The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-10-08

viii Be Created In United STATES
Papacy Most Ancient Of All Exist
inc Oynasties.
Baltimore. Oct Special services
were held at the Baltimore cathedfa.
in honor of the election OF Pius y
Cardinal Gibbons preached the sermon
nj hieh mass and was attentively lis
tened TO By congregation that hiled
the edifce. So dense was the throns
which aucd every inch of the cathedral
that the accession of CLERGY. semina-
ricne and acolytes following the mas
was delayed until hundreds of person
cleared che aisies of the church il
addition To being the first sermon de-
livered al the cathedral by Cardina
Gibbons Tor three months 1t had been
announced that he would speak Of tn
conclaye which elevated the ne"
pontin and speak of general conditions
nj the vatican. At the conclusion O.
the pouuhcal mass the popes prayer
was chanted by the choir OF 81 Mary
seminary Of go voices
His eminonce spoke in part as fol-
lows.
you naturally expect me 10 max
some observations i'm reference 10 tn
recent conclaye and TO the new pontin
who has been happily chosen to pre-
side over the church Of God.
THE conclaye which has just taken
place marks q new and important era
I'm the annals of the American Catholic
Church. This is the first time in tho
history of the Christian religion that
the United states Or any part OF this
western hemisphere was ever associ-
atod with the other nations OF Chris
tendon ir selecting a successor TO the
chair Of Peter.
Il would not al all be surprised II ~
the next conclave the Catholic Church
OF the United States will be represented
Jy several members OF the sacred col
leee. SO that the number of cardinals
from our country may be commensu'
rate with the population. the grandeur
and the commanding influence OF the
nation and may be in keeping also With
the numerical strength Of our HER
archy and laity and the splendor and
progress OF our religious and charita-
bic institutions"
Speaking Of the election OF a pope
and the strict secrecy attending it, the
cardinal said.
The cardinals are not angels, but
men. subject 10 the usual inhrmiti@
and ambitions of flesh and blood And
because they are not exempt from the
frainties incident TO mankind and be-
cause of the peerless dignity of the
supreme pontifcate. as well as OF the
tremendous responsibility it involves.
every precauton that human ingenuity
and experience could suggest has been
availed of I'm this. as in preceding con
claves. so that no cloud should rest
over the election Of the successful can
didate.
"Pius Y IS i'm his seth year. lie is of
he same age that Leo XII had at
tanned when he assembled the papal
chair. He has had a large and varied
experience fin the sacred ministry He
consecutvely filed the Offices Of as
sis,ant priest, Of pastor Of chancellor
and vicar general. RE was elected af-
terward 10 the see Of Mantua, the home
Of the illustrious Virgil he was SUBJ
sequenly promoted 20 the patriarchial
see OF Venice
"The virtues OF humility, sincerity.
oandor and beneyolence are stamped
on his features. / can characterize him
IN one sentence by saying that he is a
man Of God and a man Of the people.
His name Is idolized in Venice and
along the Adriatic on account of his
charities towards the poor.
"The papacy is the most ancient OF
oil existing dynasties. II had -four
ished for centuries when the oldest
empire now existing was established.
A pOntin sat in the chair Of Peter when
ENGLAND was a Roman colony and her
Inhabitants We're a rude, unculuvated
people, unacquainted with the arts and
rehnements Of civilized life. Plus X is
the 264th pope who. under Christ. has
been called 20 rule the church Of God.
Pope Leo has lifted up the Catholic
Church to a higher plane OF dignity
and strength than it mad attained since
the days Of Leo X. He has infused
new life into the missionary world. ne
has Quickcned with renewed zeal
every bishop. priest and layman that
fell within the scope of his influence.
He has left to his successor the pre-
clous heritage OF a blameless life and