New-York tribune., 1909-05-24
MASS AT NAVY YARD
Thousands Witness ImWeSStOe
Scene Under Leaden Skies.

The sun which has shown peculiarly reurlhs
dfsposition during this month OF flowers plucNeu
m enough courage for few hours early FeSle'u"'
,,5ornine to show himself over the Brooklyn navy
ward Even though he did not linger long' II was
long enough to draw to the yard an assemplage
that filed up the parade grounds OF the lll'lIalS
barracks where Father Eugene Z McDonald'
ohanIain of the receiving ship Hancock celebrated
the annual military field mass as memorial 1oI
the dead Of the army and navy
To he sure when the strains of the "Adeste FL
deIfs'' played by the boys band of st vincent
Home announced the approach Of the priests III
their gold vestments il was a gray vault that Gov
cred the temporary sanctuary in which was
r1assed a crowd Of nearly fifty thousand persons
As if rernorseful for the havoc wrought at the
mass last year when the heat so intense that
many were carried from the field, the sun kept MN
self prettv well yelled all during the ceremony.
The altar was placed in front of the barracks and
made an impressive appearance. draped with the
Stars and Stripes as background for the glldea
tabernacle. which was profuseiy decorated Win
palms and flowers. In front and to the right Of
the altar a volunteer company Of marines, COM
n7anded bv Captain Rush c. Wallace acted
guard of honor while the left was stationed the
1st New York Regiment of the Knights Of Co
mmbus which. with Gloucester Naval Camp OF
Spanish War Veterans, had charge of the arrange
ments for the
Behind these were massed military and civic or
I ganizations most of them in uniform and carrying
banners and flags which added TO the martial ap-
pearance. Massed about the rectangle three
sides OF the field dense crowd of men, women
and children many were fortunate enough TO
arrive at the gates of the parade grounds before
the Gloria in Excelsis Deo" chanted by Father
Mcdonald told that the mass had begun.
The deacon of the mass was the Rev. John p.
Chidwick. pastor of St Ambrose's Church. Man
haitian, who chaplain the old Maine when
she was blown up in Havana harbor in 1898 Father
NJ c. Gleason. of the flagship Connecticut, acted
as subdeacon and the Rev. Or. John F. Nash.
rector of the Church of the Sacred Heart Brook
Iyn, master Of ceremonies. A choir of seventy
voices, under the direction of Professor Albert 5.
CasweU accompanied by orchestra of six pieces
from the 69th Regiment Band sang the music,
parts being selections from Hayjn's Third Mass.
In his sermon the Rev. Dr.. John L. Belford told
the vorshippers that their presence at the mass
was an expression of the greatest virtues that
ever stirred the heart of man-relsion and patriot
ism While undoubtedly q thing to be
deprecated. he said so long as human nature re-
manned human nature there always the likeli-
hood that great questions of justice and right
would be settled by the sword Wishing peace, he
said, the gathering hal come to give testimony of
their honor and admiration for those men who had
won glory through the blood they had shed 10
maintain justice ana right
The aim Of the Church is To establish and per
petuate peace" said Father Belford We
here to proclaim our loyalty to our creed and at
the same time our loyalty TO the noble emblem
that floats over us burst of applause greeted
Father BeIford as pointing to the flag behind the
altar he exclaimed: And are here to swear
vengeance against any one who dares raise his
hands against those priceless stripes and stars,
Besides the marines, the navy represented
by detachments of blUejackets from the Couuecti-
cut, the Rhode Island, the Alabama, the Nebraska
and the Ohio, well delegation from the
ceyiug ship Hancock. Among the military orgaui-
zatiuus represented were detachmeuts from the
! l4th. 18th ana 69th regiments the ID Naval Bat
TALON. the lst and 2d Regiments Of Irish Noluu-
| teers the Grand Army of the Republic and the
! Spanish War Veterans. Among the civic organiza-
J tious represented the knights of Columbus.
the Ancient order of Iiiberuiaus and the Catholic
! Benevolent Legion.