The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1913-01-25

wi oNDAY. Jan. 18th. your CORES.
M pondont attended solemn high
~ Data" a. ST. Patriek's church
IN this city in which "oardE
nails day" a. instituted BY card"
Jim Gibbons some eight years aEo
was celebrated with customary Cath.
olie pomp and mummery. The willy
Iamea tsurnamed In the inner cir.
eles ot the faithful "ahppery"l an.
peared In his role Of prince OF the
blood" Al his annual New Year re.
eepuon" 10 distinguished Washing.
tonians. held after mass IA the New
Carroll hall Gin st. PatTiek's Aea.
demyI the oily old cardinal" offered
me his apostolic ring 10 ksss-but
tomeway ] failed 10 connect with the
preferred opportunity. but as he
elasped ne BY the hand ] heard his
Tired voice nutter somewhat In bored
tones. God bless youl" eeuld'nt
escape that. and now I know that n
that sanetimonious blessing sticks
will be busy dodging mlsfortunes
TN the hoodoo II removedl
Promptly at IL o'clock the proees.
sion Of priests. choir boys and aco-
lytes left the doer OF the "rectory- on
18th street and marched 10 the front
doors OF ST. Patrieks church. which
is located at 10th and @ streets. N. w.
As they continued their slow-draE up
the center aisle. I was standing be
side the aisle In the back OF the
church. At the very end OF the pro.
eession came the ancient but crafty
cardinal" As he passed. could
have touched his red robe with my
hand. But didn't Yet seriously. I
shall never forget that FIRST glance,
that first time that my eyes rested on
the face Of Gibbons. Involuntarlly I
shuddered-the face was that Of a
mummy-never before have I seen
such an uncanny color. greyish
brown peneiled by the ruthless hand
OF time. together with untold relig.
ious celebrations" with countless
lines and crow's.feet. Upon the ca.
daverous skull over which the parch.
ment.like skin stretched tightly, bob.
bed In CHASTITY jauntIness that vaunt.
ed red cap. Behind trottcd the small.
boy satellites obediently carrying the
long red train that trailed from that
significantly scarlet mother.hubbard.
A few minutes afterward. Just at
the close Of the Gloria" I succeeded
In obtaining a seat iu . front pew.
Curiousiy I gazed over the assembled
crowd, seeking valnly for the uniform.
ed ranks OF the valiant knights OF
Columbus-none were there, that Is,
not In uniform OF officially. Knowing
that most pressing invitations had
been sent 10 the Diplomatic Corps. 10
the Presidents Cabinet. as we'll as 10
various other government officials. I.
carefully scanned the audience again.
but 20 no avall-ail such officials were
conspicuous by their abseneel
Evidently they have taken the hint
the messages OF The Menace have
not been In vain. and this on "Cardi.
nails Day" too; In fact this whole az.
fair impressed me with a vague con.
vlction that even the Romlsh masters
themselves have decided that the
time is not ripe for further repetition
Of the blatant military dehances that
they have previously mingled with
their celebrations"
Even President Taft was absent!
All before US the chaneel Of the
church was gay with flowers. above
which q thousand candles twinkled
about the high altar. The body Of
the church bla1ed with decorations
In cardinals red upon a BACKGROUND
sf eyergreens. AZ ] sat facing the
altar my attention was arrested by
iigure OF Christ hanging on q wooden
cross on the wall at the left side OF
The chancel opening. the figure was
nearly life-site and modelled OF clay.
Beyond this In o pulpit chair sat the
doughty "Monseignor" Russell, the
priest IN charge Of 81. Patricks, who
will be remembered by Menace road.
.rs on account OF his imaginative
.ffer Of thousand dollars for proof"
u anything traitorous about Catholic |
rows! Yes. dear reader. personally
he is Just as you had pictured him, !
ypical. tat,jowled. thiok.useked. and |
bald headed
Priest Russell sat at the right Of the !
'ed-canepied throne wherein perohsd /
libbons IN ape-like gravity. as the mo. |
io;onous and dreaTiiy intoned scr.
ices crept slowly along the little
features wore Q distinctly
,orec expression.
Then suddenly q priests form shel
nto sight In the raised box AZ the
ight Of the ohancei which serves as
he Catholic pulpit In fact. having
'een busy with my own thoughts as !
iazed aeross the few feet that sepa.
ated me from "hIs eminence" J.
lard. I wae rather aurprteed. tha ef. 1
ect was something like the appear.
nco OF some fat Jack-in.:hs-eox. THIS
'as ne other than priest William Mar
In. OF 81 Pa,riek's cathedral. OF New
'ork. whose ~termon" proved 70 be
be usual Romish prefervid vaporings
bout the general kingiinefs and ell.
sound superiority Of Roman catho.
lcs IN general ans particularly their
uperiority ~ citizens OF avery known
oVormmNnf And - ehl. ,~~s.atf. A.