The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-18
$40 set teeth, $40. DR.. Wix.
COMING conslsroRr AT ROME.
Great Interest Because of the Waning
Life of the Pontif.

Great Interest Because of the Waning
Life of the Pontiff.
The announcement of the forthcoming
consistory at Rome has aroused no lit
tie interest. especially on account of
the many reports which have been cir
culated as to the health of the pope.
This great assembly will have deep sig
nificance in other directions. Not only
will it prove the falsity or truth of the
rumors as to the health of the Roman
pontiff, but it will also make some not
able changes in the church ITSELF and
especially in the college of cardinals.
The word "consistory" simply means
an assemblage of men called together
for the consideration of public affairs,
but it has assumed a special sense i'll
the Catholic church, the sacred consist
Dry being the solemn assembly of the
pope and the college of cardinals, gath
cred together in the apostolic palace as
a senate, In former times the consistory
was the court of judgment for all mat
tiers ecclesiastical and met almost daily.
But now only the most important
business comes before the consistory,
minor matters being decided by various
committees and congregations of cardi-
mails. The modern consistory may be
either ordinary and secret or solemn
and public. The extraordinary con-
sistory is conducted with great pomp
and ceremony. Princes and kings or
their ambassadors are received, the red
hat is given to the latest created cardf-
nails and legates returned from foreign
missions make their reports.
These public consistGries are called
at the will of the pope and seldom take
place more than once or twice year.
Occasionally a semi-public cGns:story
is held whenever new saint is 10 be
canonized. The real working cCnsistor-
les, the ordinary or secret are usually
held twice a month. The cardinals in
Rome are notified of the day and hour
of meeting and go in regal state 10 the
papal palace dressed in all Of the robes
of their office, the cappa magma, rochet
and biretta.
There they sit on WOODEN benches
waiting for the pope. he soon comes,
wearing cassock, rochet, m3zatta and
the pontifical biretta His seat Is sight
ly elevated and covered with a 1alda-
chino. He listens privately to all the
matters connected with the state If the
church, whether presented by nrelates,
princes or cardinals. If any one wishes
place or preferment for his friends NV
is the time to speak. Great reverence
is shown to the pope, even by The cardi-
mails, for though they sit with the red
birettas on their heads, Whenever they
approach the pope to speak to nm they
remove the red cap.
After audience has been given TO all
who wish to address him, the doors of
the place of meeting are closed, rome
but the cardinals being allowed TO re-
main inside. The pope lays matters OF
Importance before them, asking their
advice or votes on each subject. De
crees are framed and recorded by the
cardinal vice chancellor, as secretary
The matters treated in these sec'et
consistories are as follows: Promotions
to the eardinalate, promotions to the
most important churches, such as the
metropolitan, the cathedral. ETC., the
transfer of bishops from one see to an,
other, the creation or rearrauging Ct
dioceses, the granting of the palnun
and other important ecclesiastical mat
tiers.
It is in these HISTORIES that the
condition of the church all over the
world is discussed, and here the POPE
points out errors of teaching or methods
which require correction, delivering
"allocutions" which are lat ter published
for the guidance of the bishops through
cut the world The cardinals play ar
imp ortant advisory part il all of thest
deliberations, pres IN ing The reports d
the special committees which are IN.
trusted with the investig alton of tht
character of candidates for the bishop
RIGS and all such matters. But II i!
necessary to add that they are only ad
visers, and the pope may do or say
whatever he wishes notwithstanding
their opposition. AS a matter of fact
he seldom uses this prerogative as SUI
preme and infallible head of the church
The creation of cardinals may be
| cited as a case in point. This power Is
| the greatest welded by the pope, for hs
| could, If he SO desired, entirely alter