The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-02-21

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the readers Of the Reporter feel anxious
TO learn how this is brought about, and
for their enlightenment we give below
an article from the pen Of Prof Geo, T..
Fisher, d. d:
TIIE CoNCLANE.
The institution known as the CouClaNo
originatedin a stormy period OF the Mid
die Ages, when il was thought CNpcdl-
ont, in repeated instances, Go catch the
cardinals and shut them Up, IN order
that they might ho compelled to hIl a
vacancy in the rapal office, Clement ~.
died IN 1869, at Niterbo. The strife DO
tween the French and the Italian iAI>
tons among the cardinals prevented ne
choice Of a successor Tor tive years and
nine months. the largest tntcrrcguum
that has existed IN the whole history
Of the rapacy. During this interval, the
citizens Of Nlterbo, under the town cap,
tain, Ranieri Gatti, not only imprisoned
the cardinals IN n palace, hut reSoritd
10 the bold oNpcdient Of unroohng the
edi6cc and leaving their EminenccS TO
the mercy Of the elements, besides dl'
minlshlng their supplies Of food. lt was
not, however, until year amer thiS IT.
reverent proceeding thatan election was
made. Gregory ", who was chosen,
was moved, in consequence Of these dis>
orders, at the General Council at Lyons,
held in ls-4, 10 establish fixed regula.
tions for the proceedings IN the ease OF
the death ofa Pope; and he may be con-
sidered the founder Of the Conclaye
His rules have been in various pSrucu-
lars modified by his SUCCESSORS. They
are subject 10 modification nj the Will of
the ropes. At the same time, they still
form the basis Of the ecclesiastical law
on the subject.
When the Pope dies, the cardinals
wait for ten DAYS only for the absent
members Of their body 70 appear. No
notifications are sent out % ahSen;ees,
They must come, If they come 10
all, Of their own motion. AZ the end OF
this time, the cardinals are 20 enter into
Conclave in the palace where the Pope
died. Each cardinal may now have two
attendants, who are lodged IN two OF the
three small sleeping apartments which,
together with another little rOom, con-
s,itute his cell" The old restrictions
as 70 the supply Of food are very much
mitigAied and communication with per
sons from outside is not absolutely pro.
hibited, except during the time ofacIual
voting, though such communication is
not allowed 70 be private. No other
business is permitted in the Conclaye ex-
cent what pertains 10 the election Of y
Pope, unless measures have 10 be taken
10 defend his territory. or course, this
last proylSO is now rendered obsolete. A
vote Of two-thirds is requisite for an elec-
lion. Cardinals under ecclesiastical cen
sure. or even under accommodation,
cannot be excluded from taking part in
the assembly. All harsaius and prior
agreements are solemnly prohibited; and
the electors are bound by stringent oaths
10 the Observance Of all the regulations
which the Church has prescribed loTthe
performance Of their function,
On the death ola Pope, the Cardinal
Camerlingo lChamberlainl is informed
OF il at once. He proceeds 70 the room
where the dead Pope lies, and strikes
his forehead thrice with little hammer
addressing him, at the same time. by his
original name Receiving no reply, he
takes from his finger the ring Of the
fisherman" and breaks il. On the tenth
day, the Cardinals enter into ConUlaye
in the chambers which have been set
apart for this purpose in the Vatican
| il the Pope dies in Rome-and which,
in the interval, have been walled in, the
doors, and the windows with the excep-
tion Of narrow space at the top for the
admission Of light, being closed up with
brick and mortar. Within the Conclaye
everything takes place by rule, under Of
fetal supervision. The Pope may be
chosen in either of three ways First,
he may be elected by acclamation-also
called Inspiration" or Alteration -
when all the cardinals, gathered at the
appointed time and place, with one voice
/ designate some individual for this office.
Such a mode of election is OF very rare
| occurrence. Secondly, he may be chosen
/ by direct vote. In this case, As was said
above, candidate must have the suf-
/ frages oftwo-thirds Of those who partici-
/ pate in the election. Each cardinal
! must swear that his ballot is cast for the
one whom he deems most tit for the Of
/ fee. The greatest precautions are taken
10 prevent fraud. The ballot is secret;
the number and motto OF each cardinal
however, being recorded on the ballot,
which is folded and sealed so that this
part of il is not seen, unless il becomes
necessary 10 ascertain by whom the vote
was cast. In case no candidate receives
two-thirds Of the ballots cast, any one
who has received a single vote may
nevertheless, be chosen, II sufficient
number who have voted for other per-
sons "accede," to constitute the two
thirds. This is choice by accession, y
and is not unfreQueaL Thirdly, Pope
may be chosen by compromise When
il is found that the requisite number OF
votes cannot be obtained by any one
lin other words, when there isa dead
lock" in the Conclaye-the business ol
selection may be delegated 10 a commit
tee Of the cardinals, by whose decision
the rest are bound to abide. In this way
the impossibility ofan agreement among
the electors, and the calamities ofa long
interregnum have, in noted instances
been avoided.
/. Formerly, each Of the great Catholic
Powers have had the privilege Of expr.
cising the veto" upon lany obnoxious
candidate for the Papacy. But this could
be used but once during the process OF
. filing a vacancy by the ConclaYe, and il
used at all, was necessarily exerted be-
fore the decisive vote had been taken
In the present relation of the Papacy "a
the Catholic Powers, il is understood
that the exercise Of the veto, which is
not considered by the Papal Canonists
as right, will not be conceded.
When the choice has been made, a
window is opened, and the announce
ment of the result Of the election is
made 10 the throng Of people without
The coronation Of the Pope, who usual
ly receives the tiara from the oldest car
dinal deacon, takes place on the next
Sunday or next festal day after his cleo
ton. Ifa deacon, he must first be ele-
waited TO the priesthood and the episco-
pate. During the procession in ST. PEI
ter's, as part Of the coronation ceremo-
nies, little tow is burned, TO remind
the Pontif elect Of the transformers OF
worldly glory. The enforcement fol-
lows the coronation. The Pope assumes
another name on his induction into Of
fee.
| EETCT ATTTE