The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-04-05


are obliged to ascend their knees and SO great
has been the Of the faithfl that they had
seriously impaired the marble, and indeed threatened
the destruction Of this precious remnant if the Pope
had not prudently ordered them 10 be covered with
OAK pianks which, in their turn, nearly dcmoish-
ed by this holy fervour,, We saw two of these de-
vout believers ascending Pilates Stair Cass in this
painful, but no doubt from the good effects they
pected to derive from it, TO them pleasurabIe way
cannot say that white marble IL not plenty in
Palestine as in Italy but if not, it must have been
very expensive article late for these steps were
fifteen feet long, of single block and the trans
portauon must therefore have been very trouble
some. could not help remarkng that this marble
very much resembled hat Of Italy, and believe is
peculiar to that country. You are shewn also i'm this
church picture of our Saviour by ST. Luke, which
think must be the oldest in Christcndom; and
bronze door, which was taken down from the palace
OF Pontius Plate in Jerusalem by the way, you can
inform me, what were the particular merits OF Plate,
which should render the threshold Of his door
the object of religious veneraton
At 81. John in the Lateran, which, an inscription
informs you is the Oldest church in Christendom,
having been built by Constantine, the first Christian
Rmperour, you will expect to find an extraordinary
collection of sacred things, and your expectations
viii not be disappointed. II has the honour to pos
sess the real head of ST. Peter II boasts of having
the pillars OF the portico of the palace of Plate. 1t
undoubtedly has the happiness to nclose within its
walls the real Samaritan wel mentioned in John v.
8, = or rather the cw0 of that WELL they could not
very conveniently transport the we'll itself but in
der TO preserve the resemblance, they have dug
wen IN the church yard, and placed the curb it,
and they now obige you to remark the channel worn
by tic rope when employed in raising the water in Sa-
maria This curb is also of beautiful white marble,
and is covered with elegant bas recfs say nothing
Of the probability of their having so expensive an
nament TO well in a village in Samaria but must
remark, that marble must have been very abundant
in Paestne and that the popes have been singular
ly fortunate, as well as Industrious, in finding all these
relicks five hundred years after the period of the
events which had rendered them interesting.
They have also in this church little monument
consisting OF Hat stone on the ground, upon which
four pillars are placed, which support another stone
at the height of about Six feet, and Which you
gravcly told represents the exact height of our Sa-
vour How this ascertained, they do not inform
you, but one marvellous circumstance they never
forget, which is, that person found,
whose size corrcspondcd exactly with this measure
ment OF our Saviour. This tale is always accompa-
med with look OF uncommon awe, and an astonsh-
ed countonancc In this church there is also an al
tar, the history OF which is equally surprzing and
will go far TO make you credit the doctrine OF the
real presence in the clements This altar has large
hole through it, the of which is affirmed to be,
that priest was administering the sacrament over
this altar, and held in his hand the consecraed bread
but not believing that it was the real body of our
Lord, he attempted to cut it, and the blood immed-
ately followed from the wound. The piece of bread
fell from his hand and Instantly made its way through
the marble altar which is preserved in perpetual re-
membrancc OF the miracle The astonished priest,
no doubt, was converted at this unquesonable proof
of the truth Of the Cathock doctrine and you must
be hardened indeed if you still refuse your assent to
an opinion so miraculously supported.
could go on, and tell you, that have seen the
original oaken table, at which Saviour and his
disciples partook of the last supper--and Hle actual
print Of our Savour's foot, made upon piece of
marble, when the devil carried him into the noun
tain to tempt him--and thousand other equally i'm
fctant relicks but think that enough has been al.
ready stated to shew, that revolutions have cac-
ed the impressions of Bgotry, nor annihilated the
reign of creduty in this celebrated country.
1t is indeed to be regretted that the pure and sim
pie religion OF Christianity should be thus debssed
IN ITS practice by the grossest doay for it deserves
no other name and it is still more to be lamented,
that we scarcely hope for change, beneficial to
religion. in this country for experience teaches us,
that men usually go from. extreme to the other,
and it is therefore TO be feared, that these unforu-
nate people would proceed from blind credulity to
open iniidelity ard atheism Yours, &C.