Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-07-16
THE CATHEDRALS.
mExlCC'S CHURCH eOlFlCES AND
THE WONDERS THEREOF.
Grand Cathedral of the CITY of Mexico
Cathedrals of Pueblo asi santa
Guadaiupe-Bich Ornaments,
Jewels aud Nestments.
TEmIIy - in Frank I.e.lIe,s.l

Emily Pierce in Frank Leslie'sl
4 j. fact. frankly acknowle lgsd that
the Roman Catholic church in Mexico is
now surrounded by the runs only of its
former greatness. Fifty years ago this opu-
lent institution owned over three-fifths Of
the tity Of Mexico. The income of the
archbishop was greater than that of the
queen Of England. In 1927 there were $50
converts and monasteries in Mexico One
tenth of tine products of the country went 10
the clergy as titles The estimated
value OF church property in 1859
was $500. 100000. one-third of the entire
property of the nation. In the City of Mex
leo there were 5000 houses, valusi at $50
O0OOOO, of which the church owned more
tran One-halL DOmes rose in every block
the eros, was lifted upon every hand. The
annual income of the church in the City OF
Mexico was $50, 00O,OOJ, while that of the
republic was only SIS, 0OO,0Ol The clergy
in the city of PuebIa held mortgages on
farms, in that state alone To the amount Of
80, 900. Between Puebla and Apizaco,
distance Of thirty miles, were l24 churches,
and tie valley Of Pue ola numbered 365-ons
for each day IN the year.
The grand cathedral stands upon the site
of TIE Aztec Teocalli; IL covers space of
41 by coo feet, and its high altar, which is
in the center OF tho edifice, is above the spot
once occupied by the sacrificial stone The
choir Is one mass of elaborate carvings; ex-
tending around it. and leading TO the high
altar probably 2J0 feet is a railing Of lum-
bago, manufactured in China, ana weig hing
twenty-iX tons. IL is brassy- looking
metal, composed of gold, silver, ami a small
-.
gold that an offer has been made 70 replace
it with pure silver, and give many thousand
dollars in addition. The altar itself. placed
upon marble platform, /, OF
wrought and polished silver, and the
whole ,urmounted by a small temple,
i'm which formerly rested the figure
Of the Virgin Of Remedies, who was dressed
in three petticUats-une embroidered with
pearls. another with emeralds, and a third
with diamonds, the value of which was
over s., 900 OOO This was only one part of
one church in Mexico. and that aid no5 10
be the richest
dropped into the sacristy one day, AMI
found two or three padres indulging in a
quie; chat after mass. They politely volun-
teered 10 show ms the magnificent set OF
vestments worked for the cathedral by COM
cloth of gold incrusted with gems, and witt
passages OF holy writ, 50 enluistely worked
in silk that il require the closest inspection
for my womln', eyes to discover traces of
the neeIlc. Tne-e gorgeous ve,tments are
u-eles, Tor practical purpo e, being 50
heavy that no man og ordinary dim ,nsions
cOuli sust ain their enormous w.iGhJ, during
mas, or eveu .ong enough to pronounce the
benedic.ol.
Tue cathe irai of Puebla is the best speci-
men Of architecture have seen in Mexico.
The material is blue basalt, and the mas
sive buttresses and lofty towers without, the
noble arche, and artistic pillars within. give
"a dignity and solidity often lacking. A
favorite legend tells US that while in process
of building this cathedral gained mysteri
ously in height during the night exactly a:
much "a the masons had accomplished dur.
ing the day. This was said to be the work
of two angels who came down from heaven,
and wrought with golden trowels in
their hands, hence the city acquired the
name of "Puebla de los Angeles (the City
OF the Angel-l.
Here the great altar affords the finest dis
play Of Mexican marbles in the republic,
and beneath IL Is the sepulcher of the bish.
ops. Before the revolution there de
pended from the center Of the vast dome
al enormous chandelier-a mass Of gold
and silver weighing tons; one may
imagine its value from the fact that the cost
OF cleaning Il alone amounted to $4,000.
Here the candelabra were of gold, and SO
ponderous that a strong man could not lift
them; the value OF the jewels was of historic
notoriety, and an imags Of the Virgin
boasted a zone Of diamonds valued at ST.
OOO, 900.
The cathedral Of Santa Guadalupe is the
most famous in Mexico, and was once the
richest AMI most venerated SHRINE; but the
grand old Indian president. Bsnito Juarez,
coniiscated most OF its gold and silver orna-
ments, and coined them into money, to carry
ON his war against the church party. Even
the frame Of solid gold which surrounded
the patron saint was taken, hut this was
afterwar1 returned. The altar railing,
weighing tons, is of solid silver. This alone,
of all the sumptuous church fixtures, was
spared by the Liberals.