The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-04-04
OF RED HAT
Coveted Badge Of Cardinal Never
Worn More Than Once.
After Ceremony Of Creation of New
Cardinal II is Hung In His Church
When He Dies II Is
Buried With Him.

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To a m the idea of paying sew
eral hundred pounds for a hat and
then never wearing it musl seem the
most shocking waste of money.
Yet the famous red hat which is
the badge Of the cardinals, the great
dignitaries of the Roman Catholic
church, is not used as headgear-
except, indeed, for a minute or W at
the ceremony OF the creation Of the
new cardinal.
1t is afterward hung in the church
of the cardinals title and remains his
most cherished possession. When he
dies it is taken down, laid upon his
coffin and buried with him.
The recent deaths of two very well
known cardinals-Mgrs. Oreglia and
Rampolla-have left vacancies in the
college of cardinals which the pope
will shortly fill, Pearson's Weekly
states.
The full number of the college is
70, but they are not all Of equal rank
There are six cardinal bishops, 90 car
dinal priests and IA cardinal deacons-
At present the number is only 90,
there being no fewer than 70 vacan-
cies.
So it is almost certain that the pope
will take the occasion to select more
than two new members.
According to the law, the nomina-
ton of new cardinals rests with the
pope, but he not only consults existing
cardinals, but also considers sugges-
lions offered by the government Of
Roman Catholic countries such as
Spain and Austria.
When the nominations have been
decided upon a secret consistory is
called and all the cardinals, or as
many as are able to be present, as
semble in the vatican. At one end
of the room is a magnificent throne
draped in crimson, on which is seated
the pope.
Before the proceedings open the
room is cleared of all except the car
dinals. No one else may remain, with
the one exception of a ruling monarch.
The pope then delivers an address
and after this is over reads out the
names of the new cardinals. At that
all the cardinals present rise and re-
move the red silk caps which they are
wearing as a token of assent.
But this is not by any means the
end of the business. The new cardi-
nal has many formalities to go
through and large sums of money to,
pay out before he is properly invested.
First, he receives a messenger.
usually, we believe, one of noble birth
and belonging to the pope's own body
guard, who formally gives him notice
of the honor conferred upon him.
In the past times 1t was the custom
to pay this messenger a fee amounting
to G400. This has been decreased,
but is still heavy.
Then m another messenger
called the "~ablegate," who carries the
"beret" He has to be rewarded with
$3.50.
The new cardinal must also pay for
the bull" or his Commission" as it
may be called. This mean an outlay
of about eS5, while his cardinals
ring will cost him not less than 912O.
To add to all this comes an enor-
nous tailor's bill. BY ecclesiastical
regulation a cardinal must possess
four costumes. These vary in cost
from s200 down to about 91OO. The
halter, too, comes in for his share,
for he has to supply four different
hats bound with green and gold cords.
and a scarlet silk cap.
The new cardinals installation is a
magnificent ceremony which takes
place in the royal hall of the vatican.
Many great personages are invited.
The new cardinal is ushered in be-
tween two existing cardinals. and led
up to the papal throne, which has a
canopy of violet silk hung with gold.
He there does his obeisance, kisses
the hand of the pope and is embraced
by him.
The famous hat itself is OF scarlet
cloth and scarlet silk, and has 80 scar
let tassels which are arranged in two
triangles of Is each.
1t is the College of Cardinals which
elects a new pope at the death of the
holder of the title.