The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-03
DISTINGUISHED PERSONS.

J
incoga.to) and her sisters, the eX-Quecn OF
Naples and the Countess of Trani, three Wo-
men whose grace and beauty arc worthy OF a
better fate than the dismal sort Of life to which
their exalted birth has condemned them; the
Count of Girgenti and the cN-King OF Naples.
two unhappy-loOking personages, just new OF
place, but both gotten mp quite marvclously
in scarlet uniform, blazing with orders; cou-
pie of English generals, general Sir Vincent
Eyre and General Burlington; several German
ambassadors and ministers. in abundant gold
lacc:a knot Of French officers; Spanish gran
dee, wearing the golden fleece about his meek,
and of Roman dignitaries and Roman ladies,
know not how many, nor i'll what strange ana
splendid varieties Of costume they were
clothed.
THE PRELATES SEATED.
On either side of these tribunes, and little
below them, row beneath row, ran the lines OF
seats in which the great rustling throng OF pre-
lares, archbishops, bishops, mitred abbOts. and
the rest were seating themselves 10 the number,
as nearly as can with anything like accuracy
determine, of about eight hundred and forty.
Of seats prepared and numbered there were
in all seven hundred and siXty-flvc precisely:
These were all occupied, and the unexpected
influx of ccclesiastcs during the last two days
had compelled the cdmerieri charged with pre-
pairing the hall to add double row OF nnnum.
bcred seats below these, which also were filled
to-day with august and pious personaScs
soMBRE AND THRILLING SPECTACLE.
All. as have, said, were in motion when the
spectacle first broke upon me, and had but
single ray Of sunlight tlickered down through
the dome upon the motley and magnificent
mass. it had been indeed 4 brilliant and mem
orabe vision. But for the first time within
my observation of this incompatible building.
ST. Peters to-day was as dark as st. Paul's on
Ot hn FINN Of
An awful gloom brooded over the whole scene.
Vast as Is The capacity of the church, it was,
like the piazza without, literally filled to
the utmost, and the darkness which made 1t
difficult to distinguish the faces OF persons
who sat but a few PAGES from me within the
enclosure of the council hall. being equally
profound and almost appalling upon the huge
multitude without The white mitr and
stolcs of the bishops alone relieved in certain
measure the gloom, as in an apparently inter-
minabe order they advanced Two by two 10
salute, first the Pontiff, sitting wilitcmitred in
his narrow, almost Mahomctan pulpit throne,
and then the great circle OF the crimson-rObeu
cardinals behind him.
CEREMONIES. &C.
This ceremony alone consumed, by the
watch, an hour and threc-quarters. When it
was over the Cardinal Deacon PatirZi advanced
and celebrated q mass at the altar, with sing
good, and the effect Of which, had 1t been good,
must have been sensibly impaired by the
acoustic infelicitics of the temporary hall.
When the mass had ended the Padre del Trento
arose and pronounced 4 discourse, of which il
was impossible to hear more than few words
here and there, but which was uttered with an
animation and grace of gesture not unworthy
the reputation which the Padre enjoys of being
the very best preacher known to the Pontillcal
fotD A nj
followed, which eliminated in the invcsilturc
of the Pope with the pallium by one of the
Cardinal Deacons, while high and slrill re-
sounded the chanting Of psalms by the singers
OF the chapel. The Pope, once vested, took
his seat. and the whole body of the fathers. as
sembled in the order Of their rank, proceeded
to pass before him, making rcrcrential homage
as they paused at his throne, and kissing, each
in his turn, the Fishcrman's Ring on his en-
tended hand.
This ceremony 1t was impossible. to witness
without feeling profoundly impressed by the
magnitude and the subtlety of the relations to
which 1t bore witness between this ancient
seat of dominion and the soul and mind OF the
whole civilized world. What nation, what
zone, what race was here unreprcscnted? ? and
all these glittcring shepherds of solitary di-
verse flocks. each in his fold prince and a
power, came up here humbly bowling himself
to the earth before the venerable old man,
whose single voice it is the duty of them all to
proclaim the voice of Heaven, even unto the
uttcrmost parts Of the earth. Who shall pre-
tend that science is king, or commerce lord of
mankind, in the presence of such spectacle
rs this?.
ENDURANCE OF TIE POPE.
Striking though it was, however, the cerc-
mony Of the "obedience" ended by being
tcdi0us--tor it lasted rather more than two
hOurs-and when the Pope arose at the close
of it, and after reading a briefprayer. proceeded
to deliver his hortatOry address to the council,
he had already been on foot and in the harness
of his functions for more than seven mortal
hours. Is 1t not really noteworthy that at his
age, and with his many infirmitics, Plus ~
should have been able 10 pronounce, partly
from notes and partly, cs can avouch. extcn-
porancOuSly. an elaborate and earnest address
of more than threesquartcrs OF an hour III
length, and that not only in clear and reso-
nant voice, but with positive bursts of really
brilliant eloGaancc? AS he drew towards the
end of his speech, the PontiG dropped his notes
carcleSsly, and for more than Il quarter OF an
hour, raising his exquisite voice with the fire
and viyor OF youth, eXhorteu his hearers TO pl-
ticicc and devotion and courage In The great
work of rcconsttuting and rc-cstabliShflS the
faith of the world, which was now laid upon
them. The address of his Holiness was taken
down by the stenographers.
The alllcss was followed by Il season of
silent prayer, and that again by chant. after
which the project of the ceremonies. less
politely than distinctly. babe us all depart who
had no part in the council, crying out, with q
clear voice. "Etennt OnlaeS qut tUcuiR non huJe'
ant in concili0."
THE CLOSE.
And so ne departed, it being then already
close upon halta,aSt three o'clock. Ny letter
must br OH its way before half-past five. Judge,
then. if | am to br forgiven for my abrupt con-
clllsiun. can only add that there will be no
further meeting of the council in the Vatican
BaSilica until the Epiphany. that being the q; II
of January ncXl. The questions of The faith Will
be discussed and settled in the interval by The
various commissions which arc 10 render mp
lrlr lliis! on lhr day aforementioned as SOL
rllnly aS they have this day received it. Alter
these vii! CON" The questions Of discipline.
which. it is expected. will CONSUME mans
months Vi linr iiivolying. aS they mi:S!. the
practical organization ", al the Great re.i:ioas
bodies connected with the c:Iurc;i. Iiic ucrr
lll> lawgc. IN" foreign bishops 10 make ;hc:r
engagement, for s;ayin.: Is fIr into the silni-
..rrIS po<.!ir. sTIpie>; which ric!i;:nrcS u
lu!v;Hhr pru!lc!ch acs>iGn uf the counr.l. As
10 the crucial question al i.>' i'ii'hi ini.ni,y.
III. mlrcs.on mere nuW is thai i! viii il"
quietly slnulhcrc in committee. ;insl not iicaEi
OF ciillrr Il Epiphany or afterwards.
M.IRRTfIG 4 lord.