Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-26
CHEERS, PRAYERS AND FLAGS
GREET CARDINAL MERCER HERE
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cross and whispered what appeared to
be Il silent prayer.
Boy Scouts. Girl Scouts. war work
crs. policemen. soldicrs-almost every
person within block of Broad street
halted to get glimpse at the venerable
pr"latr as he proceeded on his way
to the hotel.
There another crowd had gathered
to greet the great Belgian. They waved
hats and flags and shouted cheers for
the cardinal and for his country.
Official Welcome at Station
Several hundred persons crowded the
North Philadelphia station when the
train bearing the cardinal and his party
and the city'S representatives alightcd
from the train that had brought them
from Washington.
Governor Sproul and John Wana-
maker. both of whom had boarded the
train at Wilmington. were first to alight
from the special car that bore the
cardinals $ party.
Then came Archbishop Dougherty.
Directly behind him walked the cardinal.
His face wreathcd in smiles. the prelate
walked with steady step along the
platform to where there had gathered a
delegation of prominent churchmen and
laymPn.
The cardinal looked TO be in good
health, although members of his party
declared he was bit fatigued. The
cardinal had arisen long before day
break and had celebrated mass in Wash
ingtOn before members of the commit
tee that went to escort him here had
left their hotel.
The cardinal walked in the center of
n group that included Governor Sproul
on one side of him aud Mayor Smith
on the other. He was introduced first
to Bishop Tuttle, of Boston. who was
surrounded by delegation of represen-
tativc Catholic and Protestant clergy
men.
After the introductions the Cardinal,
still fiankcd on the left by Governor
Spr"ul and on the right BY Nlavor
Smith, walked along the platform to
the driveway leading from the station.
Blesses Canteen Workers
As he walked he passed several hun
! dred canteen workers who had csred
| for thousands of soldiers that had
/ passed through here during and after
the war. The women stood at at-
tontion. They were in uniform
lhe cardinal smiled. He raised his
hat MS
'God bless you all, ." the nrelate re-
marked. Its wonderful work Won
have been doing
The cardinal had previously boon toId
OF 'hc canteen work here under the
/ direction of Mrs. George w, ChiIds
DrcTcl.
The party was led through the tunnol
that opens directly into the. driveway
leading to the street. In the tunnel
were nearly 100 representative PhiIo-
d"lphianS-jurist> business men NM
nicipa officers, churchmen and lsvmor
who formed the executive committoo
in charge Of the reception.
The Cardinal graciously acknowledgod
intr"durti"nS to each member of tLa
PARTY, all the while smiling. hat in
hand.
As the party reached the street the
I Cardinal, Governor Sproul, NIavor
Smith and Archbishop Doughertv wora
escorted to the decorated automobie in
which they were to lead the procession
down Broad street.
Belgian COlOrs Shown in Flowers
Crowds lined the streets outside the
station. There were cheers for the pre-
late. And cheers for Belgium. The
Cardinal bowed, smiled and raised his
hat repeatedly.
. The automobile had been decorated
by the Philadelphia Florists Associa
ton with vari cOlored dahlias repre-
sCnting the colors Of the Belgian flag.
, On the automobile were large American
and Belgian flags.
Entwired in the decorations were
| hundreds of purple flowers representing
, the official color of the preIate's 5 archie
pscopal rank.
Police and School Bands Play.
O The Philadelphia Police Band wal
Y lined up alongside the station and a
S the procession started to move it playet
G the Belgian national anthem. The boy
Of st. Stephens parochial school hat
e lined up along the station driveway an
! as the cardinal passed through the lon
r lines the boys waved flags of Americi
n and Belgium. The cadet band of tn
: school joined in playing the Belgian airs
II AS the procession moved down Broa
h street there was cheering and shoutin
e and continuous waving of flags.
e The cardinals automobile, complete
y ly covered with flowers, followed clos
) behind long line of mounted police
i men, who served as the city's guard 70
is distinguished visitor.