The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1903-07-23
FIRST FUNERAL CEREMONY OF
POPE LEO OCCURS IN vATi.
CAN THRokERooM.
Solemn PROCESSION BY TIE BIER
DIPLOMATS, ROMAN PRINCES AND
MANY OTHERS VIEW pom.
TlFF's REMAINS. -

Rome. July 23.-The first of the
great ceremonies Of Pope Leo's fu-
neral commenced during the day when
the body lay in state in the throneroom
OF the Vatican from $3.50 a. m. until
p. m. All the diplomats accredited to
the Vatican, the Roman princes, dukes,
barons and other representatives OF
ancient families remaining faithful to
the papacy, all the high dignitaries Of
the church, the archbishops, bishops.
patriarchs and heads Of the religious
orders, passed in solemn procession be-
fore the bier of the late pontiff. The
papal throne had been removed and in
its place, under the famous red silken
canopy, on a small bed, lay the body
of Leo XIII. Over the bed was thrown
a red damask covering, on which the
body reposed, robed in the white vest
ments with the red rochet and ca
maure hood, and on the feet slippers
embroidered with gold. The thin hands,
clasped over the chest, held tightly a
small ivory crucifix. Around this was
entwined rosary of mother-of-pearl
set in gold. On the third finger of the
right hand the huge emerald pontifical
ring sparkled. In striking contrast
with the CHASTITY face was the purple
hood, drawn down over the head, al
most to the eyebrows and over the
ears. The sunken cheeks and jaws
brought the nose and chin nearly to-
gether on the mouth, which was re-
duced almost to nothing, though no
signs of agony were visible. It was
the corpse of a man who might have
been dead fifty years.
Ordeal of Soldiers Intense.
On either side, near the shoulders,
stood number of the noble guard,
erect and motionless, only a faint
culver of tho drawn swords giving any
indication that they were not mere
statues. The ordeal of the soldiers in
the heated chamber is so intense that
they have to DE constantly relieved.
At the four corners of the bed stood
lighted candles, ten feet high. On the
right of the body, close to the bed, was
small table, covered with a white
linen cloth, on which were two can
dies, throwing glimmer of light on
the cruc1hX between them. At the foot
OF the cross was crystal bowl, filled
with holy water, from which each car
dlnal, whenever he passed the body.
sprlnkled it and uttered benediction
Beside this were the devotional books
used by Pope Leo in his lifetime.
The silence was broken only by the
| solemn chanting of six Franciscan pen
1tentiaries who, Eneeling or standing
| at bench at the foot of the bier, con-
tinued their incessant supplication.
AS each lay or clerical dignitary en-
tered the throneroom he advanced
slowly to the side of the bed, took one
last look at the body and then with
| drew. Some persons knelt in momen-
| tary prayer and crossed themselves. 1t
| was the last tribute of devotion and
affection rather than of mere outward
homage to the head of the great
church.
Diplomats Wore Full Uniform.
Outside the throneroom the long cor
ridors OF the Vatican presented a bril-
liant spectacle. At the entrance of
| the court of st. Damasco pontifical
gendarmes were drawn up and rem
dered military honors as each carriage
drove in. The diplomats wore full uni
form and the princes and others were
| dressed in deep black.
Outside the Vatican an interested
crowd, including number of Italian
soldiers, watched the coming and going
of the privileged mourners.
| In the meantime the congregation of
cardinals met in the hall of the con-
sistory, under the presidency of Car
dinal Oreglia. 1t was determined to
arrange for the accommodation of the
cardinals during their enforced seclu-
sion at the conclave in exactly the
same manner as when Pope Leo was
elected.
During the day Mgr. Merry del Val
took up the duties Of secretary Of the
consistorial congregation.
During the latter part of the after
noon minor ecclesiastics and laymen
less distinguished than those who were
admitted in the morning were allowed
to enter the Vatican and view the body
of the pope.
At in, the afternoon the doors Of
the throneroom were closed and the
Franciscan penitentiaries, assisted by
the attendants of the late pontiff, be-
gan dressing the body in full pontifical
robes.
At 8 O'Clock procession was formed
and the body taken to st. Peters.
| CERNIrEc