Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-06-01
GREAT MEXICAN CHURCH.
Many Years In BuiIding-used a. a
Fort and Barracks.

Fort and Barracks.
Larger than Westminster, larger even
than st. Pauls, is the Church OF San
to Domingo. This great edifice, re-
nowned in many countries, is. known
not only for its size but for the beauty
and magnificence Of its decorations and
the many historic events entwined In
its history. The church was built on
consecrated ground, having been the
site of the martyrdom Of two Domini-
can 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 TAX
en- back by the few expeditions that
had been sent to the south by the con-
aueror. 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 afterward
erected two of the fathers were cruelty
put to death.
BY 1850 there were number OF Do
minican friars In oaxaca and the ques-
tion 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
sixteenth century they began the work
with few laborers, who gave their
services, and every member Of the or
der worked hard collecting more funds.
A petition was sent to the king OF
Spain for assistance, to which he res
ponded generously. From time to time
the king sent other contributions ana
there was no halt in the work.
St Paul's cathedral in London meas
ures $40 by $50 feet and cost a747,s64,
or 7,497,549 pesos, or some 100000
pesos less than Santo Domingo. Some
idea of the size of the structure can be
obtained when 1t is considered that
| four buildings the size Of Westminster
Abbey could be set on the ground COW
cred by the Dominican temple. At the
present time, however, only a small
part of the church is used for worship,
the other portions having been convert
ed into barracks by the government.
Owing to the great height and thick
ness of the walls Of the church 1t has
been used for a fort on any and every
occasion when necessary. No wars
however, marred the serenity of the
early Dominican, 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 Dominicans In the temple.
When the struggle with the French
began It was not long until Oaxaca was
in the hands of French army. San
TO Domingo was turned into barrack
and the gold decorations, the fine paint
ings and costly adornments were ruth
lessly stripped from her walls. The
friars were driven out and for six
years the church was a fort and moth
ing more. The accumulated grandeur
of 800 years was undone in few brief
months. The greater part Of the struc-
ture is still used by the Federal garri-
son.
About ten years ago Archbishop Gil
low received permission from President
Diaz to restore portion Of the church.
Thousands of dollars were spent on the
interior Of the main chapel, which Is
ranked as the most handsome OF the
republic. The decorations on the CELL
ings were executed at great cost. Sur
rounding the front Of the edifice Is an
immense court, nicely paved and en-
closed with high iron fence. On each
post Is a bronze angel.