The Washington herald., 1908-05-25
Catholic Children Honor the
Virgin Mary.
ANNUAL MAY PROFESSIONS
Thousands Take Part I'm Pretty Cere-
mOny OF Decking the shrine with
Flowers in Churches Throughout
the CIty-sanctuarIes Are Turned
Into Bowers by Floral Offerings.

I
and hymns sung in her honor yesterday
by several thousand children OF the Cath
olic Church, who took part in the an
nual May procession in St Aloysius. St
Patricks. ST. Matthews. St Mary's, the
Shrine OF the Sacred Heart. st. Angus
tines. st. Theresa's, 'Anacostia: st. An
thongs. Brookland. and In the Church OF
the Holy Trinity. Georgetown.
Following the custom. long since estab-
lished the children Of Trinity Parish
walked through the heights of George
town, by the Convent of the Visitation
and Georgetown College grounds, before
entering the church. where the crowning
Of the statue OF The Virgin was followed
by solemn benediction OF the blessed
sacrament
Miss Geline Mcdonald. OF Holy Cross
Academy was Queen OF May in the pro-
cession at st. Matthews Church, and
read the act Of conservation at the con-
clusion Of the procession.
Miss Elery crowned the statue OF the
Virgin In the Shrine OF the Sacred Heart.
ST. AnthOny's Church, BroOkIand.
The procession at st. Anthony's Church,
Brookland. was exceptionally beautiful
Miss Lillian Clarke acted as queen and
crown bearer. Rev. Father Southgate
addressed the children.
Several hundred children took part in
the May procession OF st. Mary's Ger
man Church. where solemn vespers was
followed by solemn benedictlon Of the
blessed sacrament
The line OF procession by the children
Of st. Therese's Church. Anacostia, in
cluded six squares through the streets Of
Anacostia- Miss Addie Walthen was
Queen of May
The procession at ST. Augustine's S
Church was an impressive sight, as more
than 100 children marched about the
chureE singing May hymns. and the
sanctuary was a bower Of blossoms after
the children had placed their floral offer
ings at the feet OF the statue OF the
Blessed Lady"
At st. Patrick's Church.
St PatricSs Church. that earlier in the
day had been the scene OF a devotional
service. was taxed to its capacity. and
many stood during the May exercises,
held at o'clock in the afternoon. More
than 800 children took part in the process
sion. which, forming in Carroll Hall. pro-
ceeded west on G street TO Tenth. to the
church.
Notable IN the religious march. because
OF their attire and the modesty and rever-
ence OF their bearing. were the boys ard
girls who had received holy communion
at the early morning mass.
MANY harHcovaa hovraro runra orrtaa
in the line Miss Margery Corcoran was
Queen Of May. and her maids OF honor
were as follows: Miss Anna Smarlwood.
Miss Mary Johansen. Miss Rickie Johan-
sen, Miss Lilly Miller Miss Clara May
Riechenbach. Miss Laura Hancock. Miss
Dora Simpson. Miss Catherine Hannah.
Miss Margary Durham. Miss Pauline Ise-
nun. Miss May Jacques, Miss Clara
Johnson Miss Edith Brown. Miss Annie
Connors. Miss Marie Osborn. Miss Anna
Lepley, Miss Lillian Milovick, Miss Jo-
hanna Gloetzner. Miss Fonsa Fladung
Miss Cecilia Beckley, little Helen Quinn.
and Eleanor Wilkinson. Master Stephen
Pagan was the crown-bearer Each child
In the procession carried carnation bios
SONS, and placed them at the feet Of the
Virgin Mothers statue
These floral offerings remained at the
shrine over night, and will be placed to-
day on DR.. Staftord's grave. Father Nc
GuigRn addressed the children. and the
impressive ceremony closed with solemn
benediction OF the Blessed Sacrament, be-
slowed by DR.. Russell Father McGuigan
acted as deacon. and Father Smyth as
subdeacon. while Father James O'Con-
nor. OF the Catholic University. officiated
as deacon OF exposition
Scene at st. AIOysius'.
The scene presented at ST. Aloysius'
Church. where LOO children marched
through the church singing hymns Of
praise. was one OF such splendor and de-
votion as has never been surpassed upon
any similar occasion in this city. After
marching for several squares around the
church, the little ones entered the ediG:e
singing "On This Day, o Beautiful Moth
er, We Give Thee Our Love" With
plaintive sweetness the prayerful strains
resounded through the spacious edifce.
Altar boys. numbering more than 100
stood within the sanctuary awaiting the
approach OF the procession. their robes
of bright red with surplices Of white lace
creating a brilliant effect. while the tints
and colorings OF the costumes worn by
the children In the procession enhanced
the beauty Of the scene.
One hundred boys in white suits, with
blue ribbon badges; 100 in white. with red
ribbons on their arms; then came the
first communion boys. clothed In dark
suits, with the conventional white rib
bon badge on the arm. following which
came boys of the several sodalities, and
then tiny tots not much taller than the
long-stemmed lilies that they carried
Represented the Angelic Choir.
Girls, IN like manner-little babes Of
scarce three years, in fleecy white crea-
tiOns. who formed the cherub court. and
tall girls with tinseled wings. represent
ing the angelic choir-walked through the
aisles. four abreast, chanting hymns Of
praise.
Each child placed her floral Offering be-
fore the shrine erected within the sanctu-
ary. Miss McAllister. the Queen of May.
was attended by maids OF honor and fol-
lowed by tiny train bearers.
The sermon, preached by Rev. Father
c. N. Raley, S. j.. OF Georgetown Uni
verslty, was followed by solemn benedic-
ton of the blessed sacrament. Rev.
Father HImmell S. j., was celebrant:
Rev Father Kean, S. J.. deacon, and Mr.:
Francis A. Byrne. S. j., subdeacon
Lecture by Prof. Monaghan.
Before an enthusiastic audience which