The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-04-02
FoR THE CENTRAL PREsBYTERIAN.
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
BY REV. PEYToN HARRISON.
ROME, January 1st, Is

ROME, January 1st, 1878.
Previous to my last visit to St. Clements,
I went through the Church of 81. Marie
MsggOre, one Of the largest and handsomest
in Rome, erected in the year S52. In front,
looking toward the east, on the second story,
is large and high pOrticO, supported BY
marble columns. The wall is entirely COM
posed of real mosaic, so affected by time that
the interstices are so opened as to show dis
tinetly the separate pieces of stone of which
it is composed. The nave of the church is
of great extent, the aisles, walls and roof
after the manner of St. Peters and st.
Pauls. The altars, of which there Gre
many, are adorned in the same general style
The chapel of BOrghesi opening into the
adjoining aisle, with its altar and dome are
adorned like those mentioned above, with
gold and paintings in frssco, the walls are
of beautiful marble of different colours.
The tomb of St. Mary has in front of it an
open semi circular space twenty-five feet in
depth, and the same in width, descending
abruptly from the floor of the church some
eight feet You descend by a flight of mar
bic steps, The walls surrounding the area
are of beautiful marble of different colors.
In a recess about eight feet in depth is
painting of Mary, All is beautifully Orna-
meDted; bnt the greatest beauty in this
grand church remains to be described, if l
can describe it, so as to give you an adequate
idea of this most elegant work of art. This
is the chapel of Pope Sextus, called Sstine
chapel, like that of BOrghesi, opening into
the aisle. Within it is the tomb of Sextus,
surmOunted by a model of the Temple of
Jerusalem, supported by four angels, the
whole fabric covered with pure gold. Above
is a magnificent dome, brilliant with gold
adOrnments; underneath is the tomb, like
that Of Sc. Mary; Joseph and Mary are
standing over the infant Jesus lying in
mange1 at their feet. The babe is of the
purest white marble; behind are several cat
tie, and other marks of a stable.
January 10th. 1t was good to hear
sermon last Sunday from DR.. Jeter, of Rich
mond, on Romans iv: y. $50 then every
one Of US shall give account of himself unto
God" / understand he is making arrange
ments to establish College here. This is
the right way to 60 to work; the people
here must be taught the very rudiments of
learning before much can be done to enlight-
en- them with religious truth. There are
several prosperous schools for children, in
spite of the unceasiDg arts of priests, who
leave no stone unturned to hinder the work.
We must not fAtter ourselves with the idea
that because the temporal power of the Pope
is broken, therefore every obstacle Is re-
moved. The Pope has strong citadel In
every Italian heart, which must be broken
through before the light of truth can enter.
Victor Emanuel himself is Catholic; so
are the people, who, nevertheless, rejoice in
the overthrow of the tyranny of the Pope.
This morning went into the subterranean
building under St. Clements. The walls
and arches and recesses are standing, but
little else of interest except what seems to
have been an altar for sacrifice. The place
where the altar stood is raised several feet
above the floor; the block of marble stands
on the altar on which it is supposed the VIC
tins we're slain. Enough is seen to give
evidence that it was probably heather tenn
pie, but the excavations are incomplete, and
will doubtless reveal more when further pros
ecuted. neglected to mention that in the
subterranean church is a representation IN
fresco, of healing the sick, and in the far
ther end, one of the sacrament of baptism
Now, herein is marvellous thing. The
Traian column stands mistaken, and the
pediments of the marble columns in the
forum are not more than eight feet below
the street, within a mile of st. Clements 3
and on a much lower level, built about the
same time with the subterranean church.
suppose geologists would require some cen
turies to accomplish these results, and wOulc
have dated the temple underneath fifty fee
below the present church of St. Clements
before the Mosaic account of the creation o
the world, whereas Rome itself was founded
only seven hundred and 6fty years anteriO
to the Christian era. The fact is, the con
yulsions of the earth breaking up the strat