The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-07-24

tOTnD Dy a more imposing array. Led
by the cardinals and prejates and cler-
gy, recited prayers ana Psalms for the
dead as they slowly entered the sis
tine chapel, where the chapter and
clery of St. Peters awaited the pro-
cesSion.
The latter formally received and
took possession of the body. The
torch, mace and cross bearers started
forward giving an opportunity to the
| chapter to take up u position immedi-
ately preceding the bier.
The final stage Of bearing "the pris
oner of the vatican" to his resting place
then commenced.
From the sistine CHAPEL the process
sion wound out around the loggia i'm
mortalized by Raphael, encircled the
court of San Damaso and descended the
private staircase Stln chanting, into
the basilica.
The moment the fiaring torches,
which still led the cortge, entered ST.
Peters the choir which was awaiting
there, commenced 20 sing in sOrrowful
cadence, "Libera Me Domino" Mgr
C.arcani, the canon nf s.. Peters, SOL
emrly sprinkled holy W. ." over Leo'S
bOdy and pronounced : osOlution. AS
it was borne across the threshold, the
cathedral choir, still singing, to the
lead of the now lengthy procession.
Instense silence which prevailed was
broken only by the chanting which
echoed and re-eachOed from the huge
dome and deserted aisIes of the chapels
as the body was borne down the nave
10 the chapel of the Sacramen There
candles burned brightly. In this Chap
ellie Ardente the body was revsrently
stretched behind the iron gates and
ru.o members of the noble guard took
up position on either side of the bier.
In procession then reformed and re-
.C:ned to the cvatican, leaving the
| body of Leo XIII in the greatest church
in the world, alone except for the faith
fuI guard and penisentiaries whose
prayers could be heard in the immedi-
ate vicinity of the chapel of the sac
l-ament. Throughout the remainder
of the vast basiliea silence reigned.
While the remains Of the pope We're
being carried into ST. Peters this
evening, the private ceremony of depo-
sition the urn containing his viScera in
the church of Saints Vincent and
Asastasius was taking place.
A curious hitch occurred when the
solemn procession arrived at the door
of the special depository IN the crypt.
! It was stopped as the key was not to
| be found. The attendants hunted high
and low and finally we've obliged to
| break down the door. The depository
! had not been opened since 1916, as con-
| trary TO custom, the ViScera of Plus
TX are at St. Peters. The rector Of
the church of Saints Vincent and
AnastasiuS Will ask that the viscere of
Plus N De transferred to his church
also in order to make the sequence
complete.
The first Of the great ceremonies of
| Pope Leo's funeral commenced today
when the body lay in state in the
| throne room of the vatican from $50
a. NJ. until 1 p NJ. All the diplomats
| accredited to the vatican, the Roman
! princes, Dukes, barors and other rep
| reSentatives of ancient families re-
| naming faithful to the papacy, all the
high dignitat-ies of the church, the
| archbishops, bishops, patriarchs and
| heads of the religious orders, passed in
solemn procession before the bier OF
| the late pontiff. The papal throne had
been removed, and in It's place, under
the famous red silken canopy, on a
small bed lay the body Of Leo NH
| Over the bed was thrown a red damasB
covering on which the body reposed
| robbed in white vestments with the rec
! rochet and camauro hood and on the
feet slippers embroidered with gold
The thin hands, clasped over the chest
held tightly a small ivory crucifX
| Around this was entWined a rosary OF
| Mother of Pearl set in gold. On the
third finger of the right hand the huge
emerald pontifical ring sparkled. II
striking contrast with the ghastly fact
was the purple hood. drawn down Owe
the head. almost to the eye brows ant
over the ears.
The sunken cheeks and jaws brough
the nose and chin nearly together OIL
the mouth which was reduced almos
to nothing. though no signs OF agon.
were visible.
It was u corpse of Z, man who nigh
have been dead fifty years.
The silence was only broken by tn
solemn chanting of P. Franciscan peni
tentiaries. who kneeling or standing a
q bench at the foot of the bier, con
unued their incessant supplication.
The only light thrown on this solem
scene came from the candles beside tn
body and from the faint rays OF sun
light which filtered through tho tw
windows. curtained with white sill
and rich green hangings.
The red damask tapestries with whic
the room was hung give a touch {
= royal Splendor 10 the surrounding
1 Otherwise IL was an almost Simpl
I scene for the death rites of a pop,
There were no carpet On the marbl
: floor and not a flower was TO be See
{ according TO the strict ritual OF til
5 last honorS Of the church 20 a pontiff
T Outside the throne room the long col
{ rdorS Of the vatican presented 4 bri
n liant spectacle. At the entrance Of tf
!. court of St. DamaSO pontiflcal gandar
e mes We're drawn Up and rendered mi
), itary hOnors as each carriage drove i
e The diplomats wore full uniforms ar
o the princes and others Mere dressed