Evening star., 1934-02-23
FINAL HONOR PAID
KING ALBERT HERE
Mrs. Roosevelt Heads List
of NotabIes at Unique
Service for Monarch.

Final tribute of the American
people to King Albert Of Belgium was
paid today at a colorful national
memorial mass in the Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception at Catholic
University.
As the representatives of the people,
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt and Sec
retary of State Cordell Hull headed a
host Of dignitaries, including the
diplomatic corps, the Vice President,
the Speaker Of the House, Chief JUS
tice and members of the Supreme
Court. the cabinet, the Senate and
members of the House, in attendance
at the solemn pontifical mass of
requiem, sung by the apostolic dele
gate, the Most Rev. Amleto Giovanni
Cicognani.
Ceremony Is Unique.
The ceremony, unique in the an
mails of catholicism in the United
States, was the same as attends final
absolution of a Pope. There were
five absolutions for the departed
monarch, celebrated by five bishops
of the Roman Catholic Church.
Before the main altar of the shrine
stood a catafalque. draped in black,
and with three tall candlesticks on
each side. A draped Belgian flag
bound in black rested over the
catafalque and on top was a repro
duction Of the crown Of the late King.
whose coat of arms was prominently
displayed on the catafalque.
On the epistle side of the nave sat
the diplomatic corps. Belgian Am
bassador Paul May and the staff OF
his embassy were in the front pews
behind which, in the order of prece-
dence, sat the entire membership OF
the embassies and legations in Wash
ington, headed by the Ambassador OF
Turkey, dean of the diplomatic corps
The gospel side of the nave was
occupied by Mrs. Roosevelt, Secretary
Hull. Vice President Garner, Speaker
Rainey, Chief Justice Hughes. Asso-
ciate Justices of the United States
Supreme Court, the cabinet, Senate
and members of the House.
The faculty of Catholic University
in full academic costume, sat in the
west transept of the crypt. Behind
the professors sat Nine. May, wife Of
the Belgian Ambassador, with a
troop of uniformed Girl Scouts hold
ing banners.
At the conservation a trumpeter
sounded taps in place Of the usual
chimes and at the conclusion Of the
mass, the Army Band played the
Belgian anthem while outside the
shrine an artillery unit fired 81
gun salute in honor of the dead
leader Of one Of Americas allies dur
ing the World War
King Albert, who had received an
honorary degree OF doctor OF law when
he was here in 1919. was eulogized
by the Most Rev. James H Ryan
Bishop of Modra and rector of the
| university.
Thus did this man die, leaving
not only to young men. but also tc
the whole nation. the memory OF his
death for an example of virtue and
fortitude," Bishop Ryan quoted from
the scripture in beginning his eulogies
He called the late king "a beloved
sovereign, a IlOSOdllds AOFAAi6
| father" whose life always will shine
as a supreme example to Christian
virtue and fortitude."
Has Example Followed.
surely, as the years wind on under
the leadership of her fourth king
Leopold III, whom God in his mercy
spare long to the nation, the people
of Belgium will take up courageously,
the staff of leadership Albert has now
laid down forever and with it march
the highway of life to the glorious
consummation Of his vision for their
nation.
Like Nehemiah of old. let Albert
be long remembered for he raised up
for us our walls that were cast down,
and set up the gates of our cities. and
rebuilt our houses and homes
The universal world weeps today
for her loss. May he rest in peace
eternal with the God he served sc
we'll in Life. There have been those
in this exalted and royal station ir
life who represented force. There
| have been others who represented
power and might. He represents
these by the achievements Of his king.
ly career, but he represents also
something higher and nobler anc
more sacred than these-he repre-
sents honor.
He has bound up the wounds o.
his shattered nation. He has cared
| for them who bore the brunt OF the
battle for the land of Belgium anc
| for their widows and orphans. He
has given all that the mind and hear
of the truly Christian king might give
to achieve just and lasting peace
among the nations of the earth.
ITO him be honor and glory an6
everlasting gratitude. Amen"
The five final absolutions were
given at the conclusion of the mass
by the following prelates: The apOS.