New-York tribune., 1906-11-19

ks6 yeass in the building and stands to-day
result Of the efforts OF forty-tree Popes and the
4er,ius Of Brarnarte, Rafael and Michael Angelo.
nhe commission of suoh an outrage in such
tlaos has called forth unlimited condemnation
1n6 is declared TO show that the perpetrators Of
ahe crime were actuated by feelings worse than
.hose which moved the vandals and the Sar-
kcens.
The theory is held that this attempt was not
direoted against the Pepacy. but rather chal-
senge to society IN general by attacking religion.
dhe most sacred institution of the people.
81 Petsrs Church is the largest and one OF the
<nost famous OF the houses OF Christian worship
The edifoe stands over the spot where st. Peter ia
supposed 20 have suffered martyrdom and the tomb
sn which his body is said TO le. The site has been
occupied BY house OF worship OF some kind since
about A D. 90 when oratory was built there
The present edifce. which is estimated to have
cost about 100000, replaced the Baslica dI San
Soietro, in Vaticano and partly the founda-
Mons Of that building During the long residence
OF the Popes at Ayignon in the fourteenth century
the Basilica much defaced. After their return
70 the Vatican the work OF rebuilding begun,
the first steps being taken by Pope Nicholas
about a ID. 1850. He engaged Bernardo Gambarelli,
more commonly called Rossellino do the work.
Rossellino prepared complete plans. which, how
ever, were little followed. More vigorous work
was done under Bramante Urbino who made
new design. On his death the work put in
The hands Of Raphaes, who changed the plan TO
that Of Latin cross. and under whom consdera-
ble work done.
Michael Angelo Buonarrou took up the super
vision Of the work in 1915 changing the plan again,
fhIs time TO that Of Greek cross. Under him the
greater part OF the building finished He made
x WOODEN mode! or the dome, which is still pre-
were amer his death carried out, with only few
sIilailSes. The front, the Piazza di Petro,
&"S punt under Carlo Maderna, who practically
1Snpleted the building changing the plan again to
liz Inc Latin cross, which preferred by
ne church was dedicated in 1926, and being close
~ ccfEecIec with the Vatican, has been since then
fle chief place OF worship for the Popes and for
fhe Roman Catholic ChIrch
Ine c!urch is highly ornamented, and the in
1efior IS crowded with aitats tOmbs shrines fonts
sues. l2oSS-cs and other works Of The high
ssitafr stands under the dome, the
imposing bronze baldacino canopy. It is directly
over tie tomb Of ST. Peter. The altar was conse-
.cFaiad ~ LIZ. and from il only the Pope or some
e~rol:lIl having Ereoia! authorization may cele-
FA-1ie mass II g surrounded by d circular baluS-
tieoe OF marble fTom which suspended nearly
one hEEcIed lamps. which burn day and night.
FROM Tie altar q double fight of leads
5lds l lUeslins ON the right. in the nave in
aront o tse altar, IN marble chair is the bronze
-alue OF - Peter tho extended foot OF the saint
kLe-hS i-Gth worn by kisses of deVotees entering
one eAofInous outtress piers which the dome
Pes,S. Hnd IN the inches of which are statues OF
E1Iarious saints. "a
The great baldachino canopy. which IS s5 feet
from bronze taken from the Pantheon bv Urban
VII. Inc weight Of the canopy is estimated AT
Nl.ety three tons ana It's cost at $1,000
the high altar, is tho bronze chair of ST Pator
which WAS executed 1861 from designs nv Ber,,
mini at q cost Of $1,000 -