
procession is not meant as challenge to Prot
estantsm. but is the crowning feature of
congress concerned with questions of religious
which. perhaps. ought not 80 be on the statute
books in tolerant country but is there. The
organizers contend that the procession is legal
lied by the neglect of the Home Office 10 pro-
claim il and by the reluctance of the Attorney
General to give warning Of the penalties The
Protestant extremists retort that laws cannot
be repealed without act of Parliament and that
the Attorney Generals discretion is exercised
not before but after the statutes are violated
1t is an anomalous situation, created by anti
quated statutes. The Papal Begate the cardi-
mails and other ecclesastics will be lawbreakers
liable to a fine Of ESQ each if they Join in the
procession. yet official Will want 10 display
wanton inhospitality to distinguished foreigners
on sacred mission. The police themselves
viii be employed in protecting violators OF the
Law.
The Home Office has been importuned by the
Protestant Alliance to interdict the procession
but unless IL is frightened at the last moment
by the menaces Of the Orangenlen il will de-
cline TO interfere and Will order out more police
reserves TO keep the peace. There are grounds
for serious apprehension that the ecclesiastfcs
in the procession WIFI be hooted. affronted and
even attacked. but the government has the
moral force Of public opinion behind ii in de-
Gliding that the strength of Professionalism lies
in liberation rather than in the enforcement OF
q norbund statute. The Eucharistic Congress
which has been well ordered. most impressive
body. viii close Tomorrow with mass by the
Cardinal Legate a sermon by Cardinal Glib
hons, Vespers and the procession. J. N F.