The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-14

receiving also the last dying sigh of the aged In
Ead iGr Mho,; PaTag s.n TIE % pasSe
conhdes to plous ears the tremulous hopes and
fears of her heart; the tather lntrusts the
worldly secrets and troubles OF his life; and the
young virgin kneeling at the confession chair,
pours forth the imaginary sins and iolbles OF
her innocent glrlhood.
The inhabitant of p1lace bushes not to ask
or accept the stewardship of some estate OF the
church the artisan hopes for its encouragement
in his trade the poor man anticl pltes its assist
ance in money; the merchant It's custom; the
miser the executorship OF his will, and IN its
ministers the guardians of his children, and the
trustees of his riches In the distribution OF the
real estate of the republic, the CHURCH Is the
wealthy landlord; in the monetary affairs, 1t Is
the great banker; in the political distribution OF
power, the most potent estate OF tue realm; and
in the domestic relations of life, the worldly adj
wiser and spiritual comforter.
While thus all powerful in its rewards, 1t Is no
less terrible in its punishments. Should states
man become obnoxious, Its agents and de-
pendents among the wealthy and influential,
with their numerous retainers and friends,
unite to hurl him from power. Should one
in more humble hfe render himself offensive,
he at once finds himself deserted by many, and
his plans and business thwarted; aud, perhaps,
more unfortunate, he is called on to liquidate
debt due to a religious order, or to abandon a
house he has rented from the same; to relinqush
pursuit or calling that was profitable; aud to
dispair of employment from the church, his most
liberal customer. With knowledge of the cha
racters of all persons and their relations, even
the most intimate towards each other, the in
formation. OF the priesthood IS more accurate
than the fallaclous reports OF the best secret po-
lice; and the offending cuprlt IS soon made sem
sbe that, in his most tender point he is touched
the deepest; but yet, IN the stealthy STEPS by
which his happiness or Interests have been affect
ed, he discovers only in dimness the vengeance
of those to whom is enjoined the forgiveness of
injuries as well as the remission of SINS
The people of Mexico, resembling In manyre-
spects the Gpsies or modern Greeks, have too
much cunnlng-that low mimic OF wisdom-to
be influenced in their opinions of the affairs OF
this world by their superstltlous fears OF the
next; and in the priesthood they see too many vlo
lations of the decalogue to reverence them Tor
the possession of virtues much above other NOR
tails But while their acueness thus would with
draw them from their spiritual direction, their
temporal interests the more forclbly impel them
into the arms of the church They fear not a
spiritual eXcOmmunication,b but they dread a writ
from the courts of law; they do not want prayers
for their benefit, but payment for a Job; a mass is
not as acceptable as money; nor Is the elevation
OF the host more pleasing IN their eyes than the
raising OF large loan. Every pious, good man,
beloved by the clergy, is sure to prosper in this
world for his faith is founded on ii rock IN
things seen and in coin hoped for. The divinity
Of the church, like that of Juplters, is made
known in shower OF gold.
The real wealth of the church has never yet
been ascertalned, nor is supposed that statsti
| cal tables will be furnished by those who
religious order such Doctor Mera have made the at
tempt but their estimates have only approxma
| accuracy,
vsriacation Thus when Doctor Mora states the pro
perty all kinds the whole regular and clergy
yielding rent or interest," at Sla9 3 500 he places too
low estimate the amount II funds invested In
mortgages and personal securities for that ut fvc
per cent would only yield what he states the revenues
the church to afford equal interest with the personal
Now Is well known that real estate IL the only cate
place for the investment of capital In tina. distracted
country and consequently the annual rents are low In
with the cash value of the property espec
ally in the cities, where much Of 1t is situated am In
cned therefore, to believe that the church has larger
Of money at its disposal than the above cacustions
would in icste but as 1t Is the interest OF the church to
change Of It's uDproductye wealth into cash, IL Ii
also les interest to conceal the knowledge of Its CONVEX
sion.
We grsvely informed in histories tours travels &c
Of the useless wealth displayed In the religious edihces
Of saints iulad with diamonds and other stones
sacred for the proane to touch in instances to
or oupdity in our armies viii in time dsenchant tho
public Of such fabulous tales, cannot forete but
generally been held to be the most valuable proves In
reality to be gliding plating ba.s or tin beads glass or
scale with this precious relics exhibited in tho
chapels of the saints
The unproductive property in 1872, of the church,
has been estimated at $40 03i s94 but this is cacua-
ton partly founded in the belief that all gold that
shines. Ii such was the value in that year, great
change has taken pla since then but my impression
that the change made long before have doubt
that, at period the solid metals and jewels were
there but many circumstances after the revolution
especially in 1892 induced the church to substitute less
valuable ornaments in imitation of those removed The
the csthedras snd churches filed, also greatly
overrated They not the productions Of Of the
masters nor are they copies from the pencils OF
celebrated artists The unproductivs property Of the
church, therefore, is not great while the Producing
or active capital much greater than may be supposed
II this immense wealth controlled by one indi-
vidual or by few men, intent the same objects 1t
would be impossible for the Msxicans to Withstand its
influence But 1t is only in spirit matters, or others d.
recy affecting the church that 1t regns supreme, and
dience other subject Of temporal Importance,
we're the clergy united in their wishes But possessing
the passions and feeliags other men, they ars
divided In their opinions and in their actions and even
their interests seem sometimes to be in opposition.
An impression to extent prevails among US in re-
laon to the church, that its wealth Is held common
fund.- and administered by those representing the whole
priesthood joint The revenues, well their
perty all kinds of the regular and of the secular
gy however, distinct nor have the priests belonging
the other. Thus the secular funds are administered
through the canoncas while the regular divided among
the different orders of friars monks exclusively
under the direction Of the order which it belongs.
Some of these orders rich while Others and
motion Of good feeling nor the cultivation Of Christian
The monks Of tue order St. Benedict are by far the
most favored in worldly goods and chatels do they
the fact the contrary pridng themselves
on their independence they form the arstoeraoy Of the
to their other spiritual brethren. They do not court
popular favor but express their opinions without con-
their churches attractive to the higher classes they fail
not in having them frequented BY those whose means
are the most ample, aud Of strengthening their
indusnce The st. Augustns and the Domini.
cans, also, among the wealthy, without the same
preension to its possession. These orders, in their
Feelings and sentiments much resemble the Be-
nedictns; and in all questions that may arise not
affecting their own order exclusively, they may, from
their habits and associations be accounted agreeing
in opinion with them But another order the st Fran
ciscsns. the democracy Ia robes, this priesty dsma
gogues among the people, possessing riches proclsimng
poverty counting the lower classes and camorous at
all times In matters not spiritual, have powerful In
huence public opinion In the numerous revolu
ons which In that republic seem to serve the same pur
pose annual elections being periodical and 10
many instances bloodess, the St Franciscsns ers
always parti.ans for against the pronuncam.Ho ana
always coinciding vita the mass Of tbs population
Their presence felt their money circulated ana tner
churches given up for arsenss hospitals anu io.
fcatons Far different from these is the order OF Car
ILL., M