The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-21
IMPOSING CEREMONIES IN COMMEM-
GRAFTON OF AN Illus
TRI0Us DEATH.
A SOLEMN MASS AT THE ST. Louis
gATWEDRAL-A GRAND PAGEANT
AND ELOQUENT ADDRESSES.
A Memorial Poem.

FIJI. tho ro,nnemrrntion Of the death of the
most jll,,st,ions head of the Holy Catholic
Church. one who surpassed In his 1houlll-
bency the prophecy "a'uos pet'.ie non 'deb'a.
and who. ,eignng longer than the period Of a
quarter of century. In which the great
APOSTLE guided the Christian Church. In the
time Of his direction. through heavy RESPONSE
bilities and temporal vcissitudes rose supe-
rior TO the difficulties and trials which heEet
him and fulfilled his duties as II these had
been imposed as an eternal obligation
Yesterday was day which will be held as.
an epoch by millions In future ages as the
date Of the election Of new Pope and time
when the lnutitudes all over the world gath
cred together to render proper tribute to the
memory of the illustrious dead, Plus TX.
Among other nations ours did honor to his
name. And among the cities Of the world
who sought yesterday to honor his memory
with that respect due 10 the noble life which
has departed, ours was one, and not the least
among them
The day set apart for the funeral obseuuies
of the dead Pope was most appropriately OBJ
served Ia our city. AT the early dawn the I'M
posing ceremonies of our churches were
opened, and the firing of minute guns startled
the stiffness OF our streets
"
turning from the churches. flags and banners
at balf7nast were displayed from the 6hippings
in our port, from public buildings, church
steeples and towers and private residences.
Shortly before a. m. n vast multitude OF
people poured toward the doors of the ST
Louis Cathedral and blocked the fwhole
breadth Of Chaltres street. besides completely
nj M the two avenues on both sides OF the
Church
impatient inurmlirs began to circulate
through the assembly for the opening of the
doors, and it took good squad OF police to
keep the surging crowd in order.
little after the central doors were unfaE-
tened, and pell nell. men. women and children
rushed in TO secure seats. The jam was ter
rifle. many persons being nearly rYSushed to
death against the iron ratings In frSht Of the
church.
,rHE EXTERIOR DECORATIONS.
Over the central door was placed an esout-
choon and cpat-of=arms s,lrmuuntad by q
large floating band Of heavy velvet mourning
inscribed In white PIE tX.''
On entering the grand commemorative mon
umcnt in the middle aisle first attracts the
gaze, A platform three feet high and thirty
feet square supports this sarcophagus. whose
1ais Of black velvet. ftinged with gold. is sur
mounted by n golden cross and over all the
beautiful categorical representation Of the Holy
Ghoat, dove. buvers III the air, as 1t to pro-
tect the remains Of one SO holy. plous and be-
nign
-Four steps led from the platform to mag
nicent ......... .... -
o CATAFALQuE.
upon which cotnSi Of white satin rests On a
beautiful pail Of vrlvet-hued satin From the
catafelaue which viii be placed on the funeral
car when the procession starts there hangs
eight tasses Of gold which eight Of our prin-
cipal clergymen will hold during the pageant
Around the coffin huge tapers of wax were
eet IN richly carved ehandeliersoof gold. silver
any ak e' angels with wings outspread guard the
Tatnfnlulln
The whole monument from dais 70 plat
form, was profuscly decorated with BANNERS
flags, eseutcheonH, coats of-arms and mourning
tokens.
The oah,lrch itself the walls, galleries,
had been buay III setting Off funeral tokens
with handsome trophies OF banners aud de-
vices
Atp15 o'clock. amidst profound attention.
our Right Reverend Archbishop Perche,
assisted by u numerous corps OF priests, be-
gan the requiem mass.
Then. suddenly, piercing tho solemn still
ness which reigncd in the crowded aisles-
Prof Meyers funeral dirge was commenced.
The rendition of this composition by Prof
Beyers German band wasohighly artistic.
and the blast OF trumpets shrieking at inter
walls like walls of despair. sent a thrill of in
voluntary awe through the soul. 1t was in
deed well composed and dclicately rendered
chef dnurre of sacred music, Whilst the
band was playing. the sound Of mutliSd drums
was heard outside and soon after the guard
of honor tdetachments fo'm Capt. Bouny's
and Capt. Guibet's compapies slowly ticd
into the middle aisle. with measured tread
and reversed guns. and stationed themselves
near the salrnphagua.
The space on both sides OF the altar was oc
cupied by the president aud officers OF tho
commemoration and BY the different commit
toes. On the upper gallery, to the left Of the
altar were seats reserved Tor the clergy and
for the Sisters of Charity.
THE MASS WAS StrNa
by the members Of st. Cccilia's Society.
During the offertory the German band exc
e,uted a symphonyocf great sweetness and
power.
tralto, Miss M,atin. sopraHSo. and Messrs.
Meteye, tenor and Bremen, hasso gavea worry
artistic and mastery rendition OF Verdi's
Domino Jesu.
The Kyrie Sanctus and Agnus Del of Verdi
were sung with great feeling by the excellent
, choir OF ladies and gentlemen.
Among the artists present we remarked
Miss Dolhondc, ,contralto: Mesdomolscles
,courneaux and Fremcaux.o altos; Mcss,s.
Grunewald, Rossi, krepps, bassos; and Meteye,
Mallard. Corte and Phillips also lent their val
liable assistance for the occasion.
The mass closed with the Grand Coronation
March from lie Prophetic" executed by the
German Band.
ended. the catafalquc aud coffin were taken
ttOW0 To Dc placed Oh TIE lulNEal car LOT Ite
procession, which moved up Charities street
at 80 p. m.
The procession returned at half-past s to
attend the speeches. 'ounfortunately as wind
and drizzling rain set in the splendidly deco
rated platform was sadly disarranged. 6'hc
draperies were soiled by the dust, then wetted
by raih. and finally most OF the eounting over
the platform was carried away by gusts OF
wind.
The gale increased and trophies, flags,
banners. etc. one by one, We're carried away,
Nothing daunted, however, by the ominous
look of the skies, the committee of reception
stood on the platform, and at 4 o'clock the
chairman of the committee, j. B, Lafitte, Esq,
conducted the Right Reverend Archbishop to
a seat Of honor in the middle of the platform,
the vice presidents a1a the members Of the
clergy were seated, and Mr.. j. b. Latitte,
stepping forward, addressed the audience as
follows: ........
F3iends-I adopt this term In addressing you
for the Peas on thaowe have assembled, without
distinction Of nationality or OF creed, to do