The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-31
WOOD-OARVING BY FILIPINOs.
Beautiful Examples of 1t in an Old
Church in Manila.
From the San Francisco Chroniole.

From the San Francisco Chronicle.
There stands in the old walled city of
Manila a church whose rare beauty should
WIN 1t a place among the famed temples
of the world. 1t is the Church of ST Tg-
natius of Loyola. and, as the name would
indicate, was erected by the Jesuit faith
ers. me ten years that elapsed between
lS@ and 1889 were consumed in its con-
struction, and success that was truly ar
llstlc crowned the effort Of a decade The
| exterior Is neither imposing nor artistic
but it was upon the interior that effort
was conferred, and few structures in tbe
world can boast of the perfect harmony
OF erect there attained. Practically the
entire interior is done in the native hard
woods of the Philippine Islands. that have
been carved by master hands. A remark
able fact IN connection with the work is
that it was ala done by natives. The de-
signs were all made in Europe. and every
credit is due the workmen who so close V
followed their models. This incident H.
Illustrates a peculiar trait in the Filipinos
They lack originality, but they are won
derful imitators. Give their caryers a
model and they wil duplicate to perfec-
ton. Let their painters see a picture and
they will reproduce it on their own instru-
| ments.
Probably the most artistic piece of
carving in the church Is the pulpit II is
massive affair, affixed to one of the
giant columns close to the altar rail ON
its sides are series of panels, upon which
have been carved scenes depicting i'm
portant scriptural events. The pulpit
has beautiful carved base, and upon the
outer side of the balustrade are the figures
of saints The figures have all been per-
fectly carved and there has been a won
derful regard for detail. Proportions are
perfect, and the effect is at once harmo-
NOUS and artistic. prodigious amount
of labor was expended upon the pulpit
The Rev. Father Francisco, one of the
rectors of the church, under whose direc-
ton much of the work has been done re-
lates that the carving of the base of the
| pulpit consumed two years, and that the
balustrade occupied nearly as much time
Next to the pulpit the ceiling, which is
entirely of carved wood, attracts the most
attention.
There are a series Of intricate designs
that show the genius Of art and the skill
of the carver and the effect is admirable
The columns. capitals and arches have
lso done in wood, and they, too enhance
the beauty of the church. The affairs
one main and two side-are also of wood
and show splendid specimens of the skin
of the carvers. The floor is also of wood
and the sheen of its polish serve to
highten the general effect. Most of the
wood used is mal0Ve, best of all the 1ftv
! varieties of hard woods that grow in the
! Philippines. II is capable of resisting any
| of the insects that attack wood, and
neither heat nor water affects il. Steel
| is the only thing that will outlast II. It IS
so hard that the fashioniug Of ii is very
difficult, but the excellent results obtain
ed make it worthy of the effort. The at
of wood carving has long been taught to
the Filipinos, and the traveller in their ISL
ands sees many samples of their work II
has reached its greatest perfection at the
Jesuit College at Manila, and the work in
the Jesuit Church is incomparably the
best so far done. Twenty-three years ago
! the students of the college sent an elab-
crate piece of carving 10 the Centenuial
Exposition at Philadelphia, and with IL
| won first prize.