The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-15
THE HOLY FATHERS DECREE.
THE OFFICIAL LATIN COPY RE-
CEIvED BY VICAR GEN. KELLEY.

The Holy Father Fixes Midnight of
december 81 of the Coming Year
as the Beginning of the New Cen
tury-A Contrary Interpretation
Has Been Placed Upon the Decree
by Many, HOVvever-Father Kelley
stands by the Former View-Ob-
Eervance of the Decree Made OPP
tionaI With the Pastors of the
Diocese.
Rev. B. ]. Kelley, vicar general and ad-
ministrator of the diocese of Georgia, re-
ceived yesterday from Monsignor Marti-
nelli, apostolic delegate at Washington the
Pope's decree, granting to Catholics
throughout the world the unusual privi-
lege of joining in the celebration of the
mass, witnessing the eucharist and par
taking of the holy communion at midnight
on the night of Dec. 81 next and at also
at the same hour on Dec. 81 of the year
following.
The unusual nature of this privilege is
probably not appreciated by those outside
the communion of the Catholic Church,
but it has been stated that this is the
only occasion in the history of the church
-y5en the celebration of the mass at mid
night of Dec 81 has been permitted by any
one else than the holy father himself.
The decree was accompanied by the
following letter from Monsignor MartinelH:
washington, D. c., Dec. u, 1892.
Very Rev. Sir.-I have just received from
Rome a document, the text of which is
herewith given.
Of It's great interest mn
ance l hasten TO communicate it TO you
with the request that you provide at once
for its speedy and thorough publ'cati
in ala parts of your diocese.
With sentiments of highest esteem and
fraternal charity, remain most faithfully
yours in Christ Sebastian,
Archbishop of Ephesus,
Delegate Apostolic.
The decree in full is as follows:
The coming celebration, so happily or
dered by our Holy Father Leo XIII, of the
holy year reminds us of how fitting it is
to approach the Great Lord of the ages
and casting ourselves before His altar of
fer Him that most acceptable sacrifice,
the Immaculate lamb, and presenting our
selves at the divine banquet secure for
ourselves in so opportune a moment His
grace mercy and help: For now our sal
walton is nearer, behold now is the ac-
ceptable time; behold now is the day of
salvation" For if the kingdom of heav-
en-, namely the church of the present age,
IS said to be like to the ten virgins who
would meet the bridegroom coming ait
night, assuredly on this solemn celebra-
ton it behooves us to keep clearly before
our minds these sacred words: Trim your
lamps; behold the bridegroom eometh, go
forth to meet him. When, moreover, on
the last day of the month of December
of the coming year, at midnight a new
century begins; 1t seems meet and worthy
that by some public and solemn act, the
Almighty should be thanked for the favors
received during this century and greater
graces should be implored in view of the
necessities of our times, that the new
century should be favorably begun
Therefore, that the coming year 1900
may, by the mercy of God and His only
begotten son, our Saviour, be commenced
auspciously and happily ended, and that
1t may, as we may piously believe, usher
In a happier century; our Holy Father
Pope Leo XIII has graciously granted that
on the 31st of December of this and the
coming year, at midnight in all churches
and chapels where the blessed sacrament
is kept, according to the present view of
the various bishops, there may be exposi-
ton Of the blessed sacrament and mass,
either said or sung. during such exposi-
ton, which mass will be Of the feast of
the circumcision of our Lord; and more
over that the faithful may at such mass
receive molly COnmuDlOHt Otuet SAluSS
which are necessary being observed.
Camillus, Cardinal Mazella.
Nov. 10. 1899.
It will be observed that the statement is
made in the decree that ION the last day
of the coming year at midnight new cen
fury begins" AS the coming year is A. ID.
1900, and as the last day of that year is
Dec 81, this statement would natu-
rally be taken to mean that at midnight,
of Dec. 81, 1900, a new century will begin.
1t is difficult to see how any other inter-
probation can be given it, Nevertheless,
number of newspapers throughout the
country have interpreted the decree as
meaning that the new century will begin
al midnight Dec. 81, next. AS the holy
father is universally looked up to as the
worlds arbiter on questions of time any
declaration of this kind on his part is nat
urally regarded with due seriousness.
Although 1t has been generally agreed
that the twentieth century will not begin
until the expiration of the year 1900, there
are still those who hold to the idea that
the old century ends with 1899, and begins
with 1900, and the recent decree of
the Pope has been construed by
many people to mean an endorsement Of
this idea. This is probably due 10 the only
partiaf publication Of the decree recently
sent out by the Associated Press.
Vicar General Kelly, when asked about
this matter said: 'It is very plain that
the holy father fixes midnight of Dec.
81 Of the coming, not The present veal, as
the beginning of the century. 1t is impos-
sble to place any other Interpretation on
the statement contained in the decree"
The decree as received by Vicar General
Kelley was in Lain and the foresong
Translation was made by him yesterday,
copies being forwarded to all the pastors
Of the diocese. In communicating the de-
gree to the pastors of The diocese the vicar
general leaves it optional with them
whether they shall take advantage Of the
decree to make use of any or all or only a
part of the privileges accorded by it. Fa
ther Kelley said yesterday that the mid
hgnt mass with the attendant ceremonies
would be observed at the convent chapel,
out It's observance in the churches Of the
CITY was left optional with the pastors.
BLUES AND WHITES THIS TIME.