EL TEMPLETE. 
The Spaniards who explored the new world and planted colonies were 
accompanied by the priests of their religion, and the celebration of the 
mass had a recognized place among the formalities which were observed 
in the establishment of a town. When in the year 1519 Diego de Velazquez 
founded Havana here at the Puerto de Carenas, the priests said a mass under 
a ceiba tree standing near the shore. At an early period the inhabitants 
marked the historic spot, and in 1747 Captain-General Francisco Cagigar 
erected for a permanent memorial an obelisk of stone. Arrete, writing in 
17 55> records that in that year the original ceiba tree was in full bloom at 
an age reckoned at 400 years. When the bones of Columbus were trans¬ 
ferred to Havana in 1795, before being deposited in the Cathedral they 
were first brought to this spot, and in an ebony sarcophagus were placed 
in state under the venerable ceiba, where they were formally inspected by 
the Captain-General and pronounced to be the genuine relics of the 
Discoverer. As a more elaborate memorial, El Templete (the little temple 
or chapel) was dedicated in 1828, on March 9, the Queen’s birthday. The 
dedication was attended with much pomp, the Governor and his staff in 
full uniform, the Bishop in his pontificals, 5,000 troops, and thousands of 
citizens taking part in the procession. The images of the saints were 
brought from the church, and a mass was celebrated here on the scene of 
the first mass three hundred years before. A bronze tablet commemorates 
the event in these words: 
“During the reign of His Majesty Don Fernando VII., under the Presidency and 
Governorship of Don Francisco Dionisio Vives, the most faithful, religious and 
pacific Havana erected this simple monument, consecrating the place where, in the 
year 1519, was celebrated the first mass and holy office, the bishop Don Juan Jose 
Diaz de Espada solemnizing the Divine Sacrifice of the Mass on the 9th day of 
March, 1828.” 
The Templete contains three paintings by Escobar. The first one pic¬ 
tures the installation of the first Municipal Council in Cuba, at Santiago, 
Don Diego de Velazquez presiding. The second one is of the celebration 
of the first mass on this spot in 1519; the Indians gathered around to look 
on at the mysterious ceremony, and with hands uplifted exclaiming, 
“Habana.” The third painting commemorates the inauguration of the 
monument itself, with portraits of Governor Vives and his chief officers. 
The chapel is open once a year on November 16, San Cristobal’s day. The 
column in front of the chapel marks the site of the original ceiba, which 
was cut down in 1828 and converted into relics. The tree now here is 
reputed to have been grown from a slip of the old tree. The bust of 
Columbus in the court is esteemed a good portrait. It was carefully 
studied by the American painter, John Vanderlyn, when he came to 
Havana to find a model for the Columbus in his painting of the “Landing 
of Columbus,” which hangs in the rotunda of the Capitol at Washington. 
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