CHAPTER VI.

THE RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION OF

MEXICO.

Importance of the subject-Distressing features-Zeal of the conquerors - Influence of the priesthood-Ecclesiastical establishment in Mexico-Decline of church power and wealth-Churches and convents-Taking the veil-Irregular lives of the monks-The confessional-Tithes-Extortionate fees-Payments of miners to the clergy-Funerals of rich and poor, and the dissipation that accompanies them-Religious processions-Holy week in Mexico-Village festival -Superstition of the people-Our Lady of Guadalupe-The Virgin de Los Remedios-Sterner scenes of superstitionPublic penances-The order of Santa Theresa-No prospect of tolerance-Privileges and responsibility of Protestants.

It would not have been unreasonable to expect that the first topic of inquiry with all professing Christians, when endeavouring to learn something about a foreign nation, would be their religious condition. If we take the history of the whole universe since man's creation, we find it separated into two great divisions. by the coming of Jesus Christ. In his life we have the great central fact of the world's history, and the Bible teaches us that this fact has an interest of the deepest importance for all our fellow men. In Him the free salvation of God is offered to all that will believe; in his person and character the mind of God to sinners has been declared; and to the message of his truth, when faithfully uttered, is promised the

accompanying influence of the Holy Spirit, so that it shall effectually work in the hearts of its hearers, and be productive of great results. And all this has been abundantly confirmed by the experience of the past. Although the progress of the gospel has been slow in certain cases, and missionary efforts have seemed for a time to fail, yet in every nation it has been found that the message of the Prince of peace is adapted to all the wants of the human heart, and brings the only true relief to a spirit burdened with the sense of sin. Everywhere there have been some who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. This of itself, one would have thought, should have aroused the attention of thoughtful men. Surely there must be something well worth knowing in that gospel which suits alike the civilized European and the savage dweller in the most barbarous lands. The true Christian understands the cause of such an influence, for as heart answers unto heart, he knows that the truth which is so inexpressibly dear to his own soul is equally fitted to cheer the heart of the wild Indian, who has learned to trust in Christ and be at peace. We wonder, therefore, that these results have not awakened more careful attention. The truth is the carnal mind is enmity against God and avoids instinctively such inquiries.

There is a further reason why the religious condition of a people should engage the notice of all men of observation, and it is this: that the inward reception of the gospel in the heart always has its effect upon the outward behaviour. Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is as well as of that which is to come. All experience proves it. Wherever the Bible is known and valued, there will be seen an industrious and thriving people. No conditions of climate or in

fluence of race will explain away this result. In Switzerland adjoining cantons bear the marks of their creed as plainly upon the surface of their fields as in the interior of their churches. In our own land wherever the power of truth is brought to bear upon the longneglected masses, an improvement in the habits of daily life invariably is the handmaid of an acceptance of the gospel. As a broad principle it may be affirmed that many a land with every natural advantage, but where God's word is withheld, is declining and falling into decay, whilst when the Bible is introduced the wilderness begins to flourish and to blossom as the rose.

The religious condition of Mexico will not, alas, present us with many pleasing features. A withering blight seems to have fallen upon the land, and in no respect has its influence been more deadly than in the power which a false creed has obtained over the minds of a people, who yet seem strangers to those practical virtues which that creed recommends. It may seem a harsh judgment to pass upon a whole people, but the Mexicans (with some slight exceptions that shall presently be noted), seem to have grasped all the superstitious usages of popery with the firmest tenacity, whilst they neglect those remnants of truth. which are still retained in the Romish religion. You will find in Mexico no more obedient, nay abject, devotee than the lepero, who will kneel humbly to the host as it is carried by, and immediately afterwards plunge his dagger into the heart of a foe. Amongst the native Indians the shaven crown of the priest will meet with a respect which no sense of right or wrong could ensure for any moral or religious precept. It is true that since these countries shook off the yoke of Spain, there has arisen in each state a party who have

desired to free themselves from thraldom to the priesthood but even now the vast mass of the population is still a prey to the superstitious terrors and convictions by which their fathers were held in bondage.

In the early history of the Spanish occupation, we find a constant anxiety displayed by the home government for the conversion of the natives to the faith of Christianity. In theory at least, it was supposed that the pope had a right to confer dominions beyond the Atlantic upon European princes, on condition that they should bring over the idolaters to the Catholic church. Indeed, there seems to have been a genuine desire on the part of those in power to carry out this purpose, but their efforts and many of their edicts were hindered and disregarded by the sturdy cavaliers whose broad swords had won them dominion in the field. We find constant complaints from the good fathers who accompanied them, that the regulations of the Spanish court, on behalf of the conquered peoples, were constantly violated. Very frequent were the appeals made to the Spanish council by the priests on behalf of the natives of the New World, who were treated with much cruelty by the conquerors. It was, doubtless, owing to their kindness, and to the ready way in which they accommodated their teaching, so as to include many heathen superstitions, that the Indians first acquired that reverence for the priesthood which has continued to the present day.

From the period of the conquest ample provision was made for the ecclesiastical establishment in Mexico and New Spain. Friar Gage gives us some insight into the wealth of the church when he visited the country; and this was increased in subsequent years. as the mines became more productive, and as wealthy

individuals were induced to make large gifts to the religious orders. Humboldt estimated the clergy of Mexico at from 10,000 to 13,000. The secular clergy numbered about 5,000 parish priests; whilst the monks of all orders, with their lay brethren, might amount to 8,000 more, of whom 2,500 were to be found in the convents of the capital alone. The church was governed by an archbishop and eight bishops, and the tithes destined to the support of the clergy amounted to 1,835,382 dollars in the six principal bishoprics, no return being obtained from the other three. But, besides this average annual income, the church possessed a large accumulated capital, "derived partly from bequests and partly from surplus income, the whole of which was supposed, in 1805, to amount to 44,000,000 dollars." This sum was lent out on mortgage at a moderate rate of interest. Besides these sources of income the ecclesiastics held land whose full value did not exceed three millions of dollars.

The possession of such immense wealth by the clergy was one of the causes which contributed to the success of the revolution. It is easy to understand that the chief prizes in the church were eagerly sought after by Spaniards, whilst the vast mass of the priests, on whom fell the labour of ministering to the people, were of Creole and mixed origin. Hence arose a bitter distinction of caste; all the wealthier offices being filled by Spaniards, who were commonly sent from Europe, and returned thither after amassing a fortune, while those who bore the burden and heat of the day were left to toil on in ill-requited poverty. In many dioceses where the revenues of the bishop amounted to 100,000 or 120,000 dollars, there were parish priests who vegetated upon a pittance of 100 or 120 dollars