Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-03


MEETING PLACE OF RELIGIOUS CONGRESS
valides, surmounted by dome nearly
three times the size Of tire largest dome
ever made In connection with any
building. This dome alone will be Il
sight second to none in the exposition.
TO give 1t beauty and architectural
grace the great dome will be surround
ed by numerous pillars. and the win
dows, OF the richest-hued stained glass,
Will shed lovely light on an interior
that will be marvel Of ecclesiastical
art
Il have spoken Of the dome first, be-
cause 1t will be the most wonderful fea-
ture OF the building. but there are
other beauties SO numerous that it will
take day to view the structure, and
then the sightseer will find fresh fea-
lures to admire. From the ground
the building will rise to a series of
terraces. which will support hanging
gardens.
Under the cupolas that will sur
round the central dome there will be
representations in panoramic views of
the events in which Christians are
most interested. The scenes on Calva-
~ will be graphically depicted; the ag-
ony In the Garden Of Gethesmane and
other scenes In the life of Christ Will
be shown In a striking manner.
Then the Coliseum, the immense
altar on which was split the blood of
the martyrs. scenes in the catacombs
during the period when the Christians
were hid there, the great scene when
Constantine proclaimed the Christian
religion, st. Genevieye stopping Attila,
Charlemagne at ST.. Peters tomb. Ur.
banAII. preaching the crusade. the taxi
ing Of Jerusalem by Godfrey de Douil-
Ion. Joan OF Arc at Chnon and Rouen
the landing Of Columbus In America,
the Council O. the Vatican, the Jubilee
OF Leo XIII.-all these great events
In the history OF Christianity will be
shown on the terraces of the building
Besides incidents, there will be de-
grims arriving at the Grotto Of Bethle-
hem, Lourdes; Our Lady OF Pillar and
st. James of Compostello.
Thousands will be able to wander
around these great terraces and mar
vel at the sights to be seen there.
"AB to the interior OF the building,
this will be still more interesting. In
the museum Will be seen specimens Of
the instruments OF torture used by the
pagan nations on the Christians Of old,
worries and carvings OF the Roman and
Greclan eras and statues Of the saints
and early martyrs OF the Church.
There Will also be as many Of the most
noted sacred relics rs can be brought
to the building. An attempt will be
made to reproduce the images and pic
lures found in the catacombs and any
other lost relics that are sufficiently
we'll described to be reproduced
Tho various religious organiza-
lions and cults will be represented in
whatever way they may elect, special
space being set apart in the great build
ing for each. The Order of the Sacred
Heart will have space Of its own, as
will the Order Of the Benedictine
Monks, the Cult Of the Virgin Mary,
and so on. The work done by each Of
The great religious organizations will
be shown by means Of the great relig-
ious theatrical performances on stage
that will be one OF the most interesting
features OF the building, inasmuch as
1t will contain especially designed the
atrical contrivancea for the production
OF the religious plays that have never
been introduced upon any secular
stage.
"'fhe theatrical performances will be
accompanied by mammoth services OF
aong. in which thousands OF singers
md hundreds of instrumentalists will
take part, accompanied on an organ
that will be the finest ever heard and
Che largest that money can buy