Evening star., 1919-09-23
CARDINAL MERCER
BLESSES SEMINARY
AND BIG GATHERING
Great Congregation of Hier.
archy at Catholic
University.
CARDINAL GIBBONS HEARD
AT SULPICIAN DINNER
Belgian Prelate Will Be Guest OF
Belgium's Minister at
Embassy.

In the presence of Cardinal Mercier.
the distinguished prelate from Bel
gium. and one of the largest gather
ings of hierarchy of the Catholic
Church of the United States, Cardinal
Gibbons of Baltimore this morning
blessed the Sulpician Seminary at the
Catholic University. This event will
probably go down in the Catholic his
tory of the country as an occasion Of
national import and Thanksgiving.
b Long before 1890 o'clock, the hour
set for the blessing of the seminary
at mass, large crowds had assembled
at the entrance Of the magnificent
new structure. which has just been
completed. and stood in the pouring
rain to get a glimpse of Cardinal
Mercier and extend him a warm well
come to the city.
Rests at Monastery.
Cardinal Mercier, who had arrived
in Washington late last evening, spent
the night at the Monastery. Early
this morning he visited some of the
buildings of the Catholic University
and arrived at the seminary about 10
o'clock. He was followed a short time
later by Cardinal Gibbons, who had
been a guest of Bishop Shahan, rec
tor of the Catholic University. last
night.
short time after Cardinal Mer-
cier had been in the building he came
to the main entrance and it was an
nounced he would bestow blessing
upon the gathering outside. Women
with bowed heads and men with their
hats doffed. received this high honor
from the Belgian prelate. A few min
utes later the mass was hAgun.
Crowded chapsi.
the little chapel of the sefninary was
packed to the door with bishops and
priests. So great was The number
that the public was not admitted to
the service. =. -
Owing to the heavy rainfall the pro-
cession Of attending prelates and clergy
which had been planned was eliminated.
Low mass Of the Holy Chest was cele.
brated by Bishop shahan. A!shbishos
Austin Dowling Of St Paul. Mimi.
bishops. priests and students renewed
their clerical promises.
Preceding the mass Cardinal Gfhf
b0ns blessed the new monastery. and
in brief address the sfathers upon
their magnificent structure. =.
. Following the mass Cardinal. Mer-
cier again went to the entrance Of the
seminary and for the second time be-
slowed a, blessing on the people who
had stood there throughout the cere.
reception at which the visiting
bishops and priests were presented 70
him. sa
Dinner at University. ~
Following the reception Cardinal
Mercier, Cardinal Gibbons and about
400 bishops and members of the
alumni of st. Mary's Seminary went
to the large dining hall at Catholic
University. where a dinner was given
in their honor by the Sulpiciar
Fathers.
Brief addresses were made at the
dinner by Cardinal Mercier. Cardinal
Gibbons. Very Rev. E. r. Dyer. pres
ident of St. Mary's Seminary, Balti-
more, and Mgr. Edward Kelly of Chi
cago.
Guest of Belgian Minister.
About 3 o'clock this afternoon Car
dinal Mercier and his party were
driven to the Belgian legation. 1901
P street. where a diner in his honor
is to be given this evening by the
Belgium minister. Invitations have
been extended to Vice President Mar
shall, members of the cabinet, diplo-
matte corps. members of Congress and
others in official life to attend the
function.
Cardinal Mercier will remain at the
embassy all night. He is to go to
the Catholic University tomorrow
morning to attend the conference Of
Catholic prelates from throughout the
country. which Cardinal Gibbons had
called for tomorrow morning. This
conference, which is the largest gath
nf tc he
in Baltimore in 1884. Of which Car
dinal Gibbons is the only surviving
member. will continue three or four
days. Cardinal Mercier is to deliver
an address at the conference. and it
is expected that about 500 bishops and
other church officials will be in at
tendance.
The visiting clergymen at the con-
ference are to be the guests Of Bishop
Shahan.