The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-31
z o N e.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE N TIE HERALD.

The Canonizntion Cerem ouy - Qualifications
Incidents of st. Peters Day-St. Peters
Chair-Dispersi0n Of the Prciates.
RoxE, July IL, 1857.
On SUNDAY morning the gorgeous ecclesiastical
MES announced to world the occasion OF ST. Peters
cent nary their conclusion by the solemn ocat
fcation OF two hundred and five Japanese martyrs,
whose lives sacrificed for tho Catholic faith In that
country different periods the years l5l7 aud
1882
The Pope occupies himself personally in canonzatons,
but not in Qualifications which minor degree of saucty
s entrusted to the oGcia,on OF the Cardinal Doan OF
the Sacred College, and the Cardinal Project Of tho
Sacred Congregation OF Rtes but his Holiness repairs
to St. Peters in the afternoon to venerale the newly
made bsd,i prays before their pictures, aud receives
tributary offerings Of their relies Tho japanese
tyrs had splendid decorations for their baatthca
ton than would have been the had the more
gorgeous ceremony OF tho sanctiacaou eight days be-
FORE left the church with all its riches: festive aiorn
nepts tho only necessary changes being the sub
slituon OF pictures aud standards audinS 70 the
lives deaths and miracles OF the two hun
dred and I've bca.i, instead Of those OF the
twenty-five saints who the objec, Of tho preceding
ceremony. Pho Mono has boon q beatiher aud sancti-
fer upon larger scale than any Of his predecessors for
upwards OF q thousand years. during whi,h period,
according TO the eruds catalogue Of Monsignor Angelo
Rocca tDe can0nisaions Sanctorsml one Pontn has
ventured to canonize moro than Saints and most
have contended themselves with two three whereas
tie regnng Pope has svon hfty-two SAINTS to the
calendar aud bealed venerable servants OF God with
out numbers
celebration has gwen IL that OF the public exhbi
OF tho sacred chair Of - Psler which the tradition
OF the church attributes TO the Senator Padns who pre-.
sented Il TO st Peter at that time hs friend pastor and
guest. This relic certainly preserved with great
veneraton iu the early Vatican Basiiica, and
Ssr eonns ' Su Alexander v about two bun
bred years ago. had brought up from the crypt under
high altar and placed NJ tne back Of tho great trouns,
In great bronze chair supported by figures Of saints
John Chrysostom, Athanasus Ambrose and AuSustin =
the whole grosp being designed by the Cnsvaiier
thai time of lT2 900 scud acknowedgs having looked
at this relic exalted lofty gilt pedestal on the altar OF
sondors Of The centenary or sancGcasion, and IL wal
evident that interest," was Tar surpassed by the devo
ton OF kneeins French priests and Belgian
Zouaves although but fow Romans, whose applications
for rub on the char could hardly be grated in
time by priest mounted the altar whose sole duty
crossss presented him by devotscs BY bringing them
| the Apostles.
Ny inspection Of the relic brought me to the mme.
date conclusion that had OF the German Gothic
than the Roman curue form--s pointed bacx carved
and legs with ivory inlad panels represent
ing the abors OF Hercules and the signs Of the Zodiac
the Episcopal chairs OF marble aid Win mosaic 70 be
seen 10 the rouues OF the churches OF 81 Clement st.
Lawrence, ezra muros, and other bascas dating from
the tenth 70 the twelfth century but there abso
lutey nothing Roman about the seat judging from the
many specimens We have ieft Us Of the household
furniture OF the Augustan period.
Bunsen considers II TO be German chair OF the mid
die ages decorated with worries Of different period
The learned De Rossi, whose authority on Christian an
EQUITIES Is above all appeal IL obliged 70 confess thai
the chair 10 modern 10 comparison with the age OF 81
Peter and every enlightened Catholic Of the present
With smattering OF archaeological science, will not pre-
tend to assign more ancient date than the tenth
tury IL not therefore, absurd for tho Pope 10 lend
his nfabe authority 10 the support Of evident myth
i and the confirmation Of such Arguments as those dif
fuseIy developed by onsgnor Francesca Maria Febo IN
| his treatise % De Eds,siltats CdhcfrG Ronaa1''p
| Rome has assumed her quiet summer appearance