The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-10-07
CHURCH IN PORTO RICO
UNDER AMERICAN RULE
CONTINUED from Page

the Act of Contrit0n. They very careful III
guarding the virture and regulations of their young
women. Seldom are they seen on the streets with
men friends. and after sunset no decent young wo-
man goes out unless accompanied by a chaperone
or member of her family. They are fond of dan
cling but when they go to Il ball they accom-
panied by their whole family. in whose presence
they dance; and when they go home they ae
companed by their parents.
"1'he houses are but one story high. and of light
material because of the frequency of earthquakes
and cyclones The doors are very large. there be-
ing few houses with windows; and III the evenings.
which are cool and pleasant the doors are thrown
open to permit the building to cool off afterAthe
heat of the day. When young man calls to see
his lady friend he not only meets her in the pres
ence of her family but i'll that of the passing
populace. Father Lindner says this is good Gus
tom that ought to be copied in this country.
Another good trait of~+he Porto Ricans is their
Difference to the aged, especially to those who are
related TO them. When they meet their elderly
relatives they invariably ask their blessing; and
such i also their custom when meeting the priests.
They are devoted to OpF Lady. and of the ten al
tors in The church now III charge of the Redemp
torists Ave arc Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin
The men of the family unite in the recital of the
rosa1-g every evening.
Under Spanish rule church and state were unit
cd. and priests and churches supported by the
y
Mason. hav did not furnish too many priests or
ebiIrpbee The Deoplc are not used to contributing
ia Tho s,,tnort of the church and. even if they
,vnrn they arc too impoverished at present to do
mncb Tbc collections at four masses ON Sunday
do not total over ST. The Redemptorists have re-
centlr erected another church near the shore for
the benefit of ongshoremcn. fishermen and their
families.
Father Iipducr told of the three missions he
visits - the country districts and smiled he
enol,c IF his first ride horseback When he said
b collod ~, al the angelic hosts to keep him in
tho sod,l IJc has to water and feed his horse.
and oftor t,vo or three hours ride reaches hut,
r,bo,, -,,a5s Il celebrated. A chair is luxury
snd boncb or soaD box furnishes the seating. The
aItar / ;,,,nrovised on Il table. The women and
rbiIdroa crnyvd into the hut, and the men congre-
oa,a oI,fs;de They rccitc their beads as the mass
nropresses end audibly kiss the crosses of their
rne5,ies ~ eacb sign of the cross. This success
sion of sT,,cie rother embarrassed Father Lindner
at first.
Spealino Of the collections on these occasions,
he aid b DOT q cents on the first = orr the second
and 10 an Tho third The improvement due
moi nnl,, to fbe people getting educated to con
tribufe bnf also 70 the fact that there was first
boly communion. Coming away ON the last ocea-
sion, with 80 cents III MS pocket ne met Il boy
carrying an empty basket. Ihe youth had been
present and sold ginger CAKES to the congregation
realizing ID cents After mass Father Lindner gets
a cup of coffee and some bread to stay his hunger
until he returns
The Redemptorists intend building six cIapel5
in the country district. The estimated cost $500