The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-22

ceremonies OF rope LeO'S funeral COM |
.menced to-day when the body lay in state
in the throne room of the vatican from
1880 a. m. until 1 p. m. All the diplo-
mats accredited to the vatican, the Ro-
man princes, dukes, barons and other
representatives Of ancient families re-
manning faithful to the papacy all the
high dignitaries Of the church, The arch
bishops 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 its place under the famous red silken
canopy on q small bed lay the body Of
Leo XIII. Over the bed was thrown a
red damask covering on which the body
reposed, robed in white vestments with
the red rochet and camaure hood and on
the rect slippers embroidered with gold.
The thin hands, clasped over the chest
held tightly a small ivory cructf1x.
Around this was entwined "a rosary Of
mother of-pearl, set in gold. On the third
nnger Of the right hand the huge emer-
aid pontif1cal ring sparkled
Face Is Distorted
In striking contrast with the chastity
iace vas the purple hood. drawn down
over the head almost to the eyebrows and
over the ears. The sunken cheeks and
Jaws brought the nose and chin nearly TO-
gether on the mouth which was reduced
almost to nothing, tho no signs of agony
were visible. It WAS the corpse of a man
VINO might nave been dead fifty years.
On both sides stood member of the
noble guard, erect and motionless, only a
faint culver of the drawn swords giving
any indication that they were not mere
statues The ordeal Of the soldiers in the
heated chamber Is so intense that they
nave to be constantly relieved.
AT the four corners of the bed stood
lighted candles, ten feet high. On the
right OF the body, close to the bed was a
| small table, covered with a white linen
cloth on which were two candles throwing
glimmer OF light on the cruciflx between
| them. At the foot of the cross was a
crystal bowl filled with holy water from
which each cardinal whenever he nassed
| the BODY sprinkled it and uttered a bene-
d1ct1on. Beside this were the devotional
DOCKS used by Pope Leo in his lifetime.
Inc silence was only broken by the
solemn chanting of six Franciscan peni-
tentiaries who. kneeling or standing at
q bench at the foot Of the bier uttered
| their incessant supprcatioTl To the. left
and right on the walls, two great gold
ana marble brackets supported many
branched candelebra, but they were not
lighted nor were the lamps on the mar
pie columns at each corner of the throne
room The only light thrown on this
solemn scene came from the candles be-.
| side the body and from the faint rays OF
sunlight which filtered thru the two win
dows curtained with white silk and rich
green hangings M - -
Simple Tho Impressive Scene.
The red. damask tapestries with which
the room was hung gave a touch of royal
| splendor to the surroundings Otherwise
It was an almost simple scene for the
| death rites of a pope There was no car
pet on the marble floor and not a flower
trrYoc 10 10 a., 49, :,
i OF the last honors Of the church TO a
pontiff. AS each lay or clerical dignitary
entered the throne room he advanced
4 slowly to the side of the bed, took one
last look at the body and then withdrew.
Some persons knelt in momentary prayer
and crossed themselves. It was the last
:, tribute of devotion and affection rather
than Of mere outward homage to the head
of the great church.
:, During the latter part Of the afternoon
minor ecclesiastics and lay1nen less dis
tingufshed than those who were admitted
in the morning, were allowed to enter the
vatican and view the body of the pope
4 Princes Wear Mourning.
4 Outside the throne room the long cor
ridors of the vatican presented brilliant
spectacle. At the entrance of the court
OF st. Damaso pontifical gendarmes were
drawn up and rendered military honors
> L
mats wore full uniform and the princes
and others were dressed in deep black
!, From the st. Damaso court they passed
up the marble staircase into the Clermen-
ttno hall where the Swiss guards were
, ranged in single columns. Next they en-
, tered the hall Of Palafremieri, where
| twenty-five grooms in red livery led the
way to the hall Of the SWISS where q
company of gendarmes, wearing heavy
I, black chapeaus tight white trousers and
high cavalry boots stood on guard at the
threshold of the antechamber contain
ing platoon of the Palatine guard Fur
Their along they passed thru the hall al
Tapestry and the chapel of the none
The Noble guard in full scarlet uniforms
glittertng brass helmets and silver sashes
the latter covered with crepe, kept the
last watch at the door Of the APARTMENT
Of their dead master.
The Crowd Outside,
Z Outside the vatican an interested crowd
including a number of Italian soldiers
watched the coming and going of the
} privileged mourners. Meanwhile the con.
Il gregation Of cardinals met in the hall O,
the consistory under the presidency q,
Cardinal Oreglia. It was determined te
arrange for the accommodation of the
cardinals during their enforced seclusior
at the conclave in exactly the same man.
n ner as when Pope Leo was elected.
! Mgr. Merry Del Val to-day took I'm the
: duties as secretary Of the consistoria,
congregation.