The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-07-10
ARCHBISHOP o'coNNELL's
GREAT RECEPTION


AS a climax to a day of celebration in
honor Of the silver jubilee of the Most
Rev. William H. O'Connell, D. D., arch
bishop of Boston, as we'll as for his safe
return from his trip abroad, a monster
reception was held in Mechanics build
ing Wednesday of last week by the laity
of the church.
The great auditorium was crowded to
the doors, and it is estimated that more
than $4,000 people were present to take
part in the demonstration.
The distinguished prelate was visibly
moved by the demonstration that was
accorded in his honor Not only was he
shown the respect and the deep love
with which he is held by his flock, but
he was also welcomed by both city and
state in the persons of the mayor and
governor.
The observance in the evening was
entirely in the hands of the laymen of
the Catholic church of the Boston arch
diocese, and was the finale of a bril-
liant celebration earlier in the day.
In the forenoon pontifcal high mass
was conducted at the Cathedral, which
was attended by clergy from all parts
of the diocese, as well az a large gath
ering of laymen.
The evening reception in Mechanics
hall gave the thousands of loyal Cath
olics the opportunity they desired of
showing the esteem and reverence in
which they held their leader.
Long before the doors were opened to
the public a crowd gathered and waited
patiently for an opportunity to enter. It
did not take them long to find choice
seats once they got within. and the late
arrivals were compelled TO stand.
Over 100 ushers were in attendance
but their duties were rather quickly
ended, for the great edifice was crowded
from floor to gallery in a very short
space of time.
Archbishop O'Connell was escorted
from his residence OH CRANKY street TO
Mechanics building by a guard of 500
marching men, who were detailed from
the various Catholic societies in the
archdiocese.
The streets in the vicinity of the hall
were roped off, and a detail of $50 police
from the various stations had been as
signed to look after the crowd under the
direction of Captain Jones of the Back
Bay station Lieutenant King was in
charge of another squad of police in
front of the hall, and Superintendent
Pierce was on hand to supervise the
handling of the officers.
The hall was crowded when the arch
bishop and his guard arrived. The
guard was led by members of the recep-
ton committee and the Mission Church
Boys band. Then followed two compa-
MES of uniformed members of the An
cient Order of Hibernians, and 100
fourth degree members of the knights
of Columbus.
The archbishop followed these in a
carriage and was vigorously applauded
along the entire line of march. The rear
was brought up by uniformed members
of the French Society of Lowell and
a Portuguese society.
The crowd was held in check at the
entrance to the hall, and Archbishop
O'Connell entered the building through
a lane formed by the Fourth Degree of
K. of c., who crossed their swords over
his head.
The appearance of the archbishop in
the hall as he marched down the aisle
with the reception committee, was the
signal for a storm of applause which
swept through the big building, only to
stop for a moment to burst out again
with renewed vigor.
Accompanying Archbishop O'Connell
as he marched to his seat on the plat
form, were Governor Eben s. Draper,
Mayor George A. Hubbard, Judge
Charles D. DeCourcey. Judge Michael ].
Murray, Bishop Anderson and Francis
A. Campbell.
The spectacle that was presented to
those on the platform was most thrill
ing! Every seat. every foot of stand
ing room and every nook and corner
had its occupant.
More than half the great audience
was comprised of women, who lent an
additional charm to the occasion in their
brilliant gowns.
The hall was magnif1cently decorated
for the reception, the purple and gold,
the archbishopric and papal colors, and
the Stars and Stripes predominating.