The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-02-21
How Popes are Elected.

The following description of the
manner in which Popes are elected Is
from T. A. Trollope's book, The Papal
Conclaves. as They We're and as They
Are
They have been various modes OF
election adopted by the conclaves which
fill the papal chair; but then the next
election by scrutiny and accessit will
certainly be the method adopted. This
is the modus operandi: The afternoon
Of the first day, after professional
entry Of the Cardinals into the con-
clave. is occupied with visits and adieus.
The Extra Omnes' having been pro-
nounced. their Eminences take possess
ion of the cells which chance has assign
cd 10 them, and retire for the night.
They are called early. at nine, on the
ringing Of bell for the third time, the
junior master of the ceremonies cries;
In capeLIam, domiat' To chapel, my
lords Then the Cardinals, in their
robes. .:go to chapel. After service and
breakfast taken In their seperate cells J
they go. accompanied by the concla-
visits. to the Sistine Chapel. to proceed
to the first scrutiny. One Of the concla-
visits at the door of the chapel hands to
his Cardinal q closed desk containing
the ruled and prepared registyrs for the
days voting. schedules specially print
ed and.prepared for giving the votes.
the Cardinals seal and materials for
sealing, and writing requisites The
l. axa - e
the chapel are closed. Each Cardinal
is enthroned under canopy. so arrsng-
ed that they can all be let down but
one when the new Pope is chosen In
the middle Of the floor are six little Ia
bles furnished with everything nscessa-
ry to the business in hand On a table
in front of the altar Is tablet Of wal
nut wood with seventy holes in it, an
swering to the number of Cardinals
when the college is full, together with
a purple box containing as many balls
OF wood as there are Cardinals. with
the name OF n Cardinal on each of
them. From this box every morning
are drawn the three Scrutators and
three Cardinals to attend any invalids
who may be confined to their cells
The balls with the nance of the Cardi
nails are placed in the respective holes
in the tablet just mentioned. and are
allowed TO remain during the entire
time OF each scrutiny. Finally, there
is also on this large table the form of
oath to be used in putting the voting
papers into the urn, and two urns with
their dishes beneath them, which dur
ing the time of the scrutiny are placed
in the altar; also "a box with a slit in
the lid. and lock and key. which the
Cardinals appointed to receive the
votes Of their invalid colleagues carry
around, locked, to the cells of the latter,
and into tho slit the sick Cardinals put
their folded papers containing their
Votes with their own hands. Behind
the altar there Is a little iron fire.
place with a tube chimney commu-
nicating with the outer air. At the
close of each scrutiny in which
no election has been accomplished
lowing TO the requisite number of votes
not having been given to .oue single
Cardinsl). all the voting papers are
placed. together with portion Of
straw. in this grating, which is then in
serted in the iron stove, and the whole
set on fire by n match lighted from
tinder box, so that the burning creates
dense smoke, by which all Rome,
eagerly ON the watch. is informed that
no election has taken place at that
days two scrutinieS. This is the cele-
brated 'Sfumata.' of which 80 much
has been heard, and on which so many
bets have been decided It serves also
as a signal TO the artillerymen who are
on the watch at Castle st. Angelo,
ready TO fire the guns as soon as the
election shall have been made, and
further, to the workmen, also on the
watch. to pull down the walling up of
the great balcony from which the new
Pope will. Immediately on el ection.
give his first Orji Ct Hrbi
ON the instant that an election shall
have been consummated Every posi-
bio care is taken TO prevent the Csrdi-
nails from communicating with each
other. and even the dinners are "ad-
ministered" separately by "dapifer"
"a bringer Of the feast). by whom each
Cardinal is attended. The dinners are
severally examined by an official be-
fore they are taken to the cells. 10 see
that no scrap OF writing or message of
any kind is conveyed in the viands.
Any letters which may come from the
outer world are first read by Board
of Preiates before the Cardinals can
have them. and the most scrupulous
care is taken in every way TO prevent
all communication with the outer
world, all the officers. conclavists and
others acting and fulfilling their duties
under solemn vows and oaths.