Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-10
Papa| Legate Opens Eucha-
ristic Congress. 4
CATHOLIC POMP IN LONDON
Gorgeous Ceremonies in Unfinished
Westminster Cathedral.
ROME WISHES TO WIN ENGLAND
Anti-Catholics Make Troublesome
days Parade Menaced by Threats
of Disturbance. =.

LONDON. September 1O-For the first
time in more than three hundred years q
papal legate made a public appearance in
England last evening. when Cardinal
Vanutelli. with all the pomp and solemn
of the Roman Catholic Church.
opened the sessions of the international
eucharistic congress at Westminster Ca
thedral.
Despite the bare appearance OF the I'M
finished building. the scene was one OF
splendor. while the feryor of the dense
throng of worshipers added impressive
ness to the imposing rites.
The vast nave of the cathedral was in
semi-darkness. but the altar and choir
were ablaze with lights which cleaned
on the gorgeous copes and miters of the
exalted prelates.
Legate's Procession Enters.
At s o'clock a fanfare OF trumpets an
nounced the entrance of the legate's pro-
cession. Under a white silk canopy sup
ported by eight bearers. and wearing q
scarlet berretta and scarlet robes, Cardi-
nal Vanutelli walked between long lines
of archbishops and bishops to the throne.
blessing the kneeling crowd as he passed.
After the Introductory ceremonies at
the altar the chaplain of the congress as
cended the pulpit and read the pope's
letter appointing Cardinal Vanutelli le-
gate, emphasizing the Importance OF the
object of the congress and incidentally
approving the holding of the sessions in
the capital OF an empire rightly famed
for the liberty il extends to its citizens,
and to whose authority and laws so many
millions of Catholics render faithful and
dutiful obedience"
Then Cardinal Vanutelli went to the
pulpit, and In a pleasant high-pitched
voice and with dramatic gestures, de-
livered long Latin address. in the course
of which he referred to England as a
country once favored by God" Painful
dissensions. he said, had sprung up later.
but these had since been softened. and
they must thank Providence for the ad-
mirable dispensations which brought such
a gathering together I'm London.
The cardinal said he believed that the
results of the congress would be fmpor-
suit in again uniting all the people or
Great Britain in that faith which was
once their most precious treasure ana IN
reviving the eucharistic age, which form
erly existed in the Isle OF Saints"
Welcomed by Archbishop.
The Archbishop of Westminster follow
ed the legate and after welcoming him
referred to the congress as an act of
reparation for all the words uttered by
the English tongue which had outraged
the blessed sacrament.
And" continued the archbishop, IF,
profiting by the grateful fact that the
native sense of justice of our countrymen
has overcome the prejudice which once
did them so great dishonor, we on this
occa sion make the fullest use Of that
right of free speech and public demon
stration which they employ SO readily to
advance every cause they have at heart.
let no man imagine that we do these
things in any spirit of hostile feeling to-
ward those who do not think as We do.
still less that there Is any thought OF
empty Boosting in our minds.
Solemn choral and other ceremonies fol-
lowed and after benediction the process
sion returned to the sacristy.
The eucharistic congress has received
big popular boom through the action Of
the narrowest section of Protestants In
opposing what they are pleased to call In
their petition to the king. "a form OF
which has been illegal for 300
years.
But for their action thousands of nom
Catholics would not have paid the least
attention to the congress. Now, how
ever. there is much curiosity as to wheth-
er the government by a private hint to the
organizers will induce them to abandon
the street procession. which, If held in
the present aroused state of public Inter-
est is certain to draw immense crowds.
The king formally acknowledged the re-
ceipt of the petition through his secre-
tary, but the government does not give
hint Of any intention to interpose. II
1t allows the procession to be held the
action will without doubt be aiding or
countenancing the perpetration of tech
nical illegality. If it takes action to pre-
vent the procession it is equally certain
that it will be scorned by every liberal
minded citizen.
Route of Procession.
There can be no genuine plea for the
suppression of the procession except the
risk of violence arising from its obsti-
nate Protestant opponents.
The route of the procession does not in
clude single main thoroughfare where
the small Sunday traffic could possibly
be interrupted. 1t will pass through I'M
frequented streets of what is noto-iously
a Roman Catholic neighborhood.
Nevertheless the fear Of some scanda-
lous demonstration by anti-Catholics
makes many open-minded persons urge
the organizers to abandon the parade.
The latter. however, have no such In
tention. They argue that the law in
voked by the protesters is as obsolete as
several other anti-Catholic laws which
have never been removed from the stat
ute book.
The abandonment Of the procession
come to London especially to share in the
and VINO cannot possibly be
accommodated at the cathedral. The
route will be lined throughout with 15,-
OOO Catholics who will keep positions
shoulder to shoulder, though, of course.
the maintenance Of order will be left TO
the police.
Mr.. Fowler. the secretary of the Prot
estant Alliance, says that X the pro-
cession is carried out legal proceedings
will be instituted against the la&break-
erS
Mr.. Kensit, the notorious disturber OF
services Of the ritualistic section Of the
Church of England, says that numerous
Protestants will distribute literature deal
ing with 'Romish doctrines along the
route Of the procession. He says ne has
received many requests TO org'nize a
demonstration. None has been
as yet, but he would not he
surprised if there were serious disturb
ances.
The Daily Telegraph learns that the
protesters have been officially informed
that both the home secretary md the
of police have sanctioned
the procession.