The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-21
THOUSANDS AT CATHEDRAL AS PRINCES OF CATHOLIC
 CHURCH ASSIST AT MASS
Thirty Thousand Persons in and About Edifce As Solemn Ceremony Opens Catholic Week Conferences In New York-Amercan Flags Are Entwined With the Papal Colors

New York, August 21-High Pontifcial Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral at Il o'clock yester- day morning impressively inaugurated the Fifteenth Annual Convention of the American Federation of Catholic Societies. New York has never be- fore witnessed a religious ceremony so beautiful in coloring, so magpih- cent in ritualistic pomp and so potent in its significance to the entire vast membership of the Catholic church. Three princes of the church, Cardi- nals Farley of New York, Gibbons of Baltimore and O'Connell of Boston, participated together with the Apos- tolic Delegate, Archbishop Bonzano, representative of His Holiness the Pope, and priests and preIates from every quarter of the United States! By cable from Rome came the Pon- tiff's special blessing, which was read to multitude who listened with bow ed heads.
 American Flags Freely Displayed. One striking feature of the cere- mony was its display of patriotism. The only external decoration of the walls was the American flag. It fut- tered in the sunlight between the two spires, festooned the wide- facade and draped every portal. The Papal col orA-yellow and white-appeared only in the interior decorations, loop ed among the massive columns, but even there the Stars and Stripes show ed foremost in the blend of colors. It crowned each loop of yellow and white and joined with little Papal flags in framing the great Jhfelds of Cardinal Farley and th< Bishops of his archdiocese, that gleA,med high on the granite pillars along the side aisles.
 But the American flag was not the only token of patriotism that marked the impressive ceremonial. The first music that rang out from the Cathe- dral chimes as the worshippers assem- bled was "The Star spangled Ban ner." Again, the same keynote was struck when Bishop Hickey of Ro- chester, stood, purple robed, in the tall, white pulpit and with arms ex- tended, hundred the declaration: I've want no Catholic political party in this country"
 30,000 Seek Admission.
 The crowd that sought admission to the Cathedral numbered close to s0.- 900, but there was no disorder. Act ing Inspector Brady. with 50 police men commanded by Capt Thor, had no. dffaculty in holding the throng in check. It was disappointed throng for, the most part, because the 5000 ticket holders practically filled the Cathedral. Hs !, As early at 8 o'clock Fifth and Madison avenues, with the side streets surrounding the Cathedral, were full of crowds and motion. All the big Catholic societies several in uni- forms came marching behind fife and drum corps to the rendezvous at the Cathedral College, Madison ave- nue and Fifty-first street Flags were waving from windows and houestops of hotels and residences. 6,
 As the crowd increased in numbers uniformed Knights of Columbus and members of the Catholic Legion join ed forces with the police in straight
 
 ticketless away from the Cathedral doors. The arrival of the German Catholic Societies several divisions handsomely uniformed and marching with the precision of soldiers-was Ons of the spectacular features of the early hours. V
 Promptly at 11:15 tne ticket takers vanished from their posts. the police stepped back. the doors were thrown wide open and the public was given its chance. But it was a sorry chance; the interior of the Cathedral was literally packed with ticket hold CTS. Every seat was occupied and a standing throng. tightly wedged. filled fine side aisles from main doors to transept. Crowd Witnesses Processiona1,
 But the outside multitude was to have it's reward. It was to be their privilege to witness the most impress i've ceremonial in New York's his- tory-ths professional of prelatas and delegates to their places in the Cathe- drai.
 A sudden rush of police, which swept the crowd back from the Madi- son avenue sidewalk to beyond the curb, was the signal. At that instant the doers of Cathedral College opened and cut stepped an acolyte bearing a massive cross of gold, and moving at the heels of the cress-bearer came first the women delegates representing leading societies, then the male de1o- gates wearing badges, and next in line came the churchmen of the teaching and religious orders-FranciscaHs Capuchins, Jesuits and ethers-while behind them moved the secular clergy in cassock and surplice, four abreast; hundreds of them drawn from dio- ceses as far afield as the Texas bor- der and the Pacific Slope,
 Following the priests came, the Pa pal Chamberlains and the Monsig- nori, robed in purple; then the Fitular Bishops, also in vestments of purple with the ring of office on their hands and the gold cross cleaning on their breasts. Behind strode forty Bish- ops of Sees, robed as those who had preceded them. >
 The course of the procession ~as south on Madison avenue to Ffftieth street, then west to Fifth avenue and through the main entrance of the Cathedral.
 < As the Bishops of Sees passed the Archepiscopal residence on Madison avenue, Archbishop Bonzano emerged, attended by assistant priests and dea- .ozc 1,4.or