The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-23
A Grand Requiem Mass at the
National Capital.
A NEW SCENE IN THE REPUBLIC
Brilliant Gathering of Federal Officials
and Foreign Ministers.
THE DECORATIONS AND THE SERVICES
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. !

BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
WASHINGTON, JAN %, 1873
The solemn requiem ceebra cd here to day at
ST. Aloysus Church IN honor OF the dead King OF
Italy made one OF tie most imposing and Impressive
scenes ever witnessed in this city. The event will
he memorable In the annals OF the Catholic
Church. with Its centuries oil famous traditions, for
never before IN the history OF the country has
all OF our highest government officials been
gathered at one time before Its altar; never
before have the executive, legislative and judIcial
branches Of the suspended their iabors to
join In such religious solemnitios Whether at Rome
or in Washington the Catholic Church has greater
no grander act OF ceremonial worsh than offered
in the requiem for the repose Of tho soul Of
Victor Emmanuel. The ceremony had also deeper
meaning 10 those who know something OF the
history OF the reign of tho deceased king, for
during his lie Victor Emmanuel prosecuted and
oppressed with unreenting zeal the Society OF Jesus,
expeing the order from Romo and harassing tho
labors OF Its members throughout his kingdom. Yet
tho first gather at the altar aud unite offering
the sacrifice OF mass with particular memcnto for
the King, were four OF the more distinguished men,
bers OF that order.
DISTINGUISHED OFFICIALS PREsESr
Apart from tho religious character OF tho service,
not only our own government but, In the person OF
their Ambassadors, nearly all the off
joined with members OF the Italian Legation IN
paying this tribute OF respect to tho memory Of their
late sovereign. The President and all the members
OF his Cabinet with their families, the Vice President
and Speaker OF tho House, tho Chief Justice Of the
Supreme Court and Associate Justices, Senators ana
Representatives tho General OF the Army and Admiral
OF the Navy, with numerous subordinate officers In
full uniforms, and The entire diplomatic corps IN
dress formed but part Of the assemblage
in the spacious church this morning. Tho best OF
orS~o -
service and Thousands were disappointed in not being
able the interior OF the church, much less
to obtain standing room within It's portalA
PRESENTATION OF ORDER.
II was announced that the service would begin at
halfpast ten ana, anticipating crowd the Superin-
tenaent OF Police had detailed twenty OF tne stawart
mombers oil tho iorce to preserve order and prevent
con usion. When they reported for duty the IL ult
tude OF eager spectators had actually posses.
sion OF the steps and walks about the building and
It was with the greatest effort that they sue.
ceeded in gaming foothold the s,v.
eral entrances 10 the church. Carriage after
carriage drove up in rapid succession and de!iv.
ored it's occupants ut the stepping stone. The mem.
bers OF tie lann Benevolent Society also appeared
ull regaia TO AID the police, but were likewise pow
erless.
ENTRANCE AUDIENCES.
When tho church was opened corps Of ushers In
full Dress most OIL them employees IN the State Depart
men, were at hand to show thetnvtcd guests 10 The
pows set apart tor them. tho President aitd MIRA
sn,h ana Mss Fiat guests q Mrs. H.yo ws.. A ass
signed first tho right IN the aisle Next
came the Secretary OF State Assistant Secretaries
with their families. Iu the ihird pew the Secretary
OF the Treasury aud Postmaster General seated
and next the Attorney General and Secretary OF tho
Navy and then the Secretary OF the Interior II was
with great difficulty that these dgnitaries gained an
entrance. Indeed the crush was so great that tho
Secretary of War crowded out and was unable to
JOIN his CabIist colleagues Behind the Cabinet werc
the seats reserved Tor the Chlei Justice the Su
IAN iafnc and ira nAvaa
Court OF Claims and the District Court and for
the bureau officers of the government. On
Blanc the Italian Minister; Count Lit,a the Score.
tary the Legation and all the attaches ladies OF
Edward Thornton, tho Brush Minister: the Dean or
the diplomatic corps with the French Minister seated
MS e name s Inc Ger
BY MI: Borsss. the Brazilian 'Hinis,sr, 'y was
plre and his wife. Conspicuous ia this
assembage was tho Turkish Minister, with his bright
fez, aud the numerous members OF the CORPS all
in full court dress wearing the decorations OF
their orders rank In the OF the dpio
sat General sherman anu his staff officers all In full
UNIFORM and OF these heads OF the different
bureaus OF tho War Department, Generals Meigs Nc
Feely, humphreys, Townsend and Alvord. Following
the army the naval officers, also In full uniforms
In the OF seats 10 the right oil the President
Cabinet were Vice President Wheeler, Speaker
Randall nnd the members OF tho Senate and House
Committees Foreign Relations ant Foreign Affairs
In their rear were seated the Senators and Repro
sion to the church Tho remainder Of the pews wore
given up 10 ladies' gentlemen, VINO crowded
them In very short time anu packed the ases Yes.
thule and galleries anu invaded tue sacristy.
THE CArAPALQuE AND DECORATIONS.
The cataiaque has already bsen fully described in
these despatches platform twenty ieet square sup
ported IL, and around this monument Of black was
slrcwn IN generous proiuson roses and the crimson |
pe.als OF the cactus. Gala lilies, tuberoses smsx
ana carnations interviewer garlands anu hung
In iestoons from the royal cayket, which WAS sur
mounted. not only by the crown, but by the sword
aud sceptrc, embems OF kingy authority Ten massive
apdeabras hoding myriad OF wax tapers, enviropcd
the funeral pile aanked by floral crosses and
ilumIned by u Hood oil mellow light, Increased IN
beauty by the SUMS rays which came through the
great stained glass windows. deepening the scene OF
io.ds OF heavy black cloth. over N, tabern scle on
the altar crown OF flowers, set with red carna.
lions spelling tho name Jesus "
THE SERVICES
AT precisely eleven O'CLOCK tho acolytcs proceeding
the clergy entered the sanctuary, and the mourn.
full notes VI the "kyrie Ecisou" announced
that tho requiem had begun. The cecbraut WAS Rev.
Father Mchugn, deacon; Rev. Father jenkins, tue
President OF Gonza2a College ana Rev. Father Simeon,
OF St Josephs Church, SUP deaccnr The pastor OF ST.
Aloysius, Rev. Father CismpL acted W master Of
ceremonies. The choir rendered MoZart's grand
quiom mass In the most effective manner, ut It's
conclusion the usual abs0uton given by the Off.
ciaiiu2 priest.
When the services, which had bcen followed with
the deepest interest by the throng OF non catholic
Spectators were ended, the Italian Minister stepped
from his seat and bowing TO President Hayes. iudi-
Gated that the ceremony was Over As The copgrega-
ton were leaving the church the full Marine Band,
stationed on too outside, performed IA dirge No
sooner was the bulldog vacated by the audience
gam entered and bore away piece by piece
the floral decorations, until they had literally stripped
the cataiaiqus Of all It's floral favors
A fuvTHF NTlTt sA<.<,.