The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1903-07-31

Rome, July 29.-The first of the
three great requiem masses, under
the auspices of the sacred college, for
the repose of the soul of Pope Leo,
was celebrated Tuesday morning in
the Sistine chapel. All the cardinals
now in Rome, the diplomatic corps,
the Roman nobility and many other
distinguished persons were present
No such mass had been seen in Rome
since the death of Plus IX.
In the sistine Chapel.
In the Sistine chapel stood a huge
white catafalque 30 feet high, and on
IT, upon two scarlet cushions, rested
triple crown of gold, shining bright
ly in the light of hundred candles.
The catafalgue completely hid the
altar. Thanking the catafalque, on
benches specially constructed, sat al
most all the members of the sacred
college wearing scarlet capes over
their violet robes. At their feat, on
stools, were the conclavists, or secre-
taries, in violet. In the narrow aisle
behind, between the benches and the
wall, the heads of the religious or
ders, archbishops, patriarchs, mon
signors and monks, knelt or stood in
picturesque confusion.
In the Galleries.
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 Capt. Done
Ian, representing the Irish party in
parliament. Beneath the galleries the
priests and laymen who had been for
tunate enough to secure tickets, but
who were not distinguished enough
for special places, were packed in dim
seclusion. Swiss and noble guards,
chamberlains and other vatican Off
cials lined the aisle. Michael Angeles
frescoes on ceiling and walls seemed
merely faint reflections OF the bril-
liant maze of color that stretched be-
low from door To altar
The Matchless sistine Choir.
The Able Perosi, Italy's famous
oratorio composer, waved his baton,
and the silence was broken with the
notes of the Dies Irae. Those who
know the vatican we'll say the match
less Sistine choir never sang as well
before. Through the historic chapel
the voices of boys and men rose and
fell and swelled triumphantly as #
with songs of paradise, the voices dy-
ing away almost to a whisper at the
mention of death. Even the cardinals
stood spellbound at this perfection of
the Gregorian chant. Not note of
instrumental music was heard
throughout the mass.
At the Altar.
At the altar Cardinal Serafno Van
nutelli was assisted by Cardinals
Agliardi, Nincenzo Nannutelli, Satol-
Ii and Richard, wearing white mitrcs
and glistening yestments. Satolli. al
ways erect and swarthy, looked
doubly sober beside the feeble
frame and snow white head of the
aged Cardinal Richard, archbishop of
Paris.
AS the fifty cardinals and so con
c,avists gathered around the cata-
falque and alternately knelt and rose
their movements resembled an amaz-
ing Kaleidoscope of crimson and vio-
let with colors so bright as to be al
most trying to the eyes.
Singing of the Sanctus.
Then came the singing of the Sane
tus, modulated almost into a whi sper
All present knelt as the choir ceased
intoning its grand chant and the
dead silence of the conservation
which followed was suddenly broken
by the clash of arms as the noble
guards presented swords. Then there
was another clatter of arms, as the
soldiers scabbards clashed on the
marble flooring when they dropped
on one knee, lowered their swords
and brought their left hands to their
helmets in rigid salute.
Clouds of incense rose from the
censers until Michael Ange.o's fa-
nous Last judgment" was almost
hidden from view.
Elevation of the Host
Suddenly the sharp tinkling of
bell rang through the edifice and told
the worshippers that the Host had
been elevated.
At the conclusion of the mass the
choir again burst out into song and
Cardinal Serafino Vannutelli preced-
ed by the cross-bearer, passed sol
emnly around the catafalque after
sprinkling it with holy water Each
of the officiating cardinals followed
in turn and the ceremony was con-
cluded with the chanting of the