The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-14
Eucharistic Congress Comes to An Ind In London With
 Much Ceremony
POLICE ARE KEPT BUSY
 WITH CURIOUS CROWDS
Cardinal Gibbons Delivers Eloquent Sermon at Westminster Cathedral. Congress Closes Without
 Anticipated Trouble.

Iondon. September 13.-A great pro- cession of Catholic clergy, which brought inc Eucharistic congress to an end, was held this afternoon amid scenes such as the English ehurchmen who planned It had never anticipated. Cardinal Eannu- tell the pope's legate, walked at the head of the procession, wearing his scar let robes and hat but not carrying the host. He was accompanied by a body guard of English peers, of whom the Duke of Norfolk was the most promi- nent and a concourse of cardinals arch- bishops and bishops, who also were at- fired in unceremonnial robes, instead of vestments, which originally it had been proposed they should wear
 No such throngs of people have been seen in London since Queen Victoria funeral if even then. The purpose ]of Archbishop Bourne, the head of the Westminster archdiocese, and his asso- ciates, who arranged the programme had been to have the host carried through the streets in the rear of Westminster cathedral, so that the great body of CathoIics who were unable to participate in any of the services within the cathe- dral should have an opportunity of join ing in the Eucharistic observanees and seeing all the high ecclesiastical visitors present in London on this memorable occasion.
 Crowds In Streets.
 The route of the procession was lalo through the quaint streets adjacent to the cathedral, and but for the uneX- nected partisan strife which discussion of this ceremony brought on, 1t prob sably would have been solemnized quietly and in a. reverent atmosphere The great majority of those who attempted to Wit mess the spectacle, however, apparently were attracted by curiosity and a small mart were openly and demonstratively hostile. The Catholic element cheered heartily while the procession passed by. and throughout the route, but there was heard also considerable "boong,' such as the English people use in theatres to express displeasure at any of the plays.
 The people began Hooking toward the cathedral hours before the procession started They came from all directions; from the West End in automobiles and carriages; from the East End in busses; they poured across the river by all the bridges which converge toward West
  many from the provinces.
 Police Kept Busy.
 Long before the hour set for the cere- mony it was impossible to get near the line of march, All the streets leading in that direction were packed and the windows overlooking the procession, which were rented at high prices, were flled. Thousands of persons gathered on the roofs of the houses from which there was a. considerable display of the papa1 colors The police had not expected such crowds, and met with much opposition in their attempts to keep the path clear, which they hardly succeeded in doing, so that the papal legate and his follow CTS had to push their way through a narrow lane being frequently and un- pleasantly jostled about. number of persons tainted in the crush and were carried off by the ambulances.
 After the procession had re-entered the cathedral Cardinal vannutelli appeared on the high balcony in gorgeous robes and elevated the host. while the thou sands of Catholics outside the building revererltly knelt.
 The last day of the congress opened with pontifical mass in the cathedral which was celebrated by the papal legate and at which all the cardinals, arch bishops and bishops and many others of
 
 was crowded, the audience following with lapt attention the sermon of Cardinal Gibbons, who preached eloquently.
 Cardinal Gibbons Sermon.
 Cardinal Gibbons said:
 I esteem 1t great honor and privi- lege that members of the hierarchy of the United States should unite with their brethren of the British isles and of the continent of Europe in celebrat- ing among you this love feast of the eucharist.
 am indebted for the favor con- ferred on me to the kind partiality of your beloved archbishop, whose pressing invitation I accepted as a command. And in appearing before you I am endeavoring to pay debt of gratitude to the archdiocese of West minister-for when we celebrated some years ago the centenary of the estab- lishment of the American Catholic hierarchy, Cardinal Manning was worthily represented in Baltimore by one of his venerable colleagues. We earnestly hope that the occasion, so suggestive of your good will to your brethren beyond the seas, may con tribute to strength en the bond of fel- lowship between the clergy and people of England and of the United States.
 Higher Reasons.
 But there are other and higher req sons than personal friendship to justify the participating by American prelates in the ceremonies of today. Though we are separated from you by an inn mense ocean, we are united with you, thank God, in the heritage of common faith. We, across the Atlantic claim as well as you, to be the spiritual chil- dren of Gregory, Augustine and Pat rick, of A1ban and venerable Bede, of Anselm and Thomas of Canterbury, or Peter and Plus, we have with you