Morris tribune., 1882-09-21
ReRELIGIOUS REFLECTION.

Leo ALL. An Interview with his holiness.
| After waiting more than two hours, the
doors at the farther end of the gallery were
opened, and brilliant group appeared in the
opening. The distance was so great that we
could not distinctly see its several parts. only
a general effect of bright colors. in which
splendid uniforms predominated. This group
at first appeared to be stationary; then, after
o time, We became conscious it was moving,
but so slowly and with such frequent pauses
as to be almost imperceptible By degrees it
came nearer, and we saw two chamberlains
walking backward; then came some of the
Guardia Mobile, the pope's body guard, each
| member of which is a nobleman and wears
| tall crested helmet like an old Roman. Then
came number of stately dignitaries in violet
| robes, cardinals and monsiguors, and at last we
| caught glimpse in the center Of q small figure
entirely in white-his holiness himself
then more violet robes, and lastly more
guards, closing the procession. 1t was i'm
| possible to see that slowly advancing figure,
| with it's imposing surroundings, without being
most powerfully impressed. He is the repre-
sentative of power-a spiritual hierarchy
| which. as Macaulay says, s'can certainly boast
of q far longer succession than any dignitary in
| the world; linking together the two great ages
of civilization. Our modern feudal kings are
mere upstairs compared with the successors
| in regular order OF Sylvester and Leo and
the Great"
A monsignor who walked by the side of the
| pope asked the name, nationality and religion
of each person, for the information of his holt
| ness, who then said few words. He speaks
| only Italian and French. He had short con-
versation in the latter language with the priests
next to us, which of course we could distinctly
hear They spoke of their intended mission,
and he replied that the merit of such actions
lay in the intention less than in their SUCCESS
full performance. ssTg 20
The pope is small and fra1 in figure, with
the whltest and most bleached- looking COM
plexion it is possible to conceive. One could
scarcely imagine him able to go through the
prolonged fatigue entailed by even such
ceremony as that in which we saw him. His
manner is most gracious and pleasing, and
his expression of countenance benevolent
He was dressed in white cloth robe with a
small cape. white scull-cap, and white shoes
embroidered with cross; a white silk sash,
with gold-fringed ends, round his waist. A
large cross of magnificent emeralds was the
only spot of color in his attire The pontiical
ring, which it is the etiquette to kiss, was es-
peclally splendid. and appeared to have the
head of St Peter engraved upon it. A digni-
tary carried his scarlet cloak, and another the
large hat of the same color, tied up and edged
with gold cord. He remained a few minutes
in colloquy with our party. which happened to
be the last in the assembly, then turning
lectively with outstretched arms in: the name
of the Trinity = -
Sunday-School Assemblies.
The prevalence and popularity of all kinds
of Sunday-school assemblies prompts the Con-
gregationalist to account for them as follows:
''Such movements are not to be ignored, but
are to be studied and directed in the right way
However, the institution originated, it exists
and the people are in it, and it will not do for
those who wish to keep near the popular heart
to staH} aloof. When DIR. Goodell was asked
at birmingham lastweek why he attended such
places, he made the sagacious reply, because
the people are there Thousands of youth all
over the land, whose hunger for study has not
been gratifed, as well as many in advanced
life whose early opportunities were small, are
by this plan given q new chance for culture
The other dav at birmingham, We saw women
with faces permanently faded, taking. notes in
clear schoolgirl hand with an eagerness which
showed that the dream of youth had come
back. The spectacle of 1,4OO graduates at
Chautauqua is profoundly suggestive. 1t is
also popular religious movement While the
number of students in our theological semin-
aries has fallen off fifty in the last four years,
the people have taken to the study Of theology
with enthusiasm. Whether we like it or not,
the fact is patent that the popular theological
instruction of the time is very largely being
given in Saturday afternoon Bible classes and
Sunday school assemblies 1t is easy to say
that such teaching is superficial, but we can
bear cheerful testimony that it is very pract-
cal; indeed, there were some lectures at Franz
ingham that rather made one feel superficial
himself"