The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-04

are the progressive party and they
advocate popular education, the e1eva-
ton Of the masses and everything mod
ern. The Conservatives are more what
their name implies, and they include
also the clerical or church element,
which here in Chile has enormous in
fluence.
CHURCH AND STATE.
One of the curious divisions Of the
presidents cabinet is the branch or
department worship and colonial
ton" Catholicism is the state .relf-
gion, and the Catholic church receives
a certain amount every year from the
government treasury. Nearly all Of
the Chileans are Catholics, and all
church affairs Of note are attended by
the government officials. On the Chill
can anniversary of its day of indie
pendence,' the president and all Of his
officials, including the officers Of the
army and navy, attend church The
other day a celebrated bishop, who
had been dead for I don't know how
long, was honored with new mopu-
ment in the cathedral Of Santiago, and
this was madeCthe occasion of a great
celebration. / went in company with
the American minister, and found that
nearly all of the foreign diplomats
were present. The president. the gem
eral OF the. army and the admiral of
the navy were there in their official
dress, and, during the ceremonies, all
kneeled again and again in unison with
the priests and other church dignita-
rIes. / am told, however, that within
recent years other religions have been
more tolerated by Chile than almost
any other South American country
fyUn A
here in Santiago, one supported by the
Methodist and the other by the Pres
byterlan churches of the United States
and there are other missionary col
leges and churches in different parts
CT the country. Thase are tolerated,
however, on the grounds of modern
progress, rather than from any desire
Of the Chileans to change their reli-
gion.
They are, I believe, satisfied with
Catholicism, though the educated Chill
can man does not like the way in which
the church NEEDLES with political mat
tiers. He does not go to church except
on Sundays and feast days, and. like
many other men outside of South
America, he leaves most Of the church
exercises to his wife and daughters.
The women of Chile are one of the
strongest elements in upholding Catho-
llcism and it's influence. They are very
devout You see them in the church s
week day and Sunday kneelng on the
stone floors and saying their prayers
You meet them on the streets going
to confession or mass, each carrying a
prayer rug in one hand and prayer
book in the other, and If you will en-
ter the churches, you may, perhaps
see a pretty devotee who will look at
you out Ct the tail Of her eyes as she
mum'bles her prayers with cross old
duenna in the background As in Peru
and Bolivia, the women in Chile wear
solid black when they go to church.
They cover their heads with black
mantas, and church congregation
makes you think Of a nunnery with all
Of the nuns clad in black Indeed, to
wear white at such times is a sign of
grief and shame, rather than Of purity
and joy. It is the custom Of women
who have done wrong to put on white
clothes and shroud their heads in white
shawls to show that they are penitent
and are resolved to be good for the
future. I have seen several very pretty
girls so dressed, and as they passed
have thought of Hawthorne's story Of
the Scarlet Letter." and wondered if
in some cases there should not be a
priest walking beside them.
WORTH 500, 900, 900.
The Catholic church here Is enor-
mously wealthy. 1 have heard 1t said
that its property in Santiago alone is
worth more than an hundred million
gold dollars. 1t has some Of the best
business blocks Of the city. The whole
of one side Of the plaza, which is the
very center of the most valuable of
Santiago business property, is taken
up by the palace of the archbishop
and by the cathedral, and there is
other property all about this belonging
to the church. 1t has acres Of stores.
thousands of rented houses and vast
haciendas upon which wine and other
things are made for sale. Nearly all
of this is controlled by the archbishop
although much Of the church property
is controlled by It's different organiZa-
lions.
The Carmelite nuns of this city are
the richest body of women in South
America. They have whole streets CT
rented houses near their nunnery and
own also large farms, which bring them
in a steady income These nuns never
allow their faces to be seen by men,
and if for any reason men must be en-
ployed In the nunnery for the making
of repairs, ct cetera, the nuns shroud
their forms and heads in thick black
cloth when passing by them. OF course
no one is admitted to the convent prop
er, but through friend who had some
influence with them 1 was admitted to
the beautiful chapel which they have
established for the use Of their employ
es and outsiders. lin getting the per-
mission we talked with the nuns,
though we did, not see them
Frank G. Carpenter.