The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-19
Miss Annie Leary. Of New York, the
Fourth of Her C-ountrywomen
Great by Leo.
TWO RECEIVED GOLDEN ROSE
MISS LEARY's SERVICE TO THE
CHURCH RECOGNIZED.
What This and Other PapaI Orders
acknowledgement Wherever
Roman Catholics Are.

Correspondence OF the Indianapolis Journal
ROME. Jan. 10.-Last Saturday another
American woman achieved the title OF
countess by the grace OF the sovereign pom
tiff. Leo XIII. and. like her sisters hon
ored by the holy see, Miss Annie Leary, or
New York. is a society lady as well as an
ardent church worker and devoted admirer
of the Holy Father.
The first American born papal countess
was Mrs. James Macdn. known among her
friends as Sally BrittOn Spottiswood Mac
kin. After her conversion 10 the Roman
Catholic faith she called herself Sarah
Maria Aloisa, assuming the Christian
names Cardinal Macchi conferred upon her
when she made her profession in the
church at Rome. 4 year later the same
prelate, who ranks among the great Of
icials OF the Vatican court and household
as one of the four Cardinals Palatine,
and who is secretary OF briefs TO his Holi-
ness, a year later Monsignor Macchi. in a
kindly note. worded in Official language.
brought Madame Mackin tht commission
that the Holy Father made her a countess
Notice of this act was received stimuli
taneously with the acknowledgment that
his Holiness deigned 10 show a benevolent
acceptance of the homage Mrs. Mackin Of
fered him in her book. "A Society Woman
on Two Continents in recognition OF which
ne sent her most paternally his apostolic
benediction."
SENT BOOK TO THE POPE.
When Mrs. Mackin left a copy Of the
book atethe Vatican, printed on the finest
Of paper and bound in a cover of white
MORE of satin, with the papal coat of arms
4, nr,ro Gold che oxror draaunad of haarfpr
of it again. save. perhaps. through a minor
secretary and a formal line or two. That
the Pope sent her his blessings. and. by
the hand of the Cardinal Palatine, the pre-
liminary announcement Of her elevation.
was the greatest surprise of her eventful
career. Always a great traveller, the lady
so honored has ever since been known as
Countess Spottiswood Mackin in the cap
itals of the world.
Besides Miss Leary and Mrs. Mackin, Miss
Gwendoline Caldwell and Mrs. John Sher-
man were, among American women. hon.
ored by the Pope in recognition OF excep-
tional claims TO pre-eminence I'm virtue and
as noble examples in doing good. These
two ladies received the Order Of the Golden
Rose, which is seldom given TO persons
not of the blood royal. Among the Nati-
cans decorations the Golden Rose IS the
most highly priced, and the one least often
conferred. The decoration itself consists OF
a golden rose set with diamonds and per-
fumed by rose oil and incense-a splendid
specimen Of the goldsmith's art after a
classic model. This symbol OF beauty and
love was only once conferred upon a man,
namely, upon Frederick the Wise Of Sax
ony. who tried TO suppress the reformation
in his states. In our Own times. when a
princess of great piety and virtue secures
this prize, the fact is published all over the
universe as an evidence Of the Holy Faith
er's goodwill and kindly disposition. The
comforting Of this rare favor on two un-
titled American women. therefore. created
a great sensation, the more so as several
Catholic queens are still waiting for this
much cherished decoration.
Aside from the Golden Rose. now exclu-
sively conferred upon women. the Pope re-
wards distinguished service 10 the church
by four knightly orders.
THE POPE'S DECORATIONS.
The first and most ancient OF these is
the Order of Christ, the insignia being a
red enameled Latin cross. charged with a
white enameled cross, surmounted by a
crown and worn from the neck by a red
ribbon. Foreigners. who need not be
mobiles, may aspire 70 this decoration.
The second is the Order OF ST. Sylvester.
or order Of the Golden Spurs, whose mem
bers rank as Lateran Counts Palatine. II
was c~ustomarily conferred on members OF
the Pope's household, but Gregory XVI
made it a public mark OF honor TO bestow
on those distinguished by their zeal for
religion and the Holy See. or for artistic
or scientific merit. The badge is a white
-----F- Tf-1,H- -s~H 49, 81
St. Sylvester in the center. Commanders
wear it around their neck. knights on the
breast. The ribbon is black. striped white:
and the uniform a red military coat, white
breeches. sword and spurs.
The third is Ordine Piano. having two
classes. comforting hereditary or personal
nobleness. The insignia: An enameled blue
star with the words Plus TX" on the
diverse. and the year MDCCCXLvU on
the reverse. Knights Of the first class wear
a blue ribbon with red borders from the
light shoulders, knights Of the second
class wear the insignia from the same
colored ribbon. The uniform Is a blue coat
with red facings.
The fourth is the Order OF ST. Gregory the
Great, a reward for zeal and devotion in
the cause OF Catholicism and OF papaI
authority. The insignia are a red enamcled
cross OF eight points with st. Gregory
Gregorius Magnus' and the words Pro
Dec ct Principe" on the sides. The ribbon
is red with yellow borders. and is worn
from the right shoulder. The grand cross
is worn from the neck. other knights hear
the insignia from the button hole; while a
civil-service branch has the cross attached
10 a green ameled olive branch. and
the military branch adds gold trophies.
The Pope also confers a medal Pro Ec-
clesia et Pontifce." which was originally
intended for those VINO took part in the
jubilee years 1877 and 1897. IL is now given
10 those who have merited wei OF The
church or the Pope. II is in three classes.
gold. silver and bronze. and is given TO
both men and women.
The edict comforting the title Of countess
on Miss Leary is done on parchment and
addressed 20 'Our beloved daughter IN
Christ" IL contains fourteen lines OF close
script and is signed. not by the Pope. but