The Cairo bulletin., 1909-12-16
$li.80
GREAT MEXICAN CHURCH.

larger than Westminster Target
even than ST Pauls, Is the Church o
Santo Domingo This great ediftce
renowned in many countries, Is KNOW
not only for its size but for the beant.
and magnicence Of Its decoration,
and the many historic events entwlnet
In Its history. The church was built
on consecrated ground. having been
the site of the martyrdom OF two DO
minican priests.
1t was early in the epoch of Spanish
occupancy when Cortez sent Velas'
quez de Leon from Mexico city tt
Coatzacoalcos with q band Of men te
protect that port. In those days the
road lay through Oaxaca or Oaxacs
itself little was known other than the
news tsken' back by the few expedi
tions That had been sent to the south
by condberor, Velasauez de Leon
brought some settlers for Oaxaca,
among them being several Dominican
fl'iars. After the soldiers had pro-
ceeded Oh their way to the port the
indians rose against the small band
of settlers and on the spot where the
church was afterward erected two OF
the fathers were cruelty put to death.
Ny 1850 there were a number OF
Dominican friars I'm 0axaca and the
question OF erecting church aud con
vent for the use of the order was agi.
tated The exact date of the beginning
OF the work is not known, but Ii must
have been shortly after the middle OF
the sixteenth century they Begaa tina
work with few laborers. who gave
their services, ana every member OF
the order worked hard collecting more
funds A petition was sent to the
King OF Spain for assistance, 10 which
he responded generously, From time
TO time the King sent other coutrtbu-
tions aud there was no halt in the
work.
st. Pau's cathedral In London meas
ures $40 by $50 feet and cost E745s5i,
or 7,497540 pesos, or some 5,00o.0o0
pesos less than Santo Domingo. Some
idea of the size of the structure can
be obtained when it is considered that
four buildings the size IT Westminster
Abbey could be set on the ground coy.
cred by thts Dominican temple AT
the present time however. only a
small part Of the church Ia used FOR
worship. he other portions having
been converted into barracks by the
Government.
Owing to the great heighi and thick
ness Of he walls OF the church it, has
been used for fort on any and every
occasion when necessary. No wars
however, marred the serenity OF the
catly Dominicans. and each year saw
the church increasing in wealth The
| library was ranked among the greatest
| 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 I)ominicans in the temple
| When the struggle with The French
began it was not long nntil Oah9ca
| WAS IN the hands Of French army
! Ssnto Domingo vas turned into a bar
| rack and the gold decorations, the hnt
| paluiings and costly adofnments were
| rurhleSsIy stripped from her walls
| THE fi.iars were driven ont and Tor SD
! years the church was a forl aud moth
| ing more The accumulated graHdnel
| nj 800 years was.undone in few bris:
months. The greater part OF ih'
structure is stu used by the Fedora
gsftison
About ieu years ago Archbishop GIL
low received permission from ireSi
| dent lJfaz 10 restore portion " VI
church Thousands Of dollars weit
i spent on the interior Of the mai
chapel. which is ranked as the mos
handsome Of the republic The dec
oratjons ~, The ceilings we're execute
al great COST. Surrounding the from
of rho edifce r. an immense oirt
rtcely paved and enclosed with hig
iron fence. On each post is bror,
angel MEXICAN Herald.
THE MOTOR AND THE FARMER