The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-25
new CENTURY ADVENT
The Church World Will Celebrate
1t With Praise.
Preparations for It's Welcome mt a
Popular Resort-Messnges Expect
ed From All the Potcntates of the
WOrld-MidniRht Masses to he Held

be greeted with pomp and pageant through
out Christendom. In this country alone
1,500 churches will celebrate midnight
services, and, besides, watch night meet
ings of novel character will be held at
most notable of these will be at Madison
Square Garden, New York, the great hall
being capable of accommodating 10000
people. Sousa's Band and the Strauss Or
chestra will alternate in playing national
airs. The musicians will play an overture.
A choir of 500 voices will sing My Coun-
wishes of Queen Victoria will be read.
probably by the famed orator, Bourke
Cochran. The Strauss Orchestra will play
and the choir and audience will sing
die Yacht am Rhein." The New Year
greetings of Emperor William of Germany
will follow. After the strains of the
'.Marseillaise' President Loubet's TWEEN
tieth century sentiments will be heard.
Then the messages of nearly every poten-
tate in the world will be read, forty
three in all.
The securing of these communications
from the sovereigns and chief executives
is due TO Frank d. Higbee, who has been
touring Europe with that object in view.
mission and says that the royal messages
will be read from nearly every pulpit in
the country, as well as at the midnight
meetings. These meetings will last from
sunset to sunrise, or, as Mr.. Higbee puts
1t, from turkey and cranberry sauce to
buckwheat cakes"
The purpose of this monster system of
watch meetings is not alone to learn
whether kings and queens. emperors and
presidents, grand dukes and ameers. wish
America we'll. nor to satisfy curiosity
about their sentiments as to twentieth
century progress. The churches and
meetings that hear these greetings must
pay for them. The preliminaries arranged
by the pastors or the trustees or the dea-
cons, express companies will deliver the
officially sealed envelopes containing the
documents and all will be prepared for
the assembly or congregation. The money
thus realized will be used in perpetuating
the Red Cross Society in America
Most European countries have a large
emergency fund for charitable purposes.
Japan has $11 ,000, 600, which lies in its
treasury untouched except for Red Cross
work. Belgium has a large fund for that
purpose. The United States has none.
The watch meetings are designed largely
to create Red Cross fund in this ooun-
try. Mr.. HIgbee. before starting for Eu-
rope to procure the letters from princes,
rulers, and presidents. procured creden-
tials from the State Department From
Europe he crossed into Asia and Africa.
and returned by way OF South America.
He has secured messages from the follow
ing mighty and distinguished persons:
Pope Leo XIII, Queen Victoria. the Car
OF Russia, Emperor William OF GERMANY.
Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria Pres.-
dent Mckinley, President Loubct, of
France; Sultan Abdul Hamid. OF Turkey;
Queen Sophia. of Sweden: King Victor
Emanuel Of Italy, King George Of Greece,
Prince Leopold Of Bavaria, Queen Will
helmina Of Holland King Leopold of Bel
GUM, King William of Wurtemburg. the
Grand Duke Of Mecklenburg-Schw
Ludwig: Grand Duke OF Hesse. the Grand
Duke of Baden, Natalie of Servia, the
King OF Siam, the Mikado of Japan, the
Shah OF Persia, the Ameer OF Afghanistan |
the khedive Of Egypt, the King of Rou-
mania, King Alexander of Servia, Prince |
Albert of Monaco, President Hansman OF |
exitserland, King Christian of Denmark, |
President Castro of Venezuela, President |
Yglesias Of Costa Rica, President Diaz of |
Mexico. President Felanza 0: Nicaragua,
and President Ramona Of Peru.
Besides these, messages have also been
secured from the following well-known
people:
Rudyard Kipling, Hall Game. Mark Twain,
Count Tolstoi, Joseph Chamberlain, Presi-
dent Kruger. Sir Edwin Arnold, Lord
Roberts, Anthony Hope, Max O'Rell. Cap
tain Dreyfus, Emile lola, Max Nordau,
ouida, John Oliver Hobbies, Lyman Alb
bolt, William Dean Howells, Henry James,
and Edwin Markham.
After the original documents contain
Ing these greetings have served their
purpose. they will have a permanent place
In the Library of Congress.
The news comes from Rome that Pope
Leo XIII will probably be able to fulfill
his original intention Of celebrating mid
night mass at st. Peters upon the going
but of the old century. The papal bene-
LECTION will, in this case, be given to rep
Of every nation in the world
next New Year night. Pilgrims are
hronging the streets of the Eternal City
already. A short time since a reception
VAS given to these devotees by Count Ar
hur Moore, GAM. p. himself pilgrim.
1t is said to have been a brilliant affair.
Cardinals Logue and Mscchi. Bishops
IIealy. Carney, Conroy. and Kelly, Mon
signor Kelly, Monsignor Bartolmi Mon
signor O'Connell, rector OF the American
College: Monsignor Giles. rector OF the
English College: Monsignor Prior. rector
" ST. Bede's College, and many other dis
.inguished guests were present.
II is rumored that Pope Leo has shown
greater warmth toward the Irish than the
English pilgrims which fact is held TO be
significant OF the future policy OF the Vat
can. This is described by parties in this
lily who may be supposed to be acquaint-
d with the truth of the matter as mere
die gossip.
One OF the most interesting OF the
wen:ieth century pilgrims thus far pre-
ented TO the Pope is an aged woman
lamed Catherine Tanurli who was in the
ne hundred and second year OF her age.
he Pope received her with great kindness
nd congratulated her on her longevity.
he was born amid the Sabine hills and
er long life was mostly passed in that
istrict.
This old woman may recall practically
II the great events of the century that is
rawing to its close. She heard, with
hildish ears. the people around her talk
IL OF the coronation Of Napoleon the .
reat at Paris and few months later his ,
surpation of the famous iron crown of ,
er own beautiful country. When she
as girl she must have felt part of that
xcffement which thrilled through Italy
men sen was born TO Napoleon. TO .
'hom was given the fateful title of King .
Rome, and she must have participated
, the fetes and rejoicings that marked
hat event. Three years later she heard
ne report of the joy with which the peo-
lie Of the whole country welcomed the
eturn of Plus VII 10 Rome. And SO with !
re great events that have made. sue :
essively. the history Of the past hundred
ears. The memory OF this old woman. il :
survive. is surely one of the most re- :
arkable monuments of the century
|
Not I'm the League. .
II was intended 10 open the District 2