The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-15
:. I2be Churches Of W@MZas. :.
They Are Numerous and Some of Them Are
Alphabetically Beautiful

If ono cares to be transported from the
present to medieval times, writes the Ma
Mia correspondent of the St. LOUIS Globe
Democrat, he need only mount the spin al
stairs of San Sebastian, an alien and sun-
Tor church in Manila, and look cut over
the low-lying city stretching toward the
sea. The scene recalls a day when the
church militant of Rome was the church
triumphant of this world, a living power
among the nations. He sees before him
a bewildering array Of towers, domes and
spires following close upon one another;
If he descends and mingles with the NOV
ing throng he passes friars and priests
galore, some in black and some in white,
some III blue and Some in brown. Ger
tainly the souls of these little dark leo
pie must be as dark co1ored as their skins,
as 1t has taken SO many orders and still
more churches to have, TO hold and to
help them up 1.-The golden stairs"
Since the first mass was celebrated II
Cebu by Magellan, more than $50 years
gone by, crudely, but with fervor, the
Roman Catholic faith has gown and
Hourished "thro' ella gor, s; orm and feud, y
until 1t has dominated the life of the ISL
ands. The Philippines are the faithful
offspring of their godfather and name
giver, Philip II, who, according t. lis
own words, died like a good Catholic, in
faith and obedience to the holy Roman
church" He it was who sent the cdored
expedition to the islands, inspired by lie
lis:ous zeal, and to this desired end Lee
gaspi brought with him six Augustnian
fathers, among whom Padre Andres de
the Church and 0rderaof ST. Angus inc.
San Pablo de Augustine is the mother
of all the churches in Manila. Begun Ia
1899, 800 birthdays have passed over her
head. The present church is the third on
the same site, two others having been lie .
stroyed by fire, one in 1871 by Lima hong.
the Chinese outlaw and pirate; the second
In 1883 In a confiagIation caused fl ON too
great a display of burning candles at he
funeral mass of the governor general, Don
Gonzalo Ronquilla San Pablo Is the only
church Of Manila that has withstood the
terrible earthquake shocks of former
times. The fathers point out two ellipti-
cal arches near the main entrance, which
pass underground and form almost a per
feet ellipse, and to this peculiar consti uc-
ton they attribute the preservation OF
the church.
So severely simple is the exterior one
might almost pass San Agustino by with
out remark were it not for the large paw
ed courtyard, surrounded by a curious
wall, and guarded at the entrance by
queF' d'lapidated stone dogs, which at
tract ones attention to mass or gray
buildings. Opening on this courtyard is
the church. The principal facade Is ccr :
pleted by pointed gable, its plain Lgli-
ness attempting little relief and ado m
ment by the use of Corlnthian columns ut
the portal. To the right is a square tow
er, with pointed roof-its twin was laid
low during the earthquake of 1850. Wishi 1
the style is evidently modelled after the
Italian Renaissance, and, naturally, since
1t was built under the direction of An
tonic Herrera, nephew and disciple of
the celebrated architect of the Escurial.
1t is long rectangle, terminating in a
semi-circular apse; the transept sur
mounted by dome; the nave spanred by
vaulted ceiling; the side aisle space,
separated from the nave by engaged col
umns, is converted into chapeIs, seven on
each side; the choir IS supported by the
muchprized elliptical arches The figure
of st. Paul occupies the center of the
high altar, virile type, regal in robes OF