New Britain herald., 1926-06-21
100000 ASSEMBLE ID WATCH PUBLIC
 RELIGIOUS RITES
Soldiers Field at Chicago Thronged as EuChariStic Con-
 greSs Opens Sessions Today
CROWDS so DENSE THAT
 PROCESSION IS HELD UP

MultitudcS About Field Packed In So
 Solid That Priests, Bishops and
 Cardinals Themselves Have Diffi-
 culty In Entering-Grcatest
 Throng of WOrshippcrs Ever As
 scmblcd Attend Mass This Morning
 Chicago, June q Pl-Undaunted by threatening skies and d stiff off, shore breeze, more than 100000 pco- pie assembled in Soldiers Field, the great memorial stadium on the shores of Lake Michigan, to witness the first public session of the twenty eighth international Eucharistic Con- grcss.
 The day began with solemn ponti- flcal mass at the stadium altar cele- brated by Cardinal Bonzano, the papal legate, before the greatest throng of worshippers ever asscnbl- cd for the rites
 Enormous Crowds Gather.
 The public stadium, more thaM half a mile long was banked to the topmost tier Of seats and tens Of thousands jammed the field at all sides of the towering stands clamor- ing for admission. So dense were the mulHtudes about the field outside the stadium that the procession of priests bishops and cardinals could not enter the field.
 Except on the roofs of the peris- cyles on either side Of the vast ex- tent of Soldiers Field, every foot Of standing room within sight of the golden topped outdoor altar was packed with spectators. Below in the field, in front Of the altar stretched a long expanse Of white-the choir Of G0,00o school children assembled to sing the Mass Of the Angels"
 To the west side Of the altar were thousands of nuns, their mass of black costumes set off with white capes under black vcils.
 Police Arc Helpless. ! Fifteen minutes after the scheul- cd starting time. the police had been unable to break through tho mass of humanity packed around the clcrgy's entrance.
 The altar, on a great green plat form fifty feet above the field, was over-arched by a baldachin Of red and gold more than 125 feet high topped by a crucifix. Behind the altar at right and left. q huge American flag stretched in the breeze Flanking the altar were the thrones of eleven cardinals, each with a red kneeling bench facing thc Eucharistic throne at the center ot the altar.
 The throne Of the papal 1agate under an arched canopy of velvet and gold was on a dais at the right of the altar.
 | In white cossacks and scarlet Capes were groups of acOlyt"s wait ing at the foot of the 50-foot tiers Of steps, carpeted in the middle with cardinal red, which were to be as- cendcd by the bishops and other clergy to celebrate the mass.
 So dense did the crowd become al the sides of the field near the altal that long before mass began not 2 few right reverend purple clad mon. signors were forced to climb as besr they could over railings and camT stools to get to their assigned places Even Watch From Above.
 Flying high above the field bu not directly over 1t, were airplane' with occupants trying 10 obtain { better view of the picturesque spec tacle. Other adventurous siEht-seer' were risking their lives climbing tho metal supports of the electric ligh towers to get near the altar.
 A police squad struggled for hal an hour at the clergy gate before ; lane three feet wide would he GU through. The purple clad bishop then filed slowly into the field.
 The crowd greeted the procession with reverence, all who could finr room falling to their knees.
 High Winds Blow.
 Winds whirling across the lak front grew so vigorous that pre- vious to the beginning Of the mass priests were stationed at the alta to hold down the altar cloths anr the rich draperies Of lace. Mean while filing in front of the alta were lines of motred prelates, tn white headpieces sharply in contras with golden vestments hanging iron their shoulders.
 The sky darkened constantly an shortly after II o'clock the frs misty harbinger of rain dropped jus as Cardinal Bonzano approached tn altar.
 The children choir then began tn Mass of the Angels"
 "Kyrie Eleison," 0 cry for mer cy, were the first words voiced froI the huge chorus.
 As the officiating prelates ap preached the altar, the canvas win screen was moved to the west sid of the sanctuary for protectio against the wind. The rain was yer light but the wind was so stron that eight priests were required { hold up the wind protector. (ContInued on Page 16)