The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-29
First of the Three Great Re- quiem Masses is CeIe-
 brated in Rome
SCENE IN SISTINE CHAPEL
 OF SURPRISING BEAUTY
In the United States Impressive Serv. ices Are Held at Baltimore and New York-Archbishop
 Falconlo ceIebrant.

Rome. July 2s.-The first of three great requiem masses under the auspices of the Sacred college for the repose of the soul of Pope Leo was celebrated this morn ing in the Sistine chapel All the cardinals now In Rome. the diplomatic corps. the Roman nobility and many other distin- guished persons were present. No such mass had been seen in Rome since the death of Plus TX.
 In the sistine chapel stood a huge white catafalque thirty feet high and on it, up- on the scarlet cushions, rested triple crown of gold, shining brightly in the light of one hundred candles. The cata- falque completely hid the altar. Thanking the catafalque, on benches specially con- structed, sat almost all the members of the Sacred college wearing scarlet eapes over their violet robes. At tneir feet on stools were the conclavists, or secre- taries, In violet. On the narrow aisles be- hind the benches and the wall, the heads of the religious orders archbishops, pa triarchs, monsignors and monks, knelt or stood in picturesque confusion.
 Light and Shadows.
 At the four corners of the catafalque burned candles ten feet night. Besides these stood noble guards. Other noble guards were posted at the chancel en- trance Immediately beyond in reserv- ed places were all the diplomats. Tka intermingled uniforms of France. Rus sia. Prussia, Austria. Spain. Belgium, Portugal Brazil Chilli, Colombia, Qua temalia and Bavaria formed a vivid con- trast with the simple evening dress of the Roman princes and crepe wells and black dresses of the princesses, who sat di- rectly across the aisle.
 In addition. two galleries had been erected In the gallery on the left were about a hundred ladies, all in deep black. In the right gallery were the special missions, among them being Sir. Thomas Esmonde and Captain Donelson, represnt- Ing the Irish party in parliament
 Beneath the galleries the priests and laymen who had been fortunate enough to secure tickets but who were not dis tinguished enough for special places, were packed in dim seclusion. Swiss and noble guards. chamberains and other vatican officials lined the aisle Michael Angelos frescoes on the ceiling and walls seemed merely faint recollections of the brilliant maze of color that stretched below from door to altar.
 The Sistine Choir.
 The Abbe Perosl, Italy's famous ora toria composer, waved his baton and the silence was broken with the notes of the Dies Irae." Those who knew the vati- can well say the matchless Sistine choir never sang as 1t did today Through the historic chapel the voices of boys and men rose and fell and swelled triumphant- ly as if with songs of paradise the voices dying away almost to a whisper at the mention of death Even the cardinals sat spellbound at this perfection of the Gre gorian chant. Not a note of instrumental music was heard throughout the mass.
 Mass at Baltimore.
 Baltimore. July 2s-Impressive memo rial services for the late Pope Leo XIII. was held In the cathedral this morning. Being the principal church of the country the service had been arranged on a scale which would fitly express the sorrow of the hierarchy of the United States over the passing of the pontiff. Among the prelates who ofhciated were the papal delegates Archbishop Falconio and Bish- ops Donahue of Wheeling, Monaghan of Wilmington, Van Deviver of Richmond and Curtis, vicar general of the diocese of Baltimore. The pontifcal mass of re- qulem was attended by a vast audience, including many prominent residents The sermon was preached by Bishop Donahue of Wheeling.
 Archbishop Falconio was celebrant of the mass.
 The musical programme was one of tha most classic which has ever been render ed in this country at a requiem service. The funeral decorations of the cathedral were solemn and the sanctuary was mass of black draperies.
 Memorial services were held at all the other Catholic churches in this city today.
 Services a. New York.
 New York. July 2s.-The first great service for the repose of the soul of Pope Leo XIII. was celebrated at St. Patricks cathedral tonight. It was the chanting ofs the office for the dead The decorations of the vast edifice heightened the effect of the ceremony Bands of mourning. edged with purple, encircled the massive white pillars and the marble pulpit. Tho great catafalque rose fifteen feet high at the gates of the sanctuary, it's sides and ends bearing the papal coat of arms in blue and white. Surmounting 1t was the triple crown in white and gold, rest ing on a crimson cushion, while three great candles, ten feet high, glimmered at each side.
 The church was crowded to the doors with a throng that began assembling in the afternoon More than a hundred priests and semlnarians awaited in the vestry and then filed out to the sanctuary with no accompaniment of music. Arch bishop Farley was accompanied by Bishop-eleet Cotton of Bunalo and Adon- signor Edwards. Before him marched the Domnicans in their robes of white and the Franciscans in brown. Ranged on both sides of the sanctuary, all knelt in silent prayer for few minutes ana then the office was intoned by the Rev Rich ard o. Hughes and Professor Ungerer director of the sanctuary choir. After the Psalms had been chanted the lessons were intoned. All chanted the "Miserere'. and the ceremony was ended by the reading of the scommittment'' by the archbishop.