Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1934-05-31
MAY GROWING
INTPRESSIVELY CARRIED OUT

The beautiful and sublime annual
May Growing of the Blessed Moth
/ er of God, took place last Sunday
evening at st. James church, at
1880, before crowd estimated to-
be eight hundred or a. thousand per-
sons. The crowning took place in
| the front of the church, where a.
beautiful altar containing the statue
of the Virgin Mary, surrounded
with myriads of beautiful flowers,
and soft glow of lighted candles,
which are symbolical of Her Spot
less Virginity, symbolized by the
pure wax of the beautiful candles.
The May Queen for this year was
little Miss Pauline Hatfield, of Phi
10, a member of st. AIMS church.
of Philo, mission of st. James,
parish. She was attended by an es-
cort of her flower girls who were
Helen Alter, Elizabeth Huck, Mary
Strahler and Rita Morris.
The st. Johns junior high school
band of Bellaire played the music,
and led the parade to the church.
Following the band, was detach-
ment of the National Guard, and
Firing Squad Of Wagon Co., 124,
headed by Sergeant Baldwin. Then
came in order, the Veterans of For
eign Wars of Camp Morgan, and
the st. Francis Commandery. Hon
or Guard, knights of ST. John of
Newark, all who made a grand and
inspiring appearance in military for
nation. The various commands were
executed with perfect precision, as
the companies drew up in the front
of the church. The National Guard.
and Camp Morgan veterans, opened
ranks, and the procession headed
by the Cross-bearer and acolytes
and clergy passed through with all
the companies standing at salute.
then the Knights of st. John OPEN
ed ranks at the path leading up to
the church steps where the altar
was erected, and the procession
passed on through under an arch of
swords to their various positions.
making one of the grandest sights
seen in this community for long
time. Every organization which
took part in the parade, were a
credit to themselves and to the So
c1ety or organization they represent
ed
The st. Johns school band made
grand and impressive appearance
VIZ
stripes, and capes of green and
white, the school colors. Their mu-
sic was excellent and these young
musicians are to be congratulated
upon such fine band and upon the
neat manner and graceful marching
step. Especially worthy of mention.
was the drum major, whose march
ing step was peppy, graceful and
neat, and free from the usual bonn
bastic actions of most drum majors.
The sermon was preached by Rev.
FIR. Preston, the pastor, who spoke
on the subject: ''Why Does the
Catholic Church Honor the Mother
of God?" He showed how God
honored Her, in selecting
Her to be His Mother from among
all the women in the world He told
now the Bible itself records the
fact that the Angels did not hesi-
tate to call her Hail full of Grace,
Blessed art Thou amongst women"
and how women of the gospel hon
ored her when she cried to Christ.
ic
Thee, and the paps that gave Thee
suck, and Mary Herself under the
inspiration of the Holy Ghost said:
From henceforth, all generations
shall call Me Blessed" The speak
er said, that just as grateful peo-
pie erect statues to the memory of
cur fallen heroes On our public
streets and on the battlefield, and
the government sets aside certain
days dedicated to their memory, on
which the people hold parades, dec
crate these monuments and statues
with flowers, flags and wreaths, not
to adore these statues, but to give
honor to the persons, these repre-
sent. So in a corresponding man
ner, the church deems it fitting and
proper, she should erect on her al
tars, statues of the great heroic
saints of God, who laid down their
lives for the Faith, that tht Faith OF
Jesus Christ might be preserved
for us; and that first and foremost
among these great saints, is the
Blessed Mother of God, she who was
the first to receive Him at His
birth, who accompanied Him to
Egypt and back, who nursed Him in
His helpless infancy, who was with
Him at the foot of the Cross, when
all others had fed in fear. She who
was the last to receive the feeble
breath which fell from the blood
stained lips of Her dying Son; and
since She suffered with Christ in
His Passion and Death, we owe Her
respect and honor. We pray to the
Blessed Mother, but do not adore
Her. We simply ask Her to inter-
cede for us to Her Divine Son to
ask of Him the graces and favors
we need, and that as you love your
mother and would not refuse her re-
quest, if it were fitting and proper,
SO in like manner, the church teach
es that God will not turn deaf ear
to the requests of His Mother, if we
pray to her and ask Her to inter-
cede for us to Her Divine Son.
The speaker said, we hear much
about the crime wave which has
swept our country. People say, it's