Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1919-10-10
KING GREETED BY
TWO CARDINALS
Scene Like Medieval Times in
Boston Cathedral
ALL OCCUPY THRONES
King Albert In The Uniform OF A
Lieutenant General Mon
arehs Ineensed BY The
Two Cardinals.

Boston.-Ring Of the state and
prince Of thu church. Albert Of the
Beigians and Desideratus Cardinal
MeIcier worsbipped Sunday under the
saulted dome OF Holy Cross Cathedral.
The two most heroic figures OF the
title land which was the earliest prey
If Germany, met here for the first time
upon the soil OF the land which sue.
rored them.
The towering figure in the khaki
Of lieutenant general. and the vener.
able prelate in his crimson robes OF
office, each in his own way typiiied
courage which was unconquerable.
fhe one inspired his armies on the
ield to deeds of yalor. while the other
Kept the faith which lighted the fires
of hope in the hearts of the tortured
people
The scene within the cathedral was
unique in the annals of the western
world. 1t might have been a repro
duction of medieval painting. Two
Cardinals sat up on their thrones and
with them the King, his Queen and
her apparent. as was their royal right
under the laws Of the church.
As the royal Belgians entered the
cathedral to worship at a solemn pom
tifieal mass. they were met at the
communion rail by the primate of their
people.
Cardinal Mercier greeted them af-
feetionately and then presented to
them Cardinal o'Connell, OF the arch.
diocese of Boston. who escorted the
King and Queen to gilded chairs on
the left of his throne at the right
or Epistle side of the altar. Behind
them sat the Duke of Brabant At
the left or Gospel side of the altar.
was a second crimson throne, upon
which sas Cardinal Mercier.
Cardinal O'Connell read brief and
formal greeting to the Belgians. Ad-
dressing their Majesties. he said: I'VE
pray God to preserve you for many
long and happy years and to give you
in future for the sorrows and griefs so
nobly borne, a thousand consultations
by the complete restoration OF your
beloved Belgium, in which every Amer.
lean deserves a share"
Turning then to Cardinal Mercier.
he said.
Your Eminence. we see in the per.
son Of Belgiums primate one who.
like a true shepherd. guards his flock
at whatever cost. When the power
Of might seemed near its triumph you
fearlessly stood for right and justice
against mere brute force"
The King stood with his hands
clasped in front of him. truly martial
figure. The slender Queen. gowned all
in white, reached scarcely to his
shoulder. but she bore herself with
simple dignity.
The King and Queen knelt rever
emily as the solemn mass began with
all the ceremony of the Catholic
church. They stood as they touched
the asperscrium and made the sign
Of the cross. From the stained-glass
windows the figures Of martyrs TO the
faith looked down upon them.
In the hush which filled the great
church it almost seemed that they
were within one OF the shell-torn ca.
thedrals Of their own Belgium. giving
thanks that their confidence in honor
and justice had brought its reward
They raised their eyes now and then
to gaze into the calm but care-worn
faces of their own cardinal. who sal
on the opposite side OF the sanctuary.
The King and Queen followed the
service devoutly from the blessing OF
the gospels by Cardinal O'Connell, to
the recessional. After the blessing
of the incense, the monarchs were
incensed with the two Cardinals, as
was their royal right 1t was the
first time such ceremony had been
enacted upon this continent. After
the singing OF the sanctus and the
conservation. King, Queen, Crown
Prince and Cardinals knelt before the
altar
After holy communion, Cardinal
Mercier assembled the pulpit to thank
the people OF the United States in
the name of his monarchs as well as
his own, for the help this land had
given them in their hours of diresi
need.