The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-12
IMMENSE THRONG
 cREETS THE POPE
Celebrates 18th Centennial of
 St Gregory theGreat
APPLAUSE NOT PERMITTED
Occasion Was In Striking Contrast to the Cheering and Enthusiasm Allowed By the Late
 Pope Leo.

Rome, April 11.-For the first time sincs his coronation, August 3, 1903, the pope went this morning to St. Peters to say mass in celebration of the thirteenth cen tennial of St Gregory the Great. who died In GOA A. D.
 The immense basilica of St. Peters was filled, more than 7O,O0O persons being pres ent. The pope was in the best Of health. He appeared in the Sedia Castatoria, al- though the motion of this chair, carried on the shoulders of bearers, makes him i'll.
 On his express recommendation the au- dience refrained from applause or crying out, contensing themselves with the way ing of handktrchfefs.
 The inside of St. Peters offered, as us- ual, a grand sight. which once seer is never forgotten. There were only ,hret tribunes, four members of the aristoo raey, diplomatic corps and royal families respectively. There was also a special reserve in the place for the popes family. which was occupied by his three sisters.
 Music By slstlne Choir.
 The sistine choir. directed by Abbe Pe- rosl, who together with Maestro Bella, has been its organizer and instructor for to- days Gregorian chant, had a special box near the throne, while grouped around 1t were twelve hundred youths, of prac- tically every nationality. race and color, belonging to the ecclesiastical colleges at Rome. The Bendictine monks, who form ed the choir. were also located here.
 The arrival of Pope Plus was heralded by a blare of silver trumpets. Although the procession was gorgeous as ever, the bright red of the cardinals gowns, ming ling with the brown of the monks robes and the white gowns of the choir, the be- nignant figure of the Pope under the gor- geous canopy, the picturesque ostrich fans and the glittering helmets of the guards, It's reception seemed cold after frantic ap- plause permitted by Pope Leo. This, how ever, heightened the effect of the choir, which greeted him with music as he came in.
 After a brief halt in the chapel of the sacrament the pope proceeded to the throne. The triple crown was placed on his head by Cardinal Macchi. Immedi- ately after the crowning the pontiff cele- brated mass to the accompaniment of the Gregorian chant which echoed solemnly throughout the vast basilica.
 How America Was Represented.
 America was represented in the papal procession by the most Rev. Seton, titu- lar archbishop of Heliopolls, formerly of Jersey, N. J., Right Rev. John G. O'Con- nor, bishop of Newark, N. J.; Monsignor Thomas Kenndy, rector of the American college at Rome; Very Rev. J. P. Far reilly, formerly of Nashville, Tenn, spir- itual director of the American college at Rome; Monsignor J. A. Stafford and Father c. P. Carroll of Newark, N. J.
 The simple Gregorian chant, forming an immense volume like one voice with true monody, produced remarkable eff feet in St. Peter's, which it is considered difficult to attain in small churches. The merit for the success goes to Abbe Persi the prime mover in the introduction of the Gregorian chant. At noon the pope re-entered his apartment the procession being formed fin the same manner as on entering the church. There was no ap- plause and lack of incident, except that several persons tainted, especially wom- en and soldiers who had been in the piazza since o'clock this morning.