New-York tribune., 1919-05-26
Thousands Kneel Within
Shadow of Prison Ship
Monument as Army and
Navy Priests Chant Service
Honor Guard From 69th
Italian, French and Cana
dian Officers i'm Crowd
at Impressive Ceremony

On the historic slopes of Fort
Greene Park, within the shadow of the
Prison Ship Monument, a solemn field
mass was celebrated yesterday by a
military priest for the repose of the
souls of the hero dead of the army
and navy, while a reverent multitude
knelt upon the grass. The very ground
upon which the people knelt was con-
secrated to the ideals of America by
the blood Of Washington's army in its
retreat across Long Island. Near by
some of these patriots still sleep, and
it was for them as we'll as the others
who have died for their country that
the mass was celebrated
Priests and high dignitaries OF the
Roman Catholic Church attended.
Fully twenty thousand people crowded
in the little valley beneath the monu-
ment, many of them wearing gold
stars on their arms, and there were
several hundred soldiers and veterans
there to honor their departed COM
rades. Here and there in their brill
liant uniforms officers of Italy and
France could be seen, while over to
one side stood a group of Canadian
officers. The priests were accompanied
by an armed guard OF honor.
Procession From Farmhouse
Led by q detachment from the 69th
Regiment the procession started from
the farmhouse near by. After the
military passed there was hush rs a
crucifer, holding a cross aloft, sig
nailed the coming of the priests. The
livid purple, white and gold of the
priests vestments, sparkling with
Jewels of moisture thrown from the
trees, produced wonderful spectacle.
The brilliant vestments were in deep
contrast to the sober black of the
acolytes, who followed swinging their
censers.
The smoke from the censers drifted
toward the monument Of the dead on
the hill. When the religious partici-
pants reached the lawn the Police Band
struck up "The War March Of the
Priests" from "Athalia." Then the
mass started.
Mgr John P. Chadwick, who was
Chaplain of the Maine when that ves-
sci was blown up in Havana harhor,
was the celebrant of the mass. Father
John J. Brady, who was chaplain of
the 9Th Marines when they turned
back the Germans at Chateau Thierry,
was deacon, and Father j. Higgins.
L. S. n, ub-deacon.
trained choir of 100 voices from
various Brooklyn churches, under the
leadership OF Arthur. Somers, sung the
mass. Gloucester Camp No. 5, Spanish
War Veterans, and the Long Island
Chapter OF the Knights of Coum bus,
under whose auspices the service was
conducted. stood before the wooden
altar or the lawn. The altar was dec
grated with entwined American and
Papal flags and roses.
The soldiers and sailors stood at
attention as the Latin was chanted by
the priests and answered by the altar
boys and choir At the more import
ant parts of the mass sharp bugle
call was sounded, followed by a thin
ruffle OF drums. AS the bugle call
echoed back from the hill the people
dropped to their knees and bent their
heads
At the conservation Of the Host
the most solemn part Of the service
the sharp commands of the officers
brought the soldiers and sailors to
salute. The people were all on their
knees, and the candles on the altar
were. burning bravely against an east
wind that threatened to blow them out.
The Police Band played "The Star
Spangled Banner" before the priests
left tie altar.
Sermon by Chaplain
The sermon was preached by the
Rev. L. P. Duffy, S. j., a chaplain in
the navy, who took as his subject the
text: Il am the resurrection and the
life. lie VINO believes in me shall live
foreve~"
Our dead should be great lesson
TO u.s." he said. They died prepared
to meet their maker, knowing they
were giving their lives in the greatest
crusade ever undertaken by man. But
there are some people in this great
nation of ours who have no regard
Tor God. Our nation, as nation,
must renew its faith in Christ We
must take the commandments more
seriously and see that they are obeyed.
We owe that to our glorious dead, so
''@f we can preserve what they fought
and died to preserve-thc United
~sstcs Of America"