Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-10-11
Turnout Of Holy Name So.
cieties in Washington
Great Success
MANY FROM THIS CITY
Mgr. Meagher in Sermon Pledges
Loyal Support to President wilson
III Foreign Crisis.

Seventeen thousand men and boys
members of the Holy Name socletles
of the Washington Archdiocese, carry
ing the Stars and Stripes and ban
ners. formed fve-mile long pageant
which marched down Pennsylvan.;
avenue Washington, yesterday alter
moon as monster protest against
taking the name of God in vain.
The parade is the annual protest
of the Catholic Church against bias
phemy and perjury. 1t was the
longest religious procession ever held
in the nations capital. 1t required
nearly three hours for it to pass a
given point. Lined up on both sides
Gf Pennsylvania avenue and at the
monument, lot were $4,000 people, re-
presenting all religious faiths.
The parade was reviewed by num-
Der of Catholic dignitaries from the
south balcony of the Willard Hotel.
from which hung two American flags
and the yellow and white Papal tlag
These were Archbishop Bonzano, the
Apostolic Delegate to the United
States: Bishop 0. 3. Corrlgan, OF
Baltimore, the personal representa-
tive of Cardinal Gibbons; Bishop d.
J. O'Connell. of Richmond; Bishop
Currier, of Cuba; Very Rev. j. Ray
mond Meagher, OF New York, round
err of the Holy Name Society; Mgr,
James F. Mackins, of Washington;
the Rev. R. A. Skinner, the Rev. l..
M. Kelly, the Rev. W. A. Carey,
Parochal Robbins, the Rev. c. A. Ech.
the Rev. John Nooah and the Rev. l.,
J. O'Leary.
Following the parade services were
held at temporary altar erected at
the foot of the hill upon which Wash.
ineton's monument is located, The
crowd formed in front of this altar
oh the hillside, Benediction was Civ
en- bv the Rev. NJ. A.. Waldron, priol
Of the Dominican House of Studies, OF
Brookland, D. C. . ~
A notable feature of the service
was the sermon by: Father Meagher
of New York, who paid "a high tribu-
to to President Wilson. His refer
ences to the President were receiv.
ed with cheers from the vast crowd
He assured the President that the
Catholics of America stood behind
him in the present international cris,
Island declared, should difficulty arise
he would find valiant defenders among
those who follow the Catholic faith
The sermon was, in part. as follows
: iIhe thought uppermost in the
minds of. reading and thinking mer
of today is that Of war. Sentiments
of horror and even disgust must pos
sess our minds when we realize thai
n thing*so adverse to the fandamen
tai principles of Christianity ane
contrary to the high ideals OF tha
cultured civilization of which we boas
has entered upon the scene ant
threatens to destroy some OF the
splendid achievements and monu
ments of the religion of; Christ an'
force back the triumphal march o
culture and education, and even CIV
ilization, for many day.
'sWhen war was declared and tn
call TO arms, was made, never wa
there such o display of patriotism
never such a firm: sincere beilef Il
the justice of cause, never such
readiness to enlist under the banne
of their nation and to offer their var,
lives for the honor and good nam
of her whose protection they clalme'
and to whom they owed the peac
they once possessed, and the affluenc
which had been theirs.
..'Here on this national ground with
in sight of this remarkable monumen
and the residence Of our Chief Exc
cutive we offer to our Jealous. watch
full guardian of our national welfal
our synSpathy in these days of inte
national difficulties, and our und,
ing allegiance both to the principl,
Of this glorious republic and to hi
az the President of the America
people. We assure him that shou
the hour Of international difficult