A Strange Scene.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 65, 18 February 1885, Page 4

A Strange Scene.

Shortly after 1 b* 'clock on October 14 th, a strange scene (a cor-respondent-of the 1 Pall MaW-Gaz-ettee. say s) was witnessed m Westminister Abbey. A crowd numbering 500 persons df both sex6s, yonng men m semiclerical attire predominating, knelt round the tomb of King Edward the Confessor, and engaged some time m prayer, during whicji the Roman. Catholic practice of making, the sign of the cross was indulged m, to. the ..evident wonder of the ordinary visitors* It appears that : this being the feast day of . Sit. Edward, .King, and Confessor,) the anniversary was celebrated at the neighbouring: Roman Catholic Church- of St. Peter ahd St. Paul. Palace-isfcreeti, Westminster (Cardinal Manning^ parish), where m the presence of a large congregation high mass, was, s,ung by the Jfyight Rev. Dr Patierson; ' of Emmaus, ai\d a sermon was preached by the Rev. George Akers. M. A., who de- , tailed the circumstances of the building *bf the abbey, and whetfe the ashes of King Edward were interredThe preacher invited the cbngrega--fcion tojoih the Bishop and clergy m a pilgrimage; of devotion to the shrine of St Edward, and impl6reil his intercession for' the : cdti version df England ti/ the ancient faith. Iti response' to ! thw inVitationi the whole congregation, accompanied the clergy to the Abbey, aiicl performed their ddVdtions m the'manner above describe'dy undisturbed 1 by the vergers "of a'uthoritiekoi' the Abbey. '