The Washington times., 1911-05-28
Thousands Attend the Military Mass

Rev. Martin P. Egan. While the altar
was being incensed the sanctuary choir
of St. Patr1cks church sang the Introit:
After the Kyrie. rendered by a mixed
choir, the celebrant of the mass sang
in loud voice the Gloria Excelsis.
Then followed the gospel and the elo-
Rev. Eugene de L. Mcdonnell, s. J., OF
st. Aloysius Church. The deep voice OF
the speaker penetrated to the OUTSKIRTS
of the vast crowd, who listened In
silence to the stirring and eloquent
eulogy of the nations soldier dead.
When the sermon was finished the
celebrant again took his place before
the altar and the mass proceeded. The
chalice was uncovered and the wine
placed in 1t for conservation. After the
singing of the Credo and the Offertory
by the choir the most solemn part OF
the mass began. AS he officiating
priest lifted the chaltce and host over
the heads of the kneeling multitude at
the elevation of the mass the notes of
a bugle rang out three times In the
silence.
Patriotic Hymns Sung.
The impressive service now rapidly
approached its completion and after the
communion, the celebrant, deacon, and
subdeacon took their places before the
altar while the whole vast assembly
of men, woman, and children united IN
singing Holy Cod America" ana
1.-THE Star-Spangled Banner"
Father Mcdonnell Speaks.
Father Mcdonnell took as his text
John, 15:xiii: Greater love than this no
man hath. that man lay down his life
for his friends
After a word of congratulation to
those who planned the ceremony. and
a brief comment upon the fitness of
the location. beside the monument to
the Father of His Country, and beside
the waters of the river on whose banks
are buried 1900 soldier dead, he de-
clared that in no nation on earth is
the living soldier veteran more honored
than he is in the United States.
But if the care of the living be nobl<
and just, sweet and tender Is the rs
Ipembrance of our hero dead he con-
tinued ut is the tribute of grateful
nation to the spirit of patriotism that
tlwelt in the souls of the men who died
for their country.
Song of Patriotism.
1T was an arrant coward, one who
fed from the blasts of battle, that sang
the deathless legend, 'Dulce ct decorum
esc pro patria mort ct is sweet and
BETTING thing to die for ones coun-
try). but the heart of the world haS
taken up the song and sung 1t again
and again.
Now, that sweetness and rightness
does not consist in the mere achieve
ment of victory. There are heroes
plenty in a lost cause. 1t does not
mean the mere gloriffcation of brute
force. il is not the sanction nor the
applause of wars fierce alarms. We
are a peace-loving nation; our Chle1
Magistrate is hailed world-w as
versal peace. and we hope for 1t, we
pray for 1t, and may God speed the
day when we shall realize the poets
dream:
"'When the war-drum throbs no
longer,
And the battIe-fag is furled
In the parliament of men
The federation of the world
NO back of il all and above it is
the spirit the world glOrifies, the spir-
it of true and noble patriotism,
Greater love than this no man hath
that a man lay down his life for his
friend and greater love no man hath
the land he loves, native or adopted.
care not which, but still the land he
loves"
He recalled the tremendous sacri-
hceS that have been maze, tne pIoouy
battles from Lexington to San Juan,
the peace and prosperity their sacri-
fees made possible, and paid trib-
ute to the living veterans of both the
civil war and the Spanish war. who
were standing before him.
In the light of this worthy concept
OF patriotism" he continued. 1T will
not seem strange, my countrymen, TO
see this memorial service mingled with
the rites of religion, even with the
pomp and ceremony Of the Catholic
church. She teaches deep reverence
for the cody. the human form divine,
in life as in death. and the potency or
prayer in behalf of the dead.
Love Stronger Than Death.
We hold that love is stronger than
DEATH endures beyond the grave, has its
duties to fulfill-yes. even till our dead
are secure forever in the blessed peace
of God. That. my friends. is the spirit
and high purpose of our assembly here
today We cherish reverently the ashes
of our dead, bat We cherish more fondly
and with deeper reverence the interests
of their immortal souls. And If by good
deeds we may aid the dead who sleep