The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-27

ROME, Dec. 26.-The pope at noon to-
day in tho throne room Of the vatican
received the officers OF the United
States cruiser Detroit, which recently
arrived at Naples with the vatican
relics exhibited at the Worlds Fair. in
Chicago. Among the officers present at
the reception were Commander Newell,
Lisutanants Rogers and Marshall, the
chief engineer OF the Detroit surgeon
aud paymaster, Ensigns Evans and
Blakely, tho assistant engineer anu
Cadet Huggins. The American officers
were presented by Mgr. 0'Connell, who
expressed in their name and in the
name Of President Cleveland thanks for
the papal participation in the Chicago
exposition.
Ills holiness replied in terms OF great
affection, and praised the progress,
activity aud liberty Of the United
States. :,
The audience lasted half an hour and
at it's conclusion all the officers went to
Cardinal Ram poIIa, the papat secretary
of state, and presented their compli:-
ments to him. Later the otAcers dined
at the American College. The facade OF
that building and its dining hall were
decorated with the stars and stripes.
The speech which the pope made to
the American officers was delivered In
quite familiar, pleasant manner. bis
holiness dispensed with all ceremony
and invited the officers 10 arrange
themselves in the form OF hall circle
in front OF tho throne. Then, speaking
in Italian, which was translated by
Mgr. UConnell, the pope said:
~ regret my inability to express IN
English how pleased l am to receive
YOU who we're entrusted by the Ameri-
can government to bring back the
objects which l sent to Chicago. 1t ts
a source OF great pleasure to me to re-
call that these relics were received with
honor and were given place OF dis
tiuction. l am also highly gratl1ed 10
perceive the care which the American
government took TO assure their safe re-
turn.
~ feel lively satisfaction to sec the
progress which America makes daily
among civilized nations, which 1t out,
strips, although younger. But. while l
am happy to see your nation advance IN
numerous branches Of civilization, l
am more particularly pleased to note
her. religious progress. The Catholic
church fourishes. aud | desire to sec
her moro hourishing still.
"At the same time, though ! express
n special paiernal solicitude towards
American Catholics, yet it is with
peculiar pleasure that receive you be-
cause you are Americans.
~ hope to publish in few weeks an
encyclical to the episcopacy OF III"
United States and Montreal, conveying
the sentiments ot my especial affection
for your country. In the meantime, l
bless you all, and when you return to
your fatherland tell your families that
the pope besses them with the paternaI
affection, which will accompany you In
the midst Of the fstigues OF the long
voyage that you are about to under
take"
The last word OF the pope referred to
the Detroits approaching voyage to
China.
Ali the officers Of the Detroit, al
though there was only one Catholic
among them, received tho papal bene-
dlction kneeling.
The American officers visited the
Raphael galleries and the Sistine Chapel
before leaving the Vatican.
At the banquet, in addition to those
already mentioned, there were present
Lieut.. G. L. Vreeland. United States
naval attache here, as well as in Berlin;
Messrs. Haywood aad Brnlstad. Amer.
cans; Panal Chamberlains OF Cape and
Swords, Colonel Fassett, OF New York
Colonel Doogle and Mrs. Livingston OF
New York. -. :,
After the dinner Mgr o'ConneIl
made short speech.
Mr.. Macveagh replied, pointing out
the superior force ol religion as the ln-
spirer OF patriotism.
Tho United States ambassador then
toasted tho American navy, wnercupon
all the students OF the American col
lege who were present sang COLUMBIA,
the Gem oil the Ocean"
Vice Consul Wood then made a few
remarks. saying that to-day marked the
zenith Of the glory OF the American col
lego.
Throughout the dinner the greatest
enthusiasm and cordiality prevailed.
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