The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-08-28
SELECTION Of POPE
WILL Be BRIEF
ABSENCE OF STRONG RIVAL eAc
''0Ns IN SACRED COLLEGE
WILL SIMPLIFY MATTERS.

pioNe, tne entire absence
VI s'rong rival factions in the Sacred
ooiiege, such as existed at the time
Vi 'he election of the late Pope, is
expected to make the selection of his
successor matter of less difficulty.
sui more important is the change in
Tue method Of election that was pre.
scribed by Pope Plus some six wears
ago. for the express purpose of SIM
phfying the election machinery and
cutting down the time usually occu.
pied by the conclave in arriving at
choice.
Inc rule for many centuries was as
ioiiows: When, after balloting. the
'otes were counted and it was found
that no candidate had obtained the
necessary two-thirds majority, any
CARDINALS who wished to do so we're
allowed to change their votes. Many
ropes who failed to obtain the
requisite number Of votes In the ordi.
nary scrutiny have been elected in
this manner.
Pope Plus decided to abolish this
method of election. At the same time
however, he took measures to ex.
pedite the election by Introducing an
important change. Hitherto Cardi-
nails have been allowed to hold only
two ballots day, one in the morning
after mass and the other in the eve
ming. Now the ruling provides for
four ballots, two in the morning and
two in the evening. Thus the COM
ing Papal election is expected to take
only half the time occupied during the
last seven centuries.
Cardinals Are Searched.
On the day of the conclave all the
Cardinals are summoned from their
cells by bell thrice rung, and repair
to the assembly chamber. From this
moment until the result of the vot-
ing is announced they have no COM
munication save with the Vatican Off
Gals. Their clothing and even their
food is searched lest they should con-
tain correspondence from friends out
side. If, by the greatest exercise of
leniency, a visitor is admitted, he
70 no
through grating of iron and in a
tone Tough enough to be heard by the
watchers. After a night of this Sc
clusion the conclave is formally as
sembled early next afternoon, and all
repair to the Sistine Chapel, where a
desk has been provided for each Car
dinal. In the middle of the hall are
six tables and behind these an altar.
Each Cardinal writes on a little
table in the corner of the chapel the
name of the candidate he would elect,
in the center of the voting ticket.
This is Of an oblong form, prepared
according to the direction of the bull
of Gregory XIV.
In the centre are the words, "Eligo
in Summum Pentificem RIM. Dmmeum.
D. Card" Il elect Sovereign Pontiff
my Lord Cardinal -, after which
the voter inscribes the name of the
candidate he would elect.
Ballots Are Burned.
When all have voted in like man.
ner the six tellers examine the papers
and proclaim the result. If no Cardi-
nal has obtained the required num-
Der of votes-two-thirds of the num-
Der of Cardinals present-the result
is declared void, and the voting papers,
collected together, are burned in a
.brazier with damp straw, the dense
Nmoke from which issues through a
particular chimney, visible from out
side and proclaims to the outer world
that no election has taken place.
Compromise candidates have several
times been taken by general agree
ment, whenever the race between two
strong Cardinals became so close as
to deadlock the college.
Proceeding with the election by bal
lot. voting is continued on the lines
indicated until a choice is reached, and
this is made known to the people by
absence of the smoke, for although
the ballots, as in the unsuccessful in
stances, are also burned, the smoke Is
not permitted to escape. When the
result is reached, it is announced by
the ringing of bell; all the senior
Cardinals advance to the place occu-
MED by the newly chosen Pontiff and
inquire if he accepts the election. On
receiving his affirmative answer, he
is at once saluted by the entire col
leee. He then announces the name by
Iy.hicb he desires to be known through
|out the world as the head of the
church. ..21M
Az ;rtoryal then 80 Turing