The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-09-19
The NTERovAN AND COLORADO CATHOLIC: SEPTEMBER 49, 1909

,troryl of oNo Popery" and so threatening became
the asnect of the brutal mob of London that Iie-
n,;er Asouith IN The interest of peace appealed to
tho Archbishop of Westminster to abandon the IN
tention Of opening the Eucharistic Congress by Il
procession of the assembled preates from the Afeh-
bishops residence to the Cathedral.
This Eucharistic Congress was convened to de-
hate ON a stupendous article of faith outside the
spirit and the region of ordinary discussion IL mao
for it's central object the most solemn ana reVerei
tiaI subject that could engage the attention OF
meditative minds It's deliberations concerned only
the members of the Catholic church. and It's appeals
we're made to the faith and devotion OF those only
In a word, the aim of these congresses-thls being
one of series-is to deepen faith III the actually
of our Lords Presence in the Blessed Eucharist
TO increase devotion to his divine Humanity and to
make open. uncompromising, even exultant procla-
nation of the cardinal belief of the Catholic Church
in the divine Presence based on the words of our
Blessed Lord and interpreted by the Church He
founded.
1t was an occasion of singular, even of impor-
tant and possibly dramatic interest in many breasts
among faithful English Catholics, and among
those beyond the Pale who are studying the Cath
olic Church, but are not in accord with all it's doc
trines.
The Pan-Anglican Congress had dissolved after
long and laborious conference on topics of grave
concern to England to Professionalism and to moral
ity.
1t is not claimed that it has composed single
difference reconciled single dissident or remedied
the horrible scandal of the Anglican Church being
compelled by Parliament to do that which the same
church has pronounced to be utterly wrong and
damnable. The Eucharistic Congress met in hos
tile center and at time of much distraction in all
religious concerns, but it will be surprising if ii
does not leave somewhat striking results, spir
itual and doctrinal than have rewarded the recent
Pan-Anglican convention. 1t was new venture
and historic departure for the Catholic preIates
to enter Protestant England to enter the lions den
and like st. Paul at Ephesus eight the beasts" The
beasts turned on them and would have torn them to
pieces if they were permitted to glut their ire.
This Catholic congress which met in Protestant
England, in adverse surroundings, will be mem
orable for an array of great men, men of learning
and dignity; it was also characterised by unprece-
denied eclat and magnifcence. What was intended
to be of rather local ecclesiastical interest sud
denly assumed, by reason of fierce and vulgary
brutal hostility, imperial and majestic dimensions
claiming the attention of all British subjects
It is now twenty-seven years since the idea of
organizing Eucharistic Congress was given prac-
teal effect by French bishop, Mgr de Segur. The
first was held at Lille on June p, 1881. Since then
they have been held in Jerusalem, Rome, Metz
Frieburg, Paris, Avignon, Antwerp Brussels and
other European cities.
The holding of the Congress in London, with
ceremonies of exceptional impressiveness and dig
nifty, was brilliant and mastery conception The
appointment of Cardinal Vincenzo Vannutelli to
preside was happy completion to a design which
all Catholics must regard with respectful enthusi-
1t is noted that his eminence is the first Pa
pal delegate to England since the days of Cardinal
Pole circumstance which, of itself, is sufficient
to account for the extreme restlessness which was
shown in bitter sectarian announcements before
and during the Eucharistic meeting.
Of course, these unseemly manifestations of in
tolerance, churlishness and bgotry on the part of
certain belicose and narrow minded seetarians we're
not approved of or condoned by the respectable and
representative people of England. But the Protest
ant Defense Union the Orange True Blues, the
Loyal Sons of William and the old Exter Hall
gang eyinced contemplate spirit of i'll will toward
the Legate of the hated Pope of Rome and the ven
cradle members of the Westminster Congress.
Fortunately the Catholic revival in Great Bri,
tain has progressed far that its further advance
cannot be arrested by the rufianism of the mob or
the shrieks of the sectarian dervishes