Perth Amboy evening news., 1903-07-30
HUNDREDS ATTEND
SOLEMN HIGH MASS
ST. Mars Roman Catholic Church Crowded with both Cdho-
lies and Protestans This Morning When Solemn High Mass
of Requiem Said for the RepOse of the SouiO the Pope

Catholics and protestants alike
united in honoring the memory OF
Pope Leo XIII at the solemn high
mass said in st. Mary's church at
O'clock this morning for the lepose OF
the soul of the departed Pontiff. The
church was crowded. Long before
the mass commenced there was hardly
standing room to be found The mass
was sung by Rev. S. A. Mitchell,
assisted by Rev. B. T. O'Connell and
L. #. Blake.
In the middle of the main aisle near
the centre of the altar was placed the
catafalque, surrounding this was four
large brass candle sticks. Large
streamers of purple and black covered
the ceiling and altar. Right over the
catafalque, suspended by so slendersa
wire that it seemed to be soaring high
and higher with every puff OF air, was
a pure white dove. At the end of the
mass the priests, followed by the altar
bows, walked down the aisle to the
catafalque when Father Mitchell said
the last prayer for the repose Of the
dead pontiff's soul.
After the mass Father O'Connell
addressed the congregation at some
length on the life of the dead Pope.
He said in part:
1--WE are gathered here today, my
aear friends, for the last time out OF
respect of one who has left, and feel
in common with the catholics all over
the world great sorrow for the death
of Leo XIII, who was great man and
was respected all over the wor-u, not
only by those of his own religion, but
by many others. He was born In 1910
in the year when Pope Plus VII occu-
pied the chair of st. Peter, and was
five years old at the time of the battle
of Waterloo which decided the fate
of Europe. After going through the
necessary schools and colleges, he was
ordained priest when he was twenty
seven years old. He was not assigned
to any regular position, but did the
good work in different places. Eleven
years later he was made bishop and
shortly afterwards he was made a
cardinal.
I'm the year of 1878, when he was
an old man of sixty eight, he was
made Pope and since that time has
faithfully served in that position. He
has done many things, nq only for
the church, but for the State also.
Some time ago when the discussion
arose in the church about the differ
emit church orders, and many people
were commenting on the way the holy
fathers of these orders lived, saying
that in this world of hurry and hustle
:. at the present time, everyone should
be working and that they did no see
what good could come out of one
shutting himself up in room. The
great Leo easily settled this by saying
that, as the dew was necessary on the
flowers, so was the holy orders neces-
sary to the church. He explained the
matter thoroughly to the dlscontented
ones and since then there has been no
discussion.
In speaking about the Pope's death
Father O'Connell said:
"When Leo XIII felt that he was
going to die, he cautioned the doctor
not to forget to let him know when
the last hour had arrived, as he had
very important business to attend to,
and that he must do it before he left
this world"
Father O'Connell explained how the
Pontiff got out of bed, fixed up the
papers which were necessary to the
church, then was lifted back to the
bed wnere he was confined until he
died.
:, ss g His body has been placed where
no more mortal eye will ever look
upon it, but his spirit is alive, and
will live forever, not only in the
catholic church, but everywhere, for
Leo XIII was great man.
The service in all lasted about an
hour and half.