The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-08-07
FIRST TO CONVEY TO THE NEW
PcNTIFF THE HOMAGE OF
THE NATIONS.
WORK OF CARDINAL GIBBONS
NOTED PRELATE OBTAINED CON.
SENT OF Plus X TO RECEIVE
THE PILGRIMS.

Rome, Aug. 6.-The spirit of "the
king is dead, long live the king"
which has been repeated through all
the long ages on a change Of sOver-
eigns, was the dominant note Wednes-
day at the vatican among those gath
cred there, not to acknowledge an
earthly sovereign, but to accept with
out reserve Pope Plus X as their
spiritual king.
Not only had America enjoyed the
honor of first announcing, through the
Associated Press, the accession OF the
present pontiff to the chair of st.
Peters, but Wednesday Americans en-
joyed the far greater privilege and
honor of being the first among those
of many other countries who were to
homage of the nations. The Ameri-
can pilgrimage. conducted by John j.
McC.rane of New York and Father
Lynch Of Niagara university of Buffa-
10. N. Y, which left the United States
for It's piOus journey to Rome to re-
ceive the
Blessing Of Leo XIII,
arrived while the conclave was sitting.
Its members fingered until the cleo
ton Of the new pope was announced
and then decided reluctantly to leave
Wednesday. But it was with tears Of
disappointment at not having been
able to see the holy father that the
pilgrims packed and strapped their
luggage and sent it to the station.
While the desolate band were eating
. hurried luncheon preparatory to
leaving, Mr., McGrane, with radiant
face, burst in, waving a paper and al
most dancing in his excitement.
.You will see him, you will see
him." he cried. 'Our cardinal has ar
ranged It,"
Cardinal Gibbons had been asked
Tuesday to try to arrange for the re-
ception Of the Americans and had
promised to do his best, at the same
time explaining how unprecedented it
would be for the pope, the day after
his election. to receive a foreign pill
grimage. when there were scores of
high dignitaries who had not yet been
admitted, including ven the diploma
tic body. Nevertheless he used his
influence with the happiest result and
secured the consent of the pope to
receive
The Cardinals countrymen.
Their luggage was hastily brought
back from the station in order that
they might appear in proper apparel,
and at 5:45 o'clock in the afternoon,
all were at the bronze doors of the
vatican. They We're met by Mgr.
Kennedy, rector of the American col
lege, whose presence was quite sufi-
cient to make the Swiss guard step
back, present arms and give entrance
to all. They trooped up the high
stairway 100 strong and on through
the corridors, bending their heads to
pass through the openings in the walls
which had been erected for the CON
clave. Bricks were still lying about
on the fagstones. Through the beau
tiful loggia of Raphael they passed to
the unique hall OF inscriptions, where
a halt was called. After a consider
able wait, there was a murmured
"hush, hush" and two Swiss guards
entered from a corridor. Before the
pilgrims could realize it. the pope
stood among them.
Plus X is a little taller than Cardi.
nal Gibbons, giving, however, the i'm.
preston OF being a much larger man,
Es he Is
inclined to Stoutness.
He has abundant gray hair, dark clear
eyes, handsome features and a magni.
ficent voice, low in tone, to which is
added a peculiar grace due to his
musical v Satian accent.
He walked slowly, but with the firm
nes of a young man, down the long
kneeling line, accompanied by Cardi.
nal Gibbons and Mgr. Kennedy, and
gave each of the pilgrims his hand to
be kissed. He spoke a few words to
almost every one. Plus x was ar
rayed completely in white, without a
CLEAN of color except that which
sparkled from the huge emerald on
his finger. Cardinal Gibbons was on
his right in red robes, and Mgr. Ken
needy on his left in purple. They were
preceded by Swiss guards with hal
herds and followed by members of the
noble guard. The moving group was
set off by the kneeling women who
were all in black. The men wore
dress suits and the priests black
gowns.
Pope Plus Much Interested.
Plus x appeared to be much inter.
ested when Father Lynch presented
to him a box containing q white zuc.
Ghetto, saying that I'VE should be ex
tremely gratified if your holiness
would accept this gift in exchange fol
the one you wear
81 shall cheerfully do So" the pope
replied.
Thereupon Mgr. Bisleti lifted the
x~ucchetto from the pope's head and re
placed it with the one which has been
presented by Father Lynch. Mr.. Nc
Crane handed to Plus X the offerings
which the pilgrims had hastily put
tOppthor after lnnchnnn The NONE
spoke especially to the members OF
the Lante family Of Philadelphia, Rev
John r. Burke, pastor of the Church
of st. Benedict the Moor, New York
and Father Wall, who expressly rep
Resented Archbishop Farley. andstS