The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-07-20

stimulate others to follow the Illus
| trious example set them. The Order
| is divided into four classes. Each
| class has it's distinctive decoration.
1t may be remarked that for each
Order of Papal KnighthOOd the distin-
| gushing badge is the cross. Writers
| distinguish sixteen different forms Of
cross in use by various Orders of
| KnighthoGd. Each cross takes it's
name from its particular shape, form,
Ornamentation, etc.
The decoration is an eight-pOinted
blue enamelled star. On the center
is white enamel medallion on which
| are engraved the words Plus TX;
around it, in a golden circle, are in
scribed in words in characters of
blue, the motto, Virtuti ct Merito,
For vaIor and merit. There are two
forms of badges, one is a large silver
medal similar to the star, and the
other is larger and adorned with
brilliant gems The official costume
is a dark blue evening dress coat
closed in front by one row of golden
buttons. The collar, cuffs and breast
of the coat are covered with elaborate
golden embroideries. Golden epau-
lettes, white trousers with gold side
stripes, a two-cornered hat with white
plumes, complete the official dress.
This Order may be conferred also on
nom Catholics.
Order of St. Sylvester.
This is the oldest of the Papa1 Or
ders, although it is uncertain as to
who was the founder In order to
restore this Order to it's ancient
splendor, Pope Gregory XVI, in 1S41,
limited the number of Commanders
and Knights. This Order was for
merly called the Order of the Golden
Militia The decoration is a gold
cross of white enamelled surface, in
the center of which is embossed the
image of st. Sylvester, Pope and mar
tyr. The badge is the cross of the
Order attached to silver star. The
costume consists of black coat with
one row of golden buttons, and cuffs
and collars of black velvet embroid-
cred in gold black trousers, with
golf strines, a two-cornered hat of
rough silk adorned with Papal-colored
cockade, and finally, a sword with
mother-of-pearl hilt ornamented with
gold and worn suspended from a gilt
belt The hat of the Commander is
adorned with a black plume, that of a
Knight with white plume.
Order of the Golden Militia.
This is also known as the Order of
| the Golden Spur. Pope Plus K re-
stored this Order to its former high
prestige and established it separately
| as a souvenir of the Golden Jubilee
| of the dogmatic definition of the I'M
maculate Conception of the Blessed
| Virgin. 1t is placed under the
patronage of the Immaculate Concep-
ton. To this o. rder are admitted only
| those who have distinguished them
selves in an eminent degree and have
spread the Catholic faith, and by their
bravery or learning have safe-guarded
or made illustrious the Church of
| God It's membership is limited to
one hundred Knights for the entire
world. The decoration is an eight
| pointed, yellow enamelled gold cross,
with a gold trophy on top, and gold
| spur pendent. On small white
medal in the center of the cross is
the word, Maria. The badge is the
cross upon the rays of silver star.
Order of the Holy SepuIchre.
According to the critical historians
this Order is branch of the Knights
of st. John of Jerusalem which was
approved in the year 1113. The title
formerly was bestowed by the Com
missary Apostolic of the Holy Land
At present usually it is conferred by
the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem
This decoration may also be conferred
upon ladies, who are then styled
Danes or Matrons of the Holy
Sepulchre.
In addition to these particular Or
ders, there are other minor Papa
distinctions. Chief among these is
the medal, Pro Ecclesia ct Pontifice
This distinction was instituted II
1888, by Pope Leo XIII, in memory o.
his golden sacerdotal jubilee. 1t wa:
bestowed on those men and womeI
who had merited we'll by aiding anC
, promoting and by other excellent ways
and means assisting in making thu
Jubilee and the Vatican Exposition
successful At present it is conferre'
upon those who in a general way de
serve well of the Pope on account 0
services done for the Church and it
: head. The medal is of gold, silver o
| bronze. 1t is cross made octangula
in form by Fleurs-de-Lis In the Ger
ter of the cross is a small medal wit
= an image of it's founder and an il
u scription On the reverse side is tn
= coat-of-arms of the Pecci family.