Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-24
MUNDELE|N CROWD
SETS NEW.RECORD.
Largest Gathering Ever
Known in America" Travel
ed to Suburb Half of Night.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

BI KOBEKE i. SM1L14.
MUNDELEIN, H., June 24.-Under
the bluest June skies and the coolest
June weather this section has ever
known, the Twenty-eighth lnterna-
tional Eucharistic Congress OF the
Catholic Church flashed its way 10
n close here today with the m"St
brilliant religious pagea1try the New
World has ever seen.
The vast crowds which had gain
cred in Chicago earlier in the week
were vaster here. The pilgrimage 10
this shrine, which had lasted through
the night for half of those who came,
was another Of the overwhelming
spectacles which have marked TINS
most amazing Of all religious Gatn-
erings. It was virtually Impossible
to estimate the size Of the throfle'
America has known no comparison.
Here at Nuadeiein Cardinal Munde-
lein has established a Catholic insti-
tutional and educational center which
he hopes TO make the greatest in the
world Here. amid old trees and
about the shores OF a beautiful lake, 1t
seemed fitting that the last pomp ana
ceremony of the congress should
occur. Always at these international
gatherings a Eucharistic procession
has been held. But there never has
been one like that which half Il MIL
hon sought to see today.
A reason for the pomp and pag-
entry was given today by Rev.
Father Matthew \. Cummings. chair
man of the committee on procession.
Being composed of body and SOUL >
he said, man needs to be aroused
by external solemnities, so that
through the variety and beauty Of the
sacred liturgy he may receive the
Divine teachings in his soul and use
them to advance in the spiritual NE.
Moreover. such public acknowledge
ment of Christs sovereignty over and
love for all men Us a Eucharistlc
procession affords is 4 powerful
means of bringing before individuals
and society their duty publicly to Wor-
ship Christ in His blessed sacrament;
to confess before men His power. His
wisdom and His love: TO render due
thanks for the inestimable treasures
of His real presence, and to give
Him in return their love and the
service of a Christian life.
Therefore the grand open-air pro-
cession of the congress, by which
we proclaim before the whole world
the name, the fame and the reign of
our Eucharistic Lord and King.
Therefore today, amid flowers and
trees, lighted torches and brilliant
banners, along the winding road that
skirts the beautiful lake OF St. Mary s
Seminary, under God-Given skies and
between these vast lanes of adoring
thousands. the procession winds it's
way, with trained choirs singing joy
fully the praises of Christ in the
Eucharist. II is a spectacle of devo-
ton, Of splendor and glorious
pageantry."
Rejecting here today upon all that
has gone before in this congress, one
could not help but feel that one of
the objects, one of the outstanding
purposes-this vast gathering in
America-has been a protest against
all that smacks of modernism both
Church itself. Catholics who have
been lax in their religious duties
have been admonished by the Pope.
Those" he said, who, albeit they
are perhaps habitual partakers of the
heavenly repast, yet neglect their in
terror life or dread the thought of it
what is to be said Of them? Only
that they are spineleSs sort Of Chris
tians, unfit to strive for the hottest Of
causes"
1t is said that an attempt TO counter
evident at the Eucharistic Congresses
in Europe. The first one was held at
Lille, France, in 1881, in the days of
French anti-clerical manifestation.
There has been no suggestion at
this congress that it has been aimed
at any adverse movement or spirit,
but there has been explanation of how
the church, by concentrating on the
Eucharist, or the holy communion,
All
heresy, Worldliness. the jugglery. of
science" and to meet possible attacks
upon its beliefs and practices. The
effect of rallying the faithful around
the central act of devotion of the
whole body of Catholics has been an
effective means of cementing that
body together, renewing confidence
and bringing peace to it's members.
The church always has been solicit
tious about keeping the roots of every
popular devotion deep in the soil of
dogma.
Another high note of this congress
has been the demonstration to the
world that the Catholic Church has
fully recovered from the effects of
the World War. Thousands upon
thousands of it's adherents-even it's
priests and its student priests-were
killed IN the 1Our-year cOnf1lct. Some
Of it's greatest cathedrals and hun
dreds of it's churches and religious
institutions were destroyed. Its
schools and rectories were blown to
bits
Word went forth that the church
had suffered a blow from which it
might never survive. But all who
have seen the manifestations in Chi.
cago and at this woodland shrine to-
day are convinced that Catholicism
today stands forth in its fullest
bower. And here, in the most power
full Nation of the world a stirring ap.
peal has been made for all religion,
but with the constantly stressed
note that "the church." by which all
Catholics refer to their faith. is the
highest expression of belief in Christ,
the Lord and King.
The lessons. the effect. the results
of this congress will be discussed
for years to come.
DECLARES EUCHARIST