Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-23
LYING IN STATE.
Continued from page u

u.
At the four corners of the bed stood
lighted candles, 10 feet high. On the
right of the body, close to the bed, was
a small table, covered with a white linen
cloth, on which We're two candles,
throwing glimmer of light on the cru
cif1X between them. At the foot of the
cross was crystal bowl filled with holy
water from which the cardinal when
ever he passed the body, sprinkled it
and uttered a benediction. Besides this
were the devotional books used by Pope
Leo in his lifetime. j3f
The silence was only broken by the
solemn chanting of six Franciscan peni-
tentiaries, who, kneeling or standing at
a bench at the foot of the bier continued
their incessant supplication.
To the left and right on the walls, two
great gold and marble brackets sup
ported many-branched candelabra, but
they were not lighted, nor We're the
lamps on the marble columns at each
corner of the throne room. The only
light on this solemn scene came from
the candles beside the body and from
the faint rays of sunlight which filtered
through the two windows, curtained
with white silk. The red damask
|
hung gave a touch of royal splendor to
the surroundings. Otherwise it was an
almost simple scene for the death rites
of Pope. There was no carpet on the
marble floor and not a flower was to
been seen according to the strict ritual
of the last orders of the church to a
Pontiff.
AS each clerical dignitary entered the
throne room, he advanced 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. 1t VS. the last tribute of
devotion and affection rather than of
mere outward homage to the head of
the great church.
outside the throne room the long cor
lridors of the Vatican presented bril-
liant spectacle. At the entrance of the
court of ST. Damaso. Pontifical gen.
darmes were drawn up and rendered
military honors as each carriage drove
in. The diplomats were in full uniform
and the priests and others were dressed
in deep black.
From the st. Damaso court they
passed up the marble staircase into the
clementine hall, where the Swiss Guard
was ranged in double columns on Ell
Their side. Next they entered the hall
of Palifremieri where 25 grooms in red
livery led the way to the hall of the
Swiss, where a company Of gendarmes.
wearing black chapeaus, skin tight
white trousers and high cavalry boots,
stood on guard at the threshold of the
ante chamber, containing a platoon
of the Palatine Guard. Further along
they passed through the hall of tapes
try and chapel of the Pope. The noble
guard. in full scarlet uniforms, glitter
ing brass helmets and silver sashes, the
latter covered with crepe, kept the last
watch at the door Of the apartment of
the dead master.
Outside the Vatican an interesting
crowd, including a number of Italian
soldiers, watched the coming and going
of the privileged mourners.
| In the meanwhile the congregation or
cardinals met in the hall of the con-
sistory under the presidency of Cardi-
nal Oreglia. 1t was determined to ar
range for the accommodation of cardi-
mails during the enforced seclusion at
the conclave in exactly the same man
ner as when Pope Leo was elected.
Monsignor Merry Del Van, today,
took UP the duties of secretary of the
consistorial congregation.
| At 8 o'clock, this evening, all was in
readiness to take the body of the Pope
from the Vatican to the basilica of st.
tPeter's. The mournful procession
gathered around the bier which was
gently lifted by the Sediari, who, in
the lifetime of Leo XIII had carried
him in the Sedia gestatoria. The dead
Pontiff was now clad in all the pomp
of his holy office.
The golden mitre, the gilded stole, the
white cope, the red thasuble, the Pom
tifical pallium and the Papal tunic all
were there. Leading the procession
as it passed out of the throne room
room came the grooms carrying light
ed torches. Behind them were the aged
lmace-bearers, and other domestlcs OF
the Papal household. The picket of the
Noble Guard and all the clergy of the
t Vatican wearing their surplices fol-
r lowed Immediately in front OF the
bier the Pontifical silver cross was held
+ aloft. Behind the bier came the three
nephews of the late Pope, Counts III
y cardo and Camille Pecci and Count Ca
4 narli
At the Hall of Palafreniere, the cor
q tage came to a standstill. There the
, cardinals, who had been waiting in the
Z hall of the consistory, took their places
q Immediately behind the nephews. once
n more the procession now fianked by the
V Swiss Guards, moved on. After the
cardinals came the whole diplomatic
+ body accredited to the Vatican and the
q representatives of the knights of NAL
q ia. The latter were followed by the
4 marshal of the conclave, the Prince
= Chigi. the master of the Holy hospice,
Prince Ruspoli, and the commander of
the Noble Guards, Prince Rospigl1osl,
all in magnificent uniforms. Then came
the prelates of the chamber and
c knights of the cape and sword in their
medieval Spanish robes. The United
Estates was represented by Mgr. Thomas
5 Kennedy, rector of the American Col
= lege.
I The Noble and Swiss Palatine
e Guards brought up in the rear. Led by
the cardinals, the prelates and clergy
roo;+ad nrayerS and Psalms for the