The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-01-11

It's Use ut the ST Damnsus Celeb ,tion in
Knmr Calls out IL Prohibition.

ROME, Dec. 12--Ou the 18th day OF Deem
Der. 35l. the Roman Church was in great
mourning. for Damascus. the great friend of
Hieronymus. was dead. Yesterday. fifteen
centuries aitorward the whole city Of home
celebrated the memory OF the great Pope in his
own Basilica OF 81. Lorenzo in Damaso. and
the Roman people hocked to the church as in
times OF yore they aocked to the Coliseum or
the Circus Maximus. Tho Basilica OF st.
Lorenzo In Damaso is well known to tho tour
LIST as that church which is embodied In the
right wing OF the great palace OF the Roman
Chancery. Tho palace is the seat OF almost all
the Roman congregations. the residence Of the
grand Penitenciary. Cardinal Monaco, and OF
the Vice Chancellor. Cardinal Merte. In the
times tim OF Plus * u was the seat seat OF the Roman
at the iirst steps Of lis main stairway.
This celebration OF ST. Damascus has been
quite an event for Rome. The three ,aisIes OF
tapers burned i, the temple, and from tho 81:
tiara and the keys. which pontihcal .emblsms
were towering Sdb IT,. over the great badaehn
crowd OF little gildod wooden angels sup
ported at regular Intervals Ell along the
inches OF the side aises hung alternately chan
deiiers and baskets OF flowers; The decora-
ton WAS 81 tasteful and so rich that many crti.
eested that the presence OF the electric light in
tho cnurch. together with SO many flowers and
lively scenes Of 'ExeeIsior." which is Just now
beng performed NJ the Costanzi Theatre,
These criticisms were so persistent and uni
yersal that the authorities wore Obliged to pro-
hibit the electric light. which was used aftor
the first evening only as meansnf Hum ina
ton in the courtyard OF the Car c"lleria. where
the carriages Of the Cardinals and OF the
Roman princes We're stationed during the
Tie principal feature of these solemn days
was an uninterrupted crowd OF visitors tillin.:
nS nG orr Gna
preached in Italian in the basilca. and. to the
great ar, aston!e ihIn Of all Tome, doy"ied
tho, present .abn@rmaI state .oi rome.
rous eapa at o, as chi hy VI World te is so
great that Rome needs not to coyet the spuri-
Of Italy He 0 SAID That sven % tn ,s' NesSI"n
horetios. among whose dcscendants he was
mninistering at Mes9potamia. had recogplzed
this Ot,enta! gray prelate preaching to crowd
Of sodSSr n p ri = and peo,s in the very
ago. harmonZed with the superb frescO OF the
basi!ca. where Damascus is represented reoeiv-
The music was remarkable both at mass and
at vespers One OF the greatest attractions was
tho Tr Sc w eH to arss
Of the Vatican for the Easter PontifloaI mass
The execution was admirable. There were two
chOtrs. one Of which. almost entirely composed
OF children, WAS situated near the cupola OF tho
basiica. Nothing could equal the effect OF the
trnmpets and OF those children's voices alter
mating With the tsnors and bassos Of the low
In the New York Cathedral for high mass.
The fact that the whole embassy OF Spain
was present officially at the celebration OF tho
18th: enhanesd its .olemnity. The police made
perfect order. and no disturbance whatever
occurred Inc expenses reached almost 1000
tributed literally. Leo XIII. offered 5000
francs, and the Chapter Of Canons went Ia for
the largest figure.
These solemnities however. have created a
bad feeling on account of the electric light cpl
sode. When the solemnity was over on the
l2th, a notice was given TO al Tho clerical
papers Of Rome warning ali the rectors OF
churches. both in Rome and abroad against
the uss OF baskets OF flowers hanging from the
ceilin and against inagn.r'um. calcium.
ard electric lights. This notice burst like n
bomhshell and onsnded every ono, hnt chiefly
the chapter OF st. Damascus. They 4 d not like
Il tina; an ani,aadyersion OF . spiritual kind
Church In general through the papers. Many
give the credit 81 this blunder not to the Con-
greRation Of Rites, but to Q minor11flcer. who
u badly handled Just now In Home.