The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-05-06
Higher Education for the Indians.

Bishop Zumarraga, who aspired al
ways to higher things for the Indian,
managed to open for them the famous
College of Santa Cruz, at Tlatelolco,
on January 6, 1884. This foundation
began with sixty students, the number
rapidly increasing. Besides religion
and good habits, they were taught
reading, writing, Latin grammar. rhe-
toric, philosophy, music and Mexican
medicine. The College of Tlatelolco
sent forth native governors and
mayors for the Indian towns, teachers
for the Indians, and at times for the
young Spaniards and Creoles. Some
of them were of great help to the mis-
sionaries in their pathological work.
In 1858 there were in Mexico three
principal colleges: the one at Tlate-
lOlco for the Indians, San Juan de
Letran for the mestizos, both under
the care of the Franciscans, and an
other for the Spaniards and Creoles.
This last was under teachers with
bachelor degrees from Spain, until the
AugustinianS founded their great Col
lege of San Pablo in 1915. They were
the first to establish a school to be
frequented by both Creoles and Span
iards. Shortly afterwards the Jesuits
founded the College of San Yldefonso
in Mexico with the same object in
view.
Oldest Hospital in America.
THE earliest hospital founded in the
Americas was that of Jesus the Naz-
arene, established by the Conqueror
CorteZ before the year 1894, and for
it's maintenance he left an ample en-
doWment. The institution is still in
active service and is one of the prin-
cipal objects of interest in the City
of Mexico. The Hospital of San Hippo
Ito close to the church of that name,
was founded early inc the sixteenth
century, as was that of Hospital Real,
an institution designed solely for
poor sick Indians. Other hospitals
were established in different parts of
the city, and two were founded in the
suburbs, one at TaCubaya> and the
other at Atzcapotzalco, the latter
place having been the capital of one
of the Indian races. The nuns of diff
ferent orders had charge of these hos
pitfalls, and throughout Mexico they
performed an effective service. One
of these Orders was by name exempt
from the operation Of the drastic
operation of the Laws of Reform,
but when these became incorporated
in the Federal Constitution in 1874 and
the religious Orders in Mexico were
abolished the Order of the Sisters of
Charity also was suppressed"
Some of the later institutions estab-
lished for benevolent purposes, like
maternity homes, founding asylums,
private hospitals, schools of domestic
science, etc, were founded by Cath
Ole families or individuals, and have
aided to an important degree i'll the
comfort and education of the people
of Mexico. Such institutions are
found in all the centcrs of population
throughout the length and breadth of
the Republic.
Laws of "Reform" in 1874.
Government schools, both national
and municipal, came into vogue early
i'll the seventies, after the Laws of
Reform" had suppressed the Orders
and confiscated the Church property.
With no teachers and no financial re-
sources, the schools that had been
established among the Indians closed
their doors and secular schools took
their place in the larger centers, ap-
prOpriating to their own use the prop
erty that had long been owned by
the Church. Instances Of such eXpro-
priatiOn are seen in the magnificent
establishments of the Comedian Semi
nary of Guadalajara, the College of
San YldefOnSo of the City of Mexico,
the University of San Nicolas of Mo-
rclia and the Jesuit College of Puebla.
Scores of others might be named. AS
the Government schools were slow to
take the place of the smaller educa-
tional establishments among the Indi-
ans-although President Portirio Diaz
was an earnest patron of education
common school instruction almost
ceased fifty years ago to be a promi-
nent feature of Mexican national life.
The Catholic Church has been blamed
for the illiteracy of several millions of
the lower classes of Mexico, but il
the facts we're chiefly understood it
would seem that a miracle has been
effected in the moral and intellectual
training of the remaining millions
the maiority--of MexicanS. Whatever
Mexico has of faith, enlightenment
and education she owes to the Cath
olic Church. Has any other ecclesias-
tical establishment or civil govern
ment done any better with similar
aboriginal races?
What, then, we ask in conclusion
has the Catholic Church done for
Mexico?
/. She banished cannibalism and
pagaDism.
2. She overthrow idolatry and es-
tablished the Christian religion in it's
place.
8. She abolished polygamy and
taught the Indian races of Mexico and
Western North America the sanctity
of the marriage relation.
4. She was the first in the New
World to establish for the natives