The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-06-01

with Spanish escutcheons and supported
on gold tipped laDCeS. Awaiting the bridal
party stood lines of halberdiers and pal
ace guards
Church of San Jeroniuro Ell Real.
The church of San Jeronimo 81 Real.
where the nuptial mass is Cele hrated and
the marriage benedictiOn pronounced Is a
quaint old structure which has passed
through some strange vicissitudes. This is
not the first royal marriage celebrated
there. for the wedding Of Isabella III took
place in great pomp within its walls. But
more recently the church was abandoned
to a carpenters shop and planning mill.
and the WhiTr Of saws took the place Of
the solemn measures of the mass
The origin of the church was one Of
the strange whin.s Of the old king of Cas-
tile Henry " He had set up q magnifi-
cent tournament on the PardO road. to
celebrate the arrival Of a new British am
bassadOr The tournament was notable
for the courage displayed by the king s
favorite. Beltrsn de Ia Cueva. who not
only endorsed four knights. but also. sin
gIe-handed and on horseback. with q small
iavelin. conquered and killed an infuTiated
bull which had torn TO pieces the great
est torzadOr of Spain. The king to COM
memOrate this event founded a mOnas-
/ terry. which the JeTOnimO friars inauGu-
rated. Later Isabella, the Catholic shifted
Z the site Of the monastery to its present
place. Here il became the royal chapel
and during the gay era of Philip ~ ali
/ the royal alliances and ceremonies took
]
met there
Became Carpenter Shop.
/ After the expulsion Of the friars the edi-
flee became an artillery magazine and
/ later z carpenter establishment. Thus il
/ remained a workshop. until in 1880 the
/ government resolved To restore the build
+ ing to its original object as royal chapel
The sawmills were then removed. and cN-
/ tensivs reuovatiuE and repairing gave it
I back some of its ancient glory
/ The style Of the church IS gothic with
I two small towers. and large gothic pCr-
/ tico with rich stone carvings The interior
/ has the form Of a cross. with rose win
dow throwing a soft light across the altar.
/ There are few artistic treasures within,
and the scant light from the musty
/ stained-gIass windows makes the interior
/ rather dark
/ Moreover. Z Is essentially chapel.
rather than q magnificent cathedral. and
( it lacks that splendid perspective fitting a
7 state ceremony However. It's dark walls
/ are now hung with magnificent tapestries.
I while thousands Of plants and flowers and
| burning candles give setting worthy of
+ this solemn act
Horror of a Century Ago,
! San Jeronfmo is the only church in
Spain where mass can be celebrated after
/ midday This results from ar indulgence
granted for a fortune bequeathed to the
/ church q century ago by rich dOwager
! in favor Of the soul of her maid servant.
/ The dowaEer's precious Jewels disa q
/ peared one day. and the servant being &C
/ cused she was tortured and executed with
all the horrors Of inquisitorial days. Later
/ the Jewels were discovered in the ad Join
/ ing park. in a nest Of ma gpies. The Srief
/ Of the dowaeer was bOUndless, and she
gave her whole fortune for requiems tl1r
/ Indulgence for afternoon masses following
/ some years after