The daily morning Alaskan. (Skagway, Alaska) 1899-1904, 1901-04-25
UNDER ND SEAL OF POPE
The Klondike King Figures In a
New Role Presented With a
Rare Insignia In the Presence of
Big Crowd In st. Mary's Church
dawson Daily News.l

Kneeling before the railing OF the
chancel at ST. Marv's church last even
ing, Alex. Mcdonald, King OF the Klon
dixie, was made Knight OF St. GRECO
ry. His wife kneeling beside him pin
ned the insignia upon his breast.
1t is an honor that comes direct
from the hands of the Pope and only
from him. 1t has been conferred upon
but two other Canadians. Governor
Chapleaux, OF Quebec, and MERCER.
the prime minister OF Quebec, both OF
whom are dead.
Never before had Father Gendreau
witnessed such a large congregation
at evening services as the one which
crowded his church last evening.
When in the early part OF September,
1893. the late Rev. Father Judge trans
ferred the charge OF the church and
the parish to Rev. Father Gendreau it
was known at the time that Mr. Alex.
Mcdonald had given $4,000 to Father
Judge for the building OF the church,
which at the time OF the transfer was
far from being completed. Father
Gendreau was not willing to depend on
one man for the generous liberality OF
so great a beneiactor, and has tried to
raise funds from other members of his
congregation for the completion OF his
church which will be realized in the
next few weeks.
At the same time, moved by feeling
OF gratitude for the benefactor OF his
church and of himself personally, he on
many occasions applied to the Pope
for an official recognition of the good
work of his parishoner, under the form
of papal decoration.
After a long correspondence with
Rome, which was kept quite secret,
Father Gendreau had been informed
that his request was granted and when
in Rome last summer he received the
insignia and the papal letter addressed
to Mr. Alex Mcdonald, granting him
the title OF Knight OF the order of St
Gregory. We publish below the trans
lation OF this letter which was present
ed last evening in St. Mary's church,
read in Latin first and then translated
into English When the gold cross was
presented by Father Gendreau and pin,
ned on the breast of the Knight by
Mrs. Mcdonald
This order was established by Pope
Gregory XVI, who died As years ago,
for the purpose of acknowledging the
liberality and the good work OF the
prominent Catholics OF the world and
is limited to a small number of mem
bers. The costume OF the members is
allowed only in the panal state and
gives to a Knight the right to a mill
tary salute and to assist the Pope in
all public audiences and ceremonies in
St. Peters church.
Following is the letter comforting
the direction under the seal of the
pope:
LEO PAPA XIII.
To Our Beloved Son Alexander Nc
Donald
Dearly Beloved Son: Health and
Apostolic Benediction-Thy liberality
toward the jealous missionaries. who
make known the Catholic name
throughout the territory of the Yukon.
thy munificence with which thou hast
provided for thy divine glory and for
the Catholic religion by so august
their divine services; their work of
charity toward the religious and Cath
Ollie priests. and so many other virtues
which ornament thy life have moved us
to confer upon thee Title of Honor
which gives ample testimony of thy
great works and to Our benevolence
toward thee:
Therefore we absolve thee of all the
accommodations, interdicts and of all
the other ecclesiastical sentences, cen
sures and penalties; if may perhaps
thou hast incurred any, and by this
present letter we make, constitute and
nominate thee Knight of the order Of
St Gregory, the Great, a secular de-
gree and we ascribe and adnumerate
thee to this noble body of named
knights.
I'VE grant furthermore, dearly be-
loved son. that thou mayest wear the
habit peculiar to the knight of this ord,
er and also the special insignia. name
ly. golden cross having the form of
an octagon. on red colored surface,
bearing the image of St George the
Great, which thou shalt fix upon thy
left breast, as it is the general custom
of these knights. 1t will be attached
with silk ribbon OF red color, border.
ed by two yellow stripes
ITO prevent any misuse OF the vest
ment and OF the cross we have ordered
that this document shall be addressed
to thee.
Given in Rome in St. Peters un
der the fishers ring.
"The XXVII day of June. M. c. NJ
"The XIII year of our Pontifcate