The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-08-05
sPAIN,s cHURcH TREAsUREs
The Immense Riches OF the cGtho-
draIs Nay Help in War vita
This Country.


The report that Spain viii appro-
pirate church property for war ex-
penses brings to mind some interest
ing facts.
Less than two years ago Pope Leo
XIII sent to the queen regent Of Spain
a magnificent gift IN the shape Of a
rosary, the beads Of alternate rubies,
diamonds and emeralds strung on &
chain Of the finest gold The git was
priceless.
From this one may form an idea Of
the immense amount Of treasure
throughout Spain in ''hoIy objects"
Scores of mitres encrusted with Jew
els, capes and robes embroidered In
gold and silver and oruamented with
precious stones used by the highest
ecclesiastical dignitaries only on grand
state occasions; picture frames Of
solid gold and silver, rockets and abs
Of priceless lace are among some Of
the riches Of the great churches.
The old cathedral Of Burgos IS
stored with valuable paintings and or
naments Of gold and silver. At Valla-
doIid, where Columbus died, there is
a fine classical cathedral rich in IN
counted treasure. A Spanish shrine is
described as having two Hfe-Eized
statues in silver Of our Savior and the
holy mother, with a crucihx OF solid
and heavy gold a yard in height.
Paintings by Valesquez, MuriIlo and
Juan Juarez, called the Raphael of
Spain, are found in many Of the cathe-
drals, that OF Seville being particular
Is fortunate in works Of MurillO. To
IedO, with its grand cathedral and
richly embellished chaPels, contains a
mine Of wealth in ornaments and
decorations.
When the financial problem became
serious matter in Mexico, recourse
was had by the government to the
great treasures Of the churches Of
that country, but this is not the only
instance where it has been found
necessary to draw upon such stores,
and reconcile the interfering claims Of
church and state.
Napoleon BOnaParte laid his hand on
the ancient patrimOny Of st. Peter,
and the benignant pOntifF, Plus VII,
when compelled to pay a part Of the
200, OOO, OOOfrancs imposed by Napoleon,
had many Of the golden and silver
treasures OF the vatican melted down I
to meet the demands Of the emperor,
besides surren6ering priceless gems Of
art.
Inestimable as are the riches Of the
vatican, they are not supposed TO ex-
coed those Of the church in Spain.
Although the peninsula was rich in |
'fhOly objects" from the date Of the I
discovery Of America, It was under /
Philip II. that the vast accumulation /
now possessed by the cathedrals and 4
shrines was begun. This king sue 4
ceeded to an inheritance more vast i
than mortal man had possessed since
Charlemagne had been laid in his \
tomb. Spain, Austria, the Neither
lands, the golden Americas, acknowI-
edged him as lord and sovereign mas
ter. In 1864, during Philips reign, the
rich Manila islands first came under
the grasp Of Spain, and were renamed
the Philippines, in honor Of the king.
1t was Philip II. who fastened the vast
system OF 1lOnastic houses upon Spain.
He endowed them richly and made
votive offerings.
When Philip con6ded the govern
ment OF Flanders to his half sister,
Margaret Of Parma, and went back to
Spain, the country Of his birth and
prediction, he took with linn a great
Of treasure, among which was
a precious collection Of Flemish and
Italian statues and pictures, which he
had inherited from his father, Charles
Y.
When the royal feet arrived on the
coast OF Biscay it encountered a ter
rife storm, and several Of the ships
we're lost. The king was in the great
est danger. In this supreme moment
he made a vow that If life were spared
him he would cOnsecrate his power to
the glorifcatiOn Of the church and the
axtirpatiOn of heresy. How rigidly he
kept his word history tells us.-Wash-
lngtOn Post.