Note and Comment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 14, 1913

Another Military Mass

The Western Watchman (Catholic) of St. Louis, Mo., for July 3, 1913, gives the following description of a mass recently held at Cleveland, Ohio:—

CLEVELAND, OHIO, June 29.—One hundred thousand men and women, the largest gathering ever assembled in Cleveland at a religious service, attended the first open-air military mass in the history of Ohio Catholicism this morning in Rockefeller Park.

The mass was celebrated by Rt. Rev. John P. Farrelly, bishop of Cleveland.

The big crowd, composed of Catholics and non-Catholics, stood in a huge semi-circle, banked thousands deep before the altar.

Preceding the mass was a parade of ten thousand uniformed members of the Knights of St. John and other Catholic military organizations.

At 10:20 a salute of thirteen guns of Battery A, located on the upper boulevard of Rockefeller Park, announced the arrival of the vanguard of the parade. Facing the altar and at the left of the audience were especially constructed stands for the united choir of two hundred voices.

Inspired by the enthusiasm and eager anticipation of his audience, Bishop Farrelly extended his informal address scheduled to occupy ten minutes' time to half an hour. “My heart is seething with emotion as I contemplate this immense gathering,” said Bishop Farrelly. “It represents in every sense of the word the true manhood and womanhood of Catholic societies in Cleveland. It is a spectacle which charms the eye.”

Commenting upon this occurrence, the Christian Herald of July 23, justly observes:—

Witnessing such a scene as this, one might almost conclude that patriotism had died out in the land which Thomas Nelson Page, author, and our new ambassador to Italy, recently declared to be a country that was “made by Protestantism.” Before him, a long line of distinguished American patriots reached the same conclusion. Hence, when Rome, in the name of religion, sets her spectacular mechanism in motion to fascinate the masses here by the same methods she has always employed in older lands, she becomes a fair subject for criticism. She has the same right of religious freedom in all respects that other churches enjoy, and no one is disposed to deny her that right. If Rome can “make America Catholic” by her spiritual activities, it is her privilege; but the mingling of her own uniformed legionaries with American soldiers and American guns, and all the pomp and display incident to such an assemblage, make up a picture of Rome militant which, however it might be regarded in Spain, or Austria, or the Catholic states of South America, is an anachronism here.

It is only a few weeks since a so-called “military mass” was celebrated in Texas City, Tex., at which, according to the reports in the Boston Pilot (May 10), six thousand American soldiers and civilians attended. Now Cleveland, the sixth city of the Union in importance,

permits a “military mass” to be held in a public park, with gates closed to traffic, while a salute of thirteen guns is fired by a battery of the Ohio National Guard in honor of the event. Shades of Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, and Lincoln! These are times of change, indeed, when such things can happen and never a word of protest or warning arise from a single village newspaper.

What would be thought of any other religious body—Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Congregational, or Baptist—attempting a demonstration like this? Could it be done with any justification in the name of religion?

A few weeks ago a Protestant officer in Spain dared to assert his rights by refusing to kneel at a “military mass” in that country. He was punished for his courageous independence. You can read the story in the Christian Herald of June 25 last. Not one American soldier or civilian is reported as having raised a voice of protest at Cleveland. Is it any wonder that the Roman bishop's heart “seethed with emotion,” or that he found the spectacle charming to the eye? America has begun where Spain left off when it permits to pass unquestioned a gigantic military display with uniforms and swords, under the cloak of religion. Every “military mass” under the auspices of the Roman Church or of any church, is an open concession to the advocates of the union of church and state. It is an encroachment far beyond the boundaries within which every church and every religion has its true sphere of action.