The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1870-02-23
The Ecumenicnl Council.

have lust been four hours in St. Peters assistin.
great solemmty. of 20 spectators, IshOulS
think. The High Mass on Advent Sunday has slhsyi
been celebrated in the Sstine Chapel but that room
could not hold fraction Of the Bishops now II
Rome. unless everybody else was excluded. Perhap,
rehearsal too, was convenient started to be IL
good time. The miles length of narrow streets be
tween the English quarter and the Bridge Of ST. An
CELLO was already thronged with pedestrians and car
rages, all going one way. From good way thi:
81 de of the bridge to st. Peters, the road kept
BY horse and foot and there clusters Of in
uniform who scrutinized every face. passed for a
priest, or an innocent, know not which, yet
why. The Piazza, the Vatican and the facade of St.
Peters looked bright in the morning SUM- but the in
terror almost rs dark those sombre churches
at Florence. forest Of candles Of Wengtonian
dimensions, the tomb of St. Peter. promised an
illumination The front portion of the south tran
sept arranged for ladies' all in fudress black that
looked If it had served their mothers and grandma
theirs hundred similar occasions. An official d.
rected me, and small squad of priests, to the north
side under a singing gallery. and next to large tr-
bune prepared for ladies Of distinction. About Q
O'Clock the Swiss Guard came in, and while some
fanked the altar under the dome, the rest made a
GORDON between the dome and the which none
allowd to pass. except priests, ladies and gentle
men, something like it, There were then priests
and more priests, monks and more monks, soldiers
and more soldiers, candles lighted and more candles.
was wedged close in mass Of all sorts, chiefly
monks. The Bishops began to arrive. first IN ones
and tWOS. ana NAG 10 fOrce tneI way INTO the cnOr
like common men. Some walked up stately enough,
but seemed rather abashed at the immense Of
green carpetng, and the long lengths of benches
either side and the awful throne at the further end
An official came forward not till he had surveyed
them leisurely. and directed them their places. By
and by the Swiss Guard were directed to keep way
for the privileged persons Tn. Bishops then flowed
in rapidly. Sometimes half dozen had made pro-
cession with leaders, and good many had evidently
studied effect and made programme But about
60 al Lii.
er seen except in pictures-most with boards, some
with very dark compilations indeed, the majority
with fine faces, noble bearing, and patriarchal
look. Some were younger than one would expect.
There we're bad figures and bad faces, too, among
them. Their dresses were generally back-that is,
violet, slaty, and ashy. Some of them command
ed the whole readily and calmly than
one or two of our countrymen seemed to do. They
had picturesque headgear, and did not dof it
at least till they had disappeared from my sight.
There might be more than 800 Bishops, besides
Cardinals. As for Patriarchs and Primates, don't
know them when see them. Perhaps don't always
know Bishop
Now. word as to Cardinals and high ecclesiastics.
especially of the italian Fasting and praying
may make saint, but doubt whether it makes
Churchmsn. A pillar of the Church should be
strengthened by human means. The bulk of these
men show stout frames. compact muscle and strong
fibre. They have decisive bearings and resolute
poets. By the time the benches-the back green the
front crimson-were filling. in came the Guarda Mo-
bile, with their swords drawn and made semi circle
round the altar. Mysterious sounds in from
without; sometimes chanting sometimes military mu-
sic. At last l030, the great doors Of the new
Council Hall thrown open and in came Plus TX.
with the usual procession Of lacqueys domestics,
household, court etc. The old man has aged sadly
in twelve years His face large and is larger
and paler But he walks steadily, and his eyes look
Twelve years ago l thought that by
continual blessing he had become benignant forever
but that mask is gone, and Plus TX looks whatever
he feels. No doubt he has many sore trial. 1
ought to say that he passed within two yards Of me.
All knelt who could. could not, for about me were
as full as q box of matches. As the Pope had
seated him self on the lofty throne opposite the alter
the service began The spectacle seemed to belong to
another world-certanly not to my sober century
Here in forest of haberts, drawn sabres, light
ed candles, helmets with plumes and helmets without.
under a cloud of incense that filed half the church,
and with every figure before direct from the Mid
die Ages and listening to professional singers ia the
presence of throne built all the thrones of the
Old World, and with all their pomp and pageantry.
1t was impossible not to compare the spectacle with
the simple worship of our own country and still more
with the event commemorated in this fashion.
monk preached in his black gown and white
sleeves. His shr tones were met with stony echoes |
from the vast building. and his subject was the per-
severance of saints. think the good ladies near /
me took the opportunity to do some devotion their
eweled rosaries. They not listening. The SER
mon. of course. addressed to the Pope, who is |
he most preached to well the most preached at
nan in the world.
The service over lighted candles, four feet long.
we're placed before all the Bishops. as many as
,Ould see, and, with the Pope and Cardinals they all
made procession down the of the church, after
which the Pope and his attendants left by the Council
Hail. The candles appeared to become the perquistes
If the Bishops, and doubt will be carried to their
,wn cathedras far away. l made my way to the end
If the nave and thought the multitude would never
lease flowing down toward me- 1t would be impossi-
Die to describe the varieties of character and costume
rom ecclesisstics of all nations monks of all orders
olders tourists and ladies in full Dress down TO the
IRRITABLE descendants of the old satyrs in sheepskin
ackets and goatskin breeches Emerging into light
saw the vast Piazza all a swarm of life Then came
carriage after carriage scarlet without, scarlet within
md streets full of monks and priestsno doubt many
'ur own cOuntrymen. The ceremony will, Of course,
surpassed before the Council has met long, but
annot yet have had equal in the number and char
cter of the assistants Assistants only they we're,
or cannot help noticing, for the benefit of Protes
ant readers that so far as l. uninitiated person
ould make out. it not with but for, the Catholic
,hurch that the Pope communicated. The three hun
red Bishops had actual share in the service
han had.--Cor. London Times.