Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-06-27


TO, nuch dehilitated by the shocks that
his stem receives as he goes in state
OF pc SEPARATION from the burning heat
that Iervades The streets OF Rome, into
the cunl and humid atmosphere found
In the thick walled churches or subter-
ranean catacombs, he might write long
descriptive letter at the close of each
days observation.
Indeed, one might write a letter
concerning each of the three hundred
and seventy churches found in Rome,
Long ones would be required to describe
St. Peters, st. John Lateran, Santa
Maria Msggiore, st. Paul and Others.
In general terms 1t might be said that
all are splendid and required great ex-
penditure in their construction. Most
of them have not only their pillars and
pilasters, but also their floors and cell
ings OF ornamental marbles, the latter
often decorated with rich mosaics that
closely resemble the finest OF paintings.
Oriental Alabaster, Malachite, Lapis-
lazuli, Amethysts and other precious
stones are often used in the construction
OF their affairs. Never have / seen a
wooden altar in Rome. Statues of mar
BILE and bronze abound in every church.
In and upon st. Peters are three hun
bred and ninety statues. These repre-
sent the Saviour, the Virgin, the Apos-
ties, and numerous Saints, many OF
which were canonized by the Pope and
placed on that list.
St. Peters, the largest church in the
world, has ground plan like huge
cross, the length being 6l5 feet, and its
width 48S feet. The height of the spire
is about the same as the width of the
church.
1t has no galleries, but is divided into
three aisles or avenues, by arches, pillars,
pilasters, panel work and inches, all of
marble or mosaic work. The middle
aisle or division is eighty feet wide,
about six hundred feet long, and one
hundred and forty three feet high, to the
top OF the arch. The side alsles or
divisions have about one.half the width
of the middle one and upon their outer
side are twenty-five chapels dedicated to
various Saints. 1t is in these chapels
that the people meet to worship, kneel-
ing before the altar or some soul ptured
image. At times priest is at the altar,
his back to the audience, and the ring
ing of tea bell announces the time to
commence and end the ceremonies Of
worship.
Immediately under the dome, which is
over four hundred feet above the floor
of the church, is the principal altar,
which is eighty.six feet high and COW
cred with bronze canopy that is over
one hundred feet high, supported by
four large spiral bronze columns. These
are richly decorated with gold at cost
said to be over $4,000.
The whole edifice cost over $40 ,000,-
900 and was 112 years in being built. 1t
was the sale of indulgences to raise
money to complete this edifice that Gre
ated a d ssension in the Romish church
and led to the reformation.
Splendid as ST. Peters is in its finish
it annually requires an outlay of several
thousand dollars to fit 1t up for the vari-
Gus ceremonies observed by the Catholic
church.
More than a hundred men are now al
work in decorating it preparatory to
two great fetes to come off on the Goth
of June and in July. At the latter time
it is expected forty.eight new Saints
will he csnonized by the Pope and
added TO the catalogue, that now mum
bers over three thousand, (3,000) to be
hereafter venerated by all true believers
in the church.
Over five thousand yards of scarlet
silk are said to be necessary to form the
curtains to hang In the arches between
the aisles or avenues. These curtains
(some OF which are already up) are
richly trimmed with heavy gold Lace
their entire length and decorated with 6
profusion of gold stars that are fastened
TO the silk.
The lower part OF the pilasters arr
also covered with rich damask and gol(
lace arranged in stripes. The panels o
marble along the sides of the church are
all covered with gold cloth, and at thu
west end is mammoth golden stal
about forty feet In diameter, in front o
which hundreds of candles will burr
during the ceremony.
Numerous images in plaster are being
made to be placed around the high altar
Aside from the statues the whole interior
of the church seems likely to be changed
for these great occasions.
The marble statues will probably re
main in the inches where they are, anc
the bronze statue at the right Of th,
high altar, will probably not be takel