Daily Kennebec journal., 1903-08-06
A SIGNAL HONOR.
The Americans Pilgrims Re-
ceived by Pope Plus X.
Courtesy Through In
fluence Of Cardinal Gibbons.
Pope Decides to Have His Coronation
Next Sunday.

Rome, Aug. 5.-The spirit of "the
King is dead, long live the King
which has been repeated through all
the long ages upon a change of SOW
ereigns, was the dominant note, today,
at the Vatican among those gathered
there, not to acknowledge an earthly
sovereign, but to accept without re-
serve Pope Plus X as their spiritual
king. Not only had America enjoyed
the honor of first anniuncing, through
The Associated Press, the accession of
the present Pontiff to the chair of st.
Peter, but, today, the Americans en-
joyed the far greater privilege and
honor of being the first among those
of many other countries who We're to
follow to convey to His Holiness the
homage of the nations.
The American pilgrimage conducted
by John McGrane of New York, and
Father Lynch Of the Niagara Univer-
sity (Buffalo, N. W, which left the
United States for it's pious journey to
Rome to receive the blessing of Leo
XIII, arrived here while the conclavc
was sitting. Its members fingered un-
til yesterday, when the election of the
new Pope was announced and then
decided reluctantly to leave, today. But
it was with tears of disappointment
at not being able to see the Holy
Father.
While the desolate band was eating
, a hurried luncheon, preparatory to
leaving, Mr.. McGrane, with radiant
face, burst in, waving a paper and al
most dancing in excitement.
You shall see him, you shall see
him." he cried. "Our cardinal has ar
ranged it."
Cardinal Gibbons had been appealed
to, yesterday, to try to arrange for the
reception of the Americans and had
, promised to do his best, at the same
time explaining how unprecedented it
would be for a Pope, the day after his
election, to receive a foreign pilgrim.
age when there We're scores of high
dignitaries who had not yet been adj
| mitted. Nevertheless, he used his i'm
| mense influence with the happiest re-
suit and secured the consent of the
Pope to receive his fellow country
men.
| At 5.45 this afternoon, all were at
| the bronze door of the Vatican. There
| they We're met by Mgr. Kennedy, rec
| tor of the American College. They
| trooped up the high stairway and on
| through corridors, bending their heads
to pass through the openings in the
walls which had been erected for the
conclave. Through the beautiful Logl
gia of Raphael they passed to the
unique hall of inscriptions, where
halt was called.
Suddenly there was murmured
"hush, hush and they saw two Swiss
Guards enter from a corridor. Before
they could quite realize it the Pope
stood among them. Plus X is q little
taller than Cardinal Gibbons, giving,
however, the impression of being
much larger man, as he is inclined to
stoutness. He has abundant gray hair.
with no sign of badness, dark clear
eyes. handsome features and a. magni-
ficent soft voice, to which is added
peculiar grace due to his musical We
netian accent. His whole person en-
enated great benignity and cordiality.
He walked slowly, but with the firm
ness of n young man down the long
kneelng line, accompanied by Cardi-
nal Gibbons and Mgr Kennedy, and
giving to each of the pilgrims as he
passed his hand to be kissed. He
spoke a few words to almost every one.
Plus X was arrayed completely in
white, without gleam of color. except
that which sparkled from the huge en-
erald on his finger.
Pope Plus X appeared to be very
much interested when Father Lynch
gave to him a box containing a white
zucchetto, saying: We would be ex-
tremely gratified il Your Holiness
would accept this gift in exchange for
the one you wear
Il will cheerfully do so.' the Pope
replied Immediately. Thereupon Mgr.
Bisletti lifted the zucchetto which the
Pope wore from his head and replaced
it with the one which had been pre-
sented by Father Lynch. Mr.. Nc
Crane handed to the Pope the offerings
which the pilgrims had hastily put to-
gether, today, after lunch.
The Pope spoke especially to the
members of the Lante family of Phil
adelphia, Father John E. Burke, pas
tor of the church of st. Benedict, the
Moor of New York, and Father Wall,
CONTINUED on page 2.)