The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-05-30
CHURCH
THREE HUNpREp NJ

THREE HUNDRED YEARS OLD
One of the old historic buildings OF
New Mexico is the church of San Fe-
npe de Neri. at Old Albuquerque.
Tne following interesting article con-
corning it, is taken from the Albu
q~uerque Journal:
For at least three hundred years.
aad perhaps more, the venerable old
Spanish church of San Felipe de Neri
has stood looking down upon b plaza
of Old Albuquerque, a town which the
records indicate may have already
been settled when Santa Fe with it's
claims to greatest antiquity was not
yet in existence.
Every yea for at least two nund-
red years the quaint fiesta in honor of
Philip, the patron ain of the parish,
has been held in the month of May
in the old town. 1t has always been
a celebration of more than passing
interest and has seldom been more
interesting than it was yesterday.
THE crowds began arriving early
in the morning and until late last ev-
eling the merrymakers were coming
and going.
Although the weather was far from
favorable it is estimated that several
thousand people visited the plaza and
the old church during the day.
The religious procession around
the Die town is the most interesting
event of the day, and never fails to
bring to Old Albuquerque large mum
bers of tourists and signtseers. The
procession issued from the church
shortly after 4 O'Clock yesterday after
noon. 1t was an unusually long one,
extending for approximately three
blocks. 1t was led by Isidro Sandoval
Mareschal' of the day, carrying a
large United States flag. He was fol-
lowed by the First Regiment band,
playing appropriate airs, next coming
an sco of Company G. First Regi-
ment of infantry, New Mexico Nation
al guard. Then came six or eve re-
ligious societies of the old town, the
priests respondent in their brilliant
silks n laces, and a choir of Chill
dren singing as they marched and fol
lowing the image of the patron saint
which was carried aloft in the pro-
ceSSion.
Zone of the most impressive details
of the parade was the procession of
the society of Die women OF the town
many of hem bent and gray and
stopped, and all attired in their simple
black robes with a purple surplice.
The Mutual Protective society was in
evidence, and the various altar socie-
ties, Soda1tleS and other Or
ders with their insignia made a most
picturesque showing. Returning to
the cathedral with it's banners and
emblems the procession entered while
the benediction was pronounced in the
quiet gloom of the quaint old cathe-
dral.
"The fore part of the afternoon was
spent in holiday sports in the park
and the adjoining streets around the
plaza races, chicken pulling, climbing
the creased pole, catching the elusive
piled pig and other amusements being
of the program. Meanwhile
the band played in the plaza park. II
fact, the band was kept pretty busy
all day. Music followed the opening
of the festivities with a salute by Col
onel Ruiz battery at daylight in the
morning and at $50 in the evening
the concert in h park was renewed.
THE solemn high mass and panegy-
ric of the saint ook place in the
church at. 9 a. m, Rev. Father To
massini presiding. Further religious
services were held at 7:30, the vents
of the day closing with an eloquent
address on the significance of the day
by Attorney Elfego Baca. Fireworks