Students Set Out To Carry Cross To Walsingham

By a Staff Reporter The church of St. Etheldreda's, Ely Place, was , packed to capacity on Saturday last by students and their parents, when the Student Cross Pilgrimage started its long walk to the Shrine of Our Lady at Walsing ham.
Organised by the London University Students, it is taking place in the week devoted to the commemoration of Christ's Passion, as an act of reparation in the name of all British students, for the acts of all students throughout the world which have been directed against God, against religion and the people who wish to practise religion.
At 9 am. Mgr. McClement, Chaplain to the University of London, celebrated Mass for the pilgrimage. After the Mass, the entrance to the church resembled a military camp. about to be moved. Rucksacks — blankets — tin mugs— rations — all were stacked neatly whilst a check-up was made.
Dress was also an important point, and one could easily pick out those who had been ex-Servicemen. A parent here or there was warning her son how not to catch a cold, and the son in turn was assuring her he was prepared for anything.
These personal notes, however, did not detract from the main purpose of the pilgrimage, and the physical discomfitures would be many despite the careful preparation.
9-FOOT CROSS
At II a.m. the departure ceremony began. The Cross, 9 ft. tall, 6 ft.. arm and 3 in. thick (the size tradition ascribes to that carried by Jesus) was blessed and each pilgrim in turn entered the sanctuary and kissed the Cross, and the Ititterarium, prayers for a safe journey, were said.
Red crosses were then pinned on the arm of each pilgrim and. lifting up the cross, they took it into the road outside the church, Where more prayers were said. Over two hundred people knelt in the roadway, and many passers-by took off their hats as a mark of respect.
The pilgrims then started the journey accompanied through the City by a policeman. Avoiding the busy traffic centres they made their way to the church of St. Mary, at Moorfields, where more prayers were said, and again to the road.
I and many others, accompanied them a few miles and on the way, hymns were sung and prayers recited. The long array, headed by two students carrying the Cross, wended its way through north London and out into the countryside.
THE WOMEN'S PART The tall bearded leader, from the London School of Economics—who wished—with all the pilgrims to remain nameless, set the pace and allowed a ten-minute halt every hour. Two priests were among the pilgrims, and will conduct services along the way.
Women Students, although not officially pilgrims, are playing their part. On Saturday they went the first twenty miles, and to-morrow (Good Friday) they will join the