The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-05-06
AMERICAS FIRST GREAT STATE

ICO AND WHAT THEY DID FOR
THE RELIGIOUS, INTELLECTUAL
AND MATERIAL PROGRESS OF
THE COUNTRY.
We cannot relate in anything like
detail the vast work undertaken and
carried out by the religious orders in
Mexico without saying just a word
about the orders themselves, says Will
liam III. Sloan, in 1.-THE Missionary"
They came from Spain first in small
groups and then in larger numbers,
and on their arrival in the colony inn
mediately set themselves to the learn
ing of the native languages, preparing
religious and educational literature,
erecting churches, monasteries, con-
vents, hospitals aud training the ma
tives to become preachers and teach
ers to their own people. Theological
seminaries were established in all the
large cities and in several of the small
ones, and a number of these estab-
lishments, like that in Valladolid (af-
forwards Morelia), Puebla and CHA
pas, became centers from which mis-
sionaries and teachers were sent to
the farthest boundaries of New Spain.
After the first hundred years of toll
in these schools, graduates from them
found their way into Florida, Califor-
mia and New Mexico. In Mexico their
work survives everywhere-in the
buildings, in the names of the parish
es and the streets, and in the changed
moral life of the nation. The Fran
ciscans, in particular, were foremost
in the work of evangelization, and
they did much to cement the Castilian
domination in New Spain. The Dom
inicans, Hospitallers and Jesuits come
in for their share, while the Poor
Clares, Capuchins, Carmelites, Con-
ceptionists, Dominicans, Cistercians,
and Augustinian Sisters added their
efforts toward the conversion and edu-
cation of the people. tt
A Great University in 1851.
AS the years went on the different
Orders increased in numbers and
wealth, churches were multiplied, to
each of which was usually attached a
school for poorer children. The Uni
versity of Mexico was erected by a
royal order of the Emperor Charles V,
of September %, 1851, being granted
the statutes, privileges and preroga-
tiVes of the University of Salamanca.
1t welded an immense influence in the
elevation of the masses of Mexico, but
of its frequent collisions with the Gov
ernment. Concerning certain features
OF it's work, DR.. Walsh says:
THE newly created Universities Of
Mexico and Lima developed during the
half-century following Columbus cen
tury into full-fledged institutions Of
learning amply deserving the name
university. Lectures in medicine were
delivered in Mexico in 1873, and a full
medical faculty was organized before
the close of the century.
Two Centuries Ahead of Us.
Our first school of medicine in
North America did not come into ex-
istcnce for fully two centuries later.
More than half a century before this,
however, special care had been exer-
cised by the Spanish authorities to pre-
vent the explorations of the Spanish
colonists or the Indians by pretenders
to knowledge in medicine. AS early
as 1927 strict medical regulations were
drawn up by the Municipal Council of
the City of New Mexico, granting the
license to practice medicine only to
those who showed the possession of a
university degree in medicine Even
earlier than this arrangement had
been made for the regular training of
barber surgeons, SO that injuries and
wounds of various kinds might be
treated promptly as well as properly,
so that even the poorer classes might
have the benefit of some regular train
ing in those whose ministrations they
could afford to pay for. A pure-drug
ordinance, regulating the practice of
the apOthecarieS, was issued as early
as 1929. 1t was practically only in our
own time that similar regulations were
adopted in this country
Doors Never Closed on the Poor.
The educational establishments in
the City of Mexico were only the be-
ginning of a network of colleges and
seminaries scattered over the country,
several of which are still in operation
under changed conditions. The Col
lege of San Nicolas, in Valladolid, and
that Of the "Compania de Jesus (Jes-
uits), in Puebla, soon took rank with
the most important universities of the
Old World. While these institutions
were intended mainly for the boys of
the better classes, their doors were
never closed to the poorest, and many
illustrious sons of Mexico began their
career as children of the peon class
who received their school and college
training as beneficiaries of the Church.
A Famous University.
The University of Guadalajara be-
came an illustrious seat of learning. 1t
was early supplied with fine cabinets
of physics, chemistry and natural his
tory; its archaeological museum and
library we're among the largest in
America. A large number of schools
were tributary to the university, but
they were hampered in their work by
the interference or opposition of the
Government. In the State of Michoa-
can, outside of the city of Valladolid,