The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-23

Bessemer June 22.--(Special.)-Th bless ing of the American and Italian flags was solemnized this morning at the Catholic Church of St. Aloysius, attendant with A degree of display and magnifcence that equalled any fete ever given by the Italians of this district. The handsomely embroidered banners of the two countries, the United States and Italy, were received a short time ago from abroad to be used by the Regina Elena society of this city for their festival.
 The religious and constitutional creed of the organization requires the invok- ing of a blessing upon the flags by the Catholic church before they can be for mally unfurled. Aside from the import ance of the ceremony this is the first time since the founding of the local society that they have celebrated so every step vas taken to make the day gala anair'
 The arrival of the Societa Du BeneV- olenz of Birmingham, Societa di M. $. or Pratt City, Societa Vittorio Emanuel III of Ensley and the Ensley Italian brass hand was the signal for the formation of the parade on Second avenue between Nineteenth and Eighteenth streets.
 The order of procedure was Mounted marshals, Joe and Tony Schilleci, with mounted police; Ensley band, Pratt City society with their flags, Ensley society with flags, sponsors automobile, contain ing George Rutledge, Dr. R. P. McTyeire, Mayor Lewis, Miss Ina Lewis, Sam Raine and Mrs. M. Romano; Bessemer society," automobile containing Louis and A. Forst, pr. w D. Taylor, Gardner Goodwin ana IT. Schwabacher; automobile seating Nor man and Sam Lefkovits, George Ross and Dr. A. S. Fitzpatrick; automobile containing Sam Brick, H. w. Crook and F. w. Sterling; automobile contain ing pr. ]. w. Carter and City Clerk James Houston; automobile, Lee Moody W A Simmons, K. M. Johnson and I A. LaRue; automobile, J. c. B. GWin' 1T T. Huey. George H. Stevenson and E. A Dudley; decorated carriage contain inp S Bivona wife and family; two fire truck decorated and two mounted police finishing the line
 The line of march began down Sec ond avenue from Nineteenth street to Tu ontieth street. down Third avenue to Nineteenth street, down Fifth avenue to the church on Seventeenth street. Alter the ceremony the return was made py uav of Sixth avenue, down Nineteenth street to First avenue, where eight spe- cial cars awaited the cro"us ,o carry them to Germania park
 The profusion of small American ana Italian flags, the sparkle of the gilt braid and fringe in the sunlight, the pretty red and white decorations of the sporsors car and beauty or the large flags made the pageant noteWortny one in the history of this city. The music was an important asset to the success of the occasion
 Blessing Pronounced
 Al the church. Father NJ. F. Kit vsk. assisted by Father Canepa. pronounced the blessing on the porch ana sur rounded by the American sponsors, Mayor Lewis and Miss Ima Lewis, the Italian sponsors. sam Raine and Mrs M Ramano, and the officials or the societies. completed a picturesque group of the principal persons connected With the ceremony. At the conclusion or the b1essing, Father 1<itrick addressed the crowds standing in the yard and in the street.
 "Fellow citizens" he said. ''it af- lords me great pleasure to perform thus unusual ceremony of blessing the American and Italian flags and l can not refrain from calling your attention | to the full and significant meaning of | this blessing The word blessing means l a begging of the favor of God upon l the thing blessed and turning of our | minds and hearts towards these things. Intrinsically speaking. these inanmate objects have no meaning to us, put what they represent are the higher l virtues of our nature and patriotism. Everything that is. is good, but some