Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-13

number Of pilgrims to the shrines of the
Apostles at Rome being wholly incAlcul-
able. The year 1900, when Boniface VIII
was at Anagni, saw the Inauguration Of
that consoling institution, the jubilee or
holy year. A judlcious historian who as
sisted at the initial ceremonies has re-
corded the presence of 100000 strangers
and another spectator has fixed at 100000
the total concourse of pilgrims for that
year. Three centuries later Leo X. Imperial
Leo, occupied the chair of the Fisherman
Of Galilee. He attracted to Rome both the
devout and the curious. The former stood
awe-strlcken before the creations of Bram-
ante, Michaelangelo and Raphael, and
fingered in the vast church OF st. John
Lateran: while the latter surveyed the
person and character of the supreme
pOntiff,-
Whom Europe views
With wondering awe, her pastor and her
guide,
From great Lorenzo sprung; the Bright
est Star
or Medicean fame, with conscious pride.
Whom his own Florence halls; and from
The scept'r'd rulers of the nations own
And as their lord obey; in towering state
Imperial Leo named, who bears alone
The key that opes Olympus lofty gate!'
With the progress of Christianity arose
numerous minor s~anctuaries, and the edu
cational advantages of travel stimulated
pilgrims to visit celebrated shrlnes at An
tioch, ~Constantinopie, Compostella, Alex
andria, Carthage, Canterbury and Loreto.
Beginnings in America.
This country is Just beginning to appre-
ciate the true value Of the pilgrimage. Each
year there is a considerable increase in the
number of organized pilgrims. Although
there were undoubtedly numerous Instance
of groups Of persons travelling to Rome
Palestine, etc, there was no organized
body Of pilgrims until 1892. This was
formed by Bishop Kelly, who performed
the duties Of a guide and spiritual director
From 1900 onward an average OF 1000 OF
more have made the journey each year un,
der the auspices Of private enterprise, but
always with some bishop or priest as spirit
ual director. The pilgrimage that gave ex
cuse for this article will be extraordinarS
and one representative OF the great body
Of the Catholic laity from the Atlantic t
the Pacific ocean. 1t is Of special impor
lance by reason of the amazing progress
Of the Knights OF Columbus, which hai
nearly a quarter Of a million members
The idea is credited to the original incor
p~orators Of that order, and Rev. FatheI
Mckinney, brother OF Its founder. 1t hai
been encouraged by the priesthood Of thu
country and only a few days ago wore
reached New York that one Of the oldes
churches In Rome, San Silvestro In Capite
would be placed at the disposal OF tn
pilgrims. The acting rector Is Rev
Robert MacNeely. whose father fel
on the field at Gettysburg. The in
corpOrators Of the order have been or
ganiEing systematically. There is a gen
eral headquarters In the Metropolitan build
ing, New York, and branches In the laTgl
c. Monaghan, a popular lecturer, is hea,
OF the body that will direct the pilgrimage
Mrs. b. Ellen Burke, a writer on educs
ttonal topics, will be one OF the lecturer
during the journey. The list OF honorar!
vice presidents is composed OF citizens emil
nent In every profession. Every large cit!
in the union has representation on the gen
eral advisory COMMITTEES. The pilgrims viii
leave from Boston on August I. lmme
Ing Of the Knights OF Columbus, whicl
will be convened this year at Quebec. The!
will sail on the Romanic Of the White Sta
line. and under the spiritual direction o
Right Rev, J. l. Keane. bishop Of Cheyenne
WyO. The bishop has a strong affection
for the knights. and Is now delivering
series OF lectures under their auspices. Tn
pilgrimage will arrive at Genoa on Angus
70 In that city. the birthplace Of Chris