Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1913-02-23
FIRST AMERICAN DIOCESE
CREATED 100 YEARS AGO

Princes OF the church. archbishops.
bishops, monsirnori. dignitaries by
the score and hundreds OF priests are
in San Juan ready 10 take part IL
the weeks celebration OF the four
hundrodth anniversary OF the crea-
tion of the Roman Catholic diocese
OF Porto Riao. The diocese is the
oldest In the Americas and was cree
tod by Pope Julius II. In 1911.
Bishop Alfonso Manso, the tts.
bishop TO reach the new world, ar
rived In Porto Rico In 1913 To
died In 1889 and his body was hfrl-
ed In the cathedral In San Juan.
where the bodies OF many OF the so
bishops OF the diocese have been de-.
posted. This cathedral mark the
site OF the mother church in the
Americas. While much OF the pres
ent building of modern parts OF II
date back 20 the very beginning Of
the seventeenth century.
The final details OF the progrgu
for the four hundrcdth anniversary
celebration were completed today
The celebration Is TO be conducted
on a scale OF great pomp aud marri-
ficcnce The Roman Catholic
church in the old world as we'll aB|
the new will be represented The
church In Spain has sent as her rep
rescniative Cardinal Almarez OF Sc
VILE From tine United state o.,
come a highly distinguished delcs1-
zion of prelates. headed by Cardinal
Farley OF New York and Archbishop
Blenk of New Orleans. Other 100
the party include Bishop Gum OF
Natchez. Miss. and Bishop Morris of
Little Rock Archbishop Bermuda OF
Santiago and Bishop Estrada OF Ha
ygna are at the head OF larec par
iy Of Cuban churchmen here for III.
celebration. From Mexico and from
The various countries of Central an
South America also have como dis
tinguished representatives Of thu
church TO take part in the common. !
)ration exercises.
Cardinal Farley will be the central |
figure az the celebration OF the high |
mass with which the celc. !
Dration will be ushered In tomorrow T,
morning One thousand persons will !
the procession. which will /
move around the historic cathedral
before taking part in the solemn |
service, al which will be- read a mes
iage of greeting aud words OF bless
nR from Pope Plus X.
Cardinal Fairly. as celehrant wilt
nave precedence over all the visiting |
lrelates al the mass. and will alone /
bear the crozier His eminenec will |
'e seated on small platform GOV
'rcd with cloth of gold. as will also
cardinal Almarez of Seville The
'ead of the diocese has relinquished |
he throne to Cardinal Farlcesrnd a A
'pecial throne has been erected for /
he Spanish prelate The cardinals |
md archbishops will be attended by |
leacOns of honor
Following the ponitificial high .
mass there will be other impressive .
cligious services during the weeF.
M the greater portion of the pro-
ram will be devoted 10 literary eN-
Tcises and to various functions TO
'e given under the auspices OF the
and educational organiza-
ions connected with the church IN
'orto Rico
Archbishop Blcnk OF New Orleans.
Tho won wide popularity here dur
ng the several years that he served
$ bishop OF Porto Rico. has me,
9TH a most enthusiastic welcome on
Us rerurn and. with Cardinal Far
'y and the other visiting American
relates, is the recipient OF many
ttentions On Monday next the
OF New Orleans is to Of
ciate az q special service when the
ody of Ponce de Leon. the first
oyernor Of Porto Rico and remem-
cred by every American schoolboy
pr his rcputed quest Of The tabled
)rn'ain of youth. will be placed IN
crypt in an elaborate monument
lat has been erected loo Tho cathcd-
d boo his memory