The Irish standard., 1914-12-05
THE PAN-AmER,cAh MASS.

In the presence of the Secretary OF
State and almost all the other mem.
bers of the cabinet, the Chief Justice
OF the Supreme Court and other JUS
tices, and all the members of the
Diplomatic Corps from Latin Ameri
can countries, the sixth annual Pan
American Mass, in solemn celebration
Of Thanksgiving Day, was sung at IL
o'clock last Thursday morning, in
Saint Patrick's Church, Washington.
This was the first time in the six
= years since the Pan-American Mass
was inaugurated by Very Rev. Mgr
VIM. T. Russell, pastor Of Saint Pat
rick's, that the President of the United
States did not attend the service.
Many members of the Senate and
the House of Representatives, as well
as other public officials were in the
congregation, while within the chan
eel railing, on throne to the left of
the altar was seated His Eminence,
Cardinal Gibbons, opposite him being
Bishop Donahue, of Wheeling, West
Virginia, and Bishop Shahan, of the
Catholic University of America.
The assistant priest to the Cardinal
was Rev. E. R. Dyer, president of
Saint Mary's Seminary, Baltimore;
the chaplain to Bishop Donahue was
Rev. DR.. Kirby, of the Catholic Uni
versity, and the chaplain to Bishop
Shahan was Rev. Edward A. Pace, of
the same institution.
The deacons of honor were Very
Rev. Geo. A. Dougherty and Rev.
James A. Burns, of the Catholic Uni.
versity.
The church was deliberately dec.
Grated with American flags, inter-
twined with the flags of the Latin
American countries, one flag being
placed at each of the pews, and sew
eral being entwined around the pill
lars. An immense American flag dec.
Grated the choir loft, having as COM
panion piece large banner, bearing
the legend, "Pan-American Union"
To this inspiring setting, resplendent
to the minutest detail-the robes of
the clergy, the altar decorations of
flowers and gold and silver Candida
bra and the lights of hundreds of can
dles-was added the impressiveness
of the wonderful music, which thun-
dered against the walls of the edifice
from $50 trained voices, with organ
and orchestral accompaniment.
The celebrant of the mass was Rev.
Michael j. Riordan, pastor of the I'm
maculate Conception Church, Wash
ington; Rev. Charles M. Bart, pastor
Of st. Teresa's Church, Washington.
was deacon: and Rev. J. NJ. McNa-
mara, assistant at st. Patrick's
Church, was sub-deacon.
Rev. Thomas E. McGuigan, Rev.
James A. Smyth, Rev. Martin P. Egan
and James Fegan were masters of
ceremonies.
Monsignor VIM. T. RUSSELL pastor of
st. Patrick's. read the special prayer
for peace, and the prayers for those in
authority, both civil and church, which
were dictated more than 100 years ago
by Archbishop Carroll, in compliance
with instructions issued by Cardinal
Gibbons to all Catholic churches in
the archdiocese of Baltimore.
The sermon was preached by Rev.
DR.. John Cavanaugh, C. S. c., Presi.
dent of Notre Dame University, Notre
Dame, Indiana, who said, as follows:
"Your Eminence, Right Reverend
Fathers and Beloved Brethren:
To-day, at the invitation of their
President, the people of this republic
kneel in worship before ten thousand
affairs, with united hearts and minds
giving thanks to God for the blessings
OF the past year.
"But amid all these solemn scenes
may we not say that the particular as
sembly that gathers under the peace
OF this consecrated roof is one of
singular interest and Importance
Here in this Christian temple are
gathered about the altar, representa-
tives of many peoples, folk of many
nations, brethren of many families,
differing in origin, in race, in tongue.
in custom, in historic memory, but
united in worship of the one true God
In obedience to the same moral law,
In aspiration after the best traditions
of government and the highest ideals
OF civilization. Separated from each
other by natural barriers, by noun
tains and waters, by national limits
and honorable commercial rivalries,
we have met here to chant a hymn of
Thanksgiving to the God of Hosts, to
the Lord of Mercies, to the Master of
Republics and Principalities and King
doms, for the blessings of the year
that Is passed. Our hearts are full Of
gratitude for the peace that has reign
ed over us and about us; for the tran.
guilty that has rested on our borders;
for the genial spirit of cooperation
that has marked out commerce; for
the harmony that has lowered like a
spirit Of beneficence over all our deal.
ings. Most of all we are grateful for