Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-03-10
FAME OF ST. PETERS.
William E. Curtis Writes of the Great
Worshiping Place of Rome.

NoME, Dec. lS-Although the Ca
thedral OF St Peter at Rome, the
pride of the popes," has been merci-
lessly criticised by architects, and
may, perhaps. he technically detective
in many OF its details. it is neverthe-
less the most majestic structure ever
erected by human hands. and. wheth-
er judged as an architectural monu-
ment or by its historical associations
and significance. is of equal interest to
all men as the scene of the martyr
dom of the apostle. the center of the
religious world, the most eloquent ex-
preston of ecclesiastical authority
and power in existence, the cradle of
Christianity, the cornerstone of the
faith which governs and consoles civ
ilized nations. Even Gibbon. an athe-
list, to whom nothing was sacred, pro-
nounced 1t '.the most glorious temple
ever raised"
| In the classic days of history that
part of the city lying west of the Ii
Der was given up to meadows, truck
farms and pastures for goats and cat
tie. Near the present site of the vati-
can hayseed named Cincinnatus was
plowing when called to the senate to
lead the Roman legions. Later Ca
ligula built circus there. in which
he amused himself with combats be-
tween wild horses and gladiators and
drove in chariot races against his
mobiles. Signora Domitia. an aunt of
Nero. owned a garden adjoining. and
that amiabe monster condemned her
to death because she would not sell
it or give it to him. This portion
of Rome became infamous as the
scene of Nero's profllgate pleasures
He exhibited his talent as chariot
eer and personally participated in the
sports of the circus, and at night IL
Illuminated the scene by covering the
bodies of men and women with tar
tallow and other inflammable mater
ials and hanging them around the
| amphitheater to serve as torches.
Juvenal and Tacitus describe these
horrors and tell of the revolving cruel
ties that occurred In this now sacred
spot You can read graphic descrip-
tions in "Quo Vadis.'
The obelisk now standing in the
center of the Piazza of St Peter en-
circled by that matchless battaliol of
2s4 granite columns. was brought
from Heliopolis to Rome by Caligula
as trophy OF war: and 1t has wit
| messed scenes that have no parallel
in human history. 1t bears the in
| scription:
Christ is triumphant! Christ
,-t l. tot
has paid all our debts"
In the ANNALS" of Tacitus We read
how Christians were covered with the
skins of the wild beasts so as to tempt
savage dogs to tear them to pieces
to make a Roman holiday; others
were crucified in order that Nero
might crafty his curiosity watching
their death struggles. and often with
his own hands released beasts from
the mountains, furious with fear and
hunger. so that he might enjoy the
eagerness with which they devoured
the babes of the peasants and the ten
| der children that were thrown to
| them. II was here that he supposed
he had strangled Christianity in its
cradle. 1t seems appropriate. there
| fore that the grandest temple ever
erected or conceived by man should
stand upon this spot, sanctified by the
fortitude as well as the agony of inno-
cent and helpless creatures whom
an inscrutable Providence permitted
to be sacrificed to the cruelty of a
monster
| 1t is generally supposed that the
great altar of the cathedral stands
upon the exact spot where the apos-
tie suffered martyrdom; crucified with
his head downward at his own re-
quest. because he did not consider
himself worthy to die in the same
manner as the Divine Master whom
he had denied. This event took place
in the year 81 A. D., but the archaeol-
ogists have recently located the scene
a little further eastward. near the
place occupied by the chapel of IS.
Simon and Jude.
Simon Peter made his first visit to
Rome. after his miraculous liberation
from the prison at Jerusalem, during
the reign of the Emperor Claudius-
about the year ~. The place where
he lived and preached and labored
during the twenty-five years of his
residence here have been pretty well
determined, and most of the ques
tions in dispute are now settled be
lyond controversy. Paul's martyrdon
is believed to have taken place almost
simultaneously with that OF Peter, and
we are shown the place where they
parted. but. as Roman citizen, Pau
was exempt from shameful death
and was beheaded instead of cruel
fed.
There seems to be a good deal of in
consistency of the different state
ments of st. Paul concerning his ma
tivity and citizenship, for, when h'
needed protection he claimed to be ;
Roman and demanded his prerogativet
and privileges as such. When i
suited his convenience he declared
that he was Jew, born in Tarsus
and yet brought up in this city"-Je
lrusalem-''Of the stock of Israel. O