Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-06-09

Larger than Westminster, larger
even than st. Paul's is the church of
Santo Domingo. This great edifice,
renowned in many countries, is known
not only for its size, but for the beauty
and magnificence of its decorations
and the many historical events en-
twined in it's history. The church was
built on consecrated ground, having
been the site of the martyrdom of two
Dominican priests.
It was early in the epoch Of Spanish
occupancy when Cortez sent Velasquez
de Leon from Mexico city to Coatza-
coalcos with band of men to protect
that port. In those days the road lay
through Oaxaca. OF Oaxaca itself, lit
tie was known other than the news
taken back by the few expeditions that
had been sent to the south by the
conqueror. Velasquez de Leon brought
some settlers for Oaxaca, among them
being several Dominican friars. After
the soldiers had proceeded on their
way to the port, the Indians rose
against the small band of settlers, and
on the spot where the church was aft
erwards erected two of the fathers
were cruelty put to death.
BY 1850 there were a number of Do
minican friars in Oaxaca and the ques-
ton of erecting a church and convent
for the use of the order was agitated.
The exact date of the beginning of the
work is not known, but 1t must have
been shortly after the middle Of the
18th century they began the work with
a few laborers who donated their serv-
ices and every member of the order
worked hard collecting more funds. A
petition was sent to the king of Spain
for assistance, to which he responded
generously. From time to time the
king sent other contributions and
there was no halt in the work.
st. Paul's cathedral in London meas
ures SO by $50 feet and cost G747,-
954 or 7,479,540 pesos, or some 5 mil
lion less than Santo Domingo. Some
idea of the size of the structure can be
obtained when it is considered that
four buildings the size of Westminster
abbey could be set on the ground COW
cred by this Dominican temple. At
the present time, however, only a
small part of the church is used for
worship, the other portions having
been converted into barracks by the
government.
Owing to the great height and thick
ness of the walls of the church, it has
been used for a fort on any and every
occasion when necessary. No wars,
however, married the serenity of the
early Dominicans and each year saw
the church increasing in wealth. The
library was ranked among the great
est in the republic. The interior of
the church was decorated in many
places with pure gold. The first drug
store in the city of Oaxaca was opened
by the Dominicans in the temple.
When the struggle with the French
began it was not long until Oaxaca was
in the hands of a French army. San
to Domingo was turned into a barrack
and the gold decorations, the fine
paintings and costly adornments were
ruthlessly stripped from her walls.
The friars were driven out and for
six years the church was fort and
nothing more. The accumulated
grandeur of 300 years was undone in
a few brief months.
The greater part of the structure is
still used as a barrack by the federal
garrison. About ten years ago Arch
bishop Gillow received permission
from President Diaz to restore por-
ton of the church. Thousands of dol
lars were spent on the interior of the
main chapel, which is ranked as the
most handsome of the republic. The
decorations on the ceilings were exc
cuted at great cost.
Surrounding the front of the edifice
is an immense court, nicely paved and
incIosed with a high iron fence. On
each post is a bronze angel three feet
high.
One Of the most daring acts recorded
IN the history of Mexico was the seal.