Professional Documents
Culture Documents
INTELLECTUAL ADVANCEMENT.
1800-1887.
iii.223-6; xi. 158-215; xil 150; Montilfar, Resumen Hist., iii. 502-4, 640-1;
Ministerial annual reports, 1848-54; El Costaricense, Nov. 10, 17, 1849; Mo
lina, Bosq. Costa R., 40-7; Squiers Cent. Am., 468 9; Wagner, Costa R., 180-
8, 219-29; Costa R., Bol. Ofic., Jan. 10, 1850.
3
There was a normal school for training teachers, at San Jose, and insti
tutes for secondary instruction in several cities.
4
It was created May 3, 1843, made pontificial in 1853 by Pius IX. Costa
R., Col. Ley., viii. 25-8, 121-82; xi. 9-12; xii. 208-75; Montufar, Resena Hist.,
iv. 412-14, 419; EL Costaricense, Dec. 1, 1849; Wagner, Costa R., 220-3.
5
The percentage of each dept given in Costa R., Gaceta, July 11, 1885,
suppl. See also Annual Repts of Min. of Pub. Instruc., 1858-83; Wappdus,
Mcx. and Cent. Am., 359-60.
EDUCATION IN NICARAGUA. 623
J
Fuera de la multitud de causas dependientes del caracter, y del estado
social de nuestros pueblos. no tenemos maestros iddneos suficientes. Mensaje,
.
made, but confesses that they do not satisfy his aspirations. Salo., Gaceta Ofic.,
June 19, 20, 1877.
21
In 1881 about $64,000, and in 1882 nearly $74,000, were expended for
public instruction. A number of teachers arrived early in 188.3 from Europe,
as also a complete outfit for a scientific college. Pan. Star and Herald, March
23, 1883.
HIST. CENT. AM., VOL. III. 40
626 INTELLECTUAL ADVANCEMENT.
32
Finally, in 1832, religious ireedom was proclaimed,
and it was moreover declared that the appointment to
church dignities pertained to the nation, and should
33
be made by the executive. The church was thus
brought low; but a reaction came erelong, and with
the practical dissolution of the confederation, the ser-
viles, then in power, undid what their opponents had
done, and among other acts restored the privileges of
34
the clergy, and also the monastic orders. For all
that, the church had been struck blows from which it
never fully recovered. It is true that the masses
still cherished a portion of their former religious big
48
The papal bull to erect the diocese of San Salvador is dated 4th day of
the Kalends of Oct., 1842. Montufar, Resena Hist., iv. 171-85.
49
He was a strong, finely formed, and pretentious individual; a count
palatine, and attendant on the pontifical throne, one who had a right to be
by a tiiitimiabulum. He was not like the poor, meek man who was
iu a stable at Bethlehem.
J>reeeded
>orn
^Id., Besena Htst., v. 649, 661-2; Salv., Gac., July 29, 1853; Id., Diario
Ofic., Nov. 4, 1875; Nic., Corr. 1st., May 23, 1851.
^Salv., Diario Ofic., Aug. 8, 13, 1875.
52
The most noted were: Friar Benito de Baldonado, 1620-9, who founded
two hospitals; he died in Leon; Diego Morsillo Rubio de Auuon, 1704-9, who
being afterward transferred to La Paz, was twice viceroy and captain-general
of Peru; Isidro Marin de Bullon y Figueroa, 1746-8, who began the con
struction of the cathedral of Leon, and died in Guatemala; Este van Lorenzo
Tristan, 1775-83; in 1780 he finished and inaugurated the cathedral, and
<le
it is added that through his exertions Cent. Am. obtained the privilege of
free trade; Jose Antonio de la Huerta Casso, 1795-1804, notable for his efforts
in developing education. Montiifar makes severe comments oil some of the
prelates. Helena Hist., iv. 136-9. Nicolas Garcia Jerez, a Dominican, became
CHURCH AND STATE. 633
la bula de S. S., Perez, Mem. Rev. Nic., i. 8-9; El Porvenir de NIC., Feb. 25,
1872; Lev//, NIC., 62-G; Pan. Star and Herald, July 2, 1883.
53
In 1871 a number of Jesuits expelled from Guat. managed to get into
the country, and were allowed to remain several years, but were finally sent
away. Details have been given in a former chapter. In 1872 several friars
expelled from other parts tried to enter the country, but were not permitted
to stay. El Porvenir de Nic., Oct. 1, 1871, to Feb. 16, 1873, passim; NIC., Se-
manal Nic., June 18, 1872; Id., Mem. Min. Gobern., 1875, 23-4; 18S3, 25-G,
annex B, 27-8, F, 1-4.
04
For the seminary $2,000; the bishop $3,000; the chapter and other ec
clesiastics 4,158; music $1,000; other expenses about $4,000. The chapter
consists of dean, archdeacon, chancellor, three Canons, and six or seven other
officials. The church gets the first-fruits from farmers. Tithes have been
abolished since 18G2. 300 or 400 priests without parishes depend entirely on.
fees. The cathedral has no valuables, having bee- sacked several times. Nic.,
Boletin Ojlc., Dec. 6, 185G; March 1, 1862; Union, Nic., March 2, 1861; Nic. t
Dec. yAcuerdos, 1857-8, 261-5; Id., Gar., Aug. 6, 1870; Levy, Nic., 383-4.
^See treaty with France of A;>r. 11, 1839.
634 INTELLECTUAL ADVANCEMENT.
greatly displeased the people and lowered their regard for the church. lhe
matter was finally settled by a concordat entered into at Rome, Oct. 2, 1852,
and tithes were declared abolished. He died in 1872; and the government
soon after proposed a successor, who was not approved of by the Roman curia.
Finally, Oct. 11, 1879, the government nominated Bernard August Thiel, a
native of Germany, and professor of the university of Costa Rica, for the
office, and he was confirmed by the pope Feb. 27, 1880. During the vacancy
the see was under the guardianship of the bishop of Abydos, in part, infid.
Costa II., Col. Ley., v. 155-60; Mamre, Hist. Rev. Cent.
BOS<I. Am., 20o; Mon-
tiifar, Rcteila Hist., ii. Mem. Min. Rel, 1851, 1-2, 10-12;
247-9; Coxta R.,
1854, 11-12; Id., Informe Sec.
RcL, 1872, 19-20; 1873, 19; 1874, 12; 1880,
19-20; Molina, Bosq. Costa R., 63, 111-12; El Sigh, July 18, 1851.
58
For the bishop $3,000, the ecclesiastical chapter 3,000, and the Colegio
Tridentino $3,000. Mont&far, Resefta Hi*t., ii. 207; Conta R., Mem. Mm. Rel,
1859, 11; Id., Gac. Gob., July 16, 23, 30, 1853; HornL, Gac. Ofic., Jan. 24,
1853, suppl.; Salv., Gac., Aug. 12, 1853; Guat., Gac., Sept. 16, Oct. 14, 1853;
Astaburuatja, Cent. Am., 49-50.
M CWaR., Mem. Sec. Rel, 1884, 31.
The clergy have, indeed, lost much
60 of their influence. The mode of life
of the majority of them cannot inspire respect. Letter from Costa R. by a
British consul, quoted in Squiers Cent. Am., 468-9; Wapptius, Mex. und Cent.
Am., 360. Laferriere, writing for 1873, gives a discreditable picture of the
church, its priests and feasts. De
Paris a Guatem., 56.
61
There is a protestant church and cemetery in San Jose. The govern
ment cordially upholds the liberal laws on the subject of religion. Costa R.,
Mem. Sec. lid., 1884, 32,
INQUISITION ABOLISHED. 635
episcopal see. The assembly of the state on the 22d of Dec., 1884, adopted
a resolution recognizing his efforts to promote harmony, and appointed a com
mittee to escort him as far as Barranguilla. La Estrella de Pan., Jan. 1, 1885;
ElCronitsta (Pan.), Jan. 3, 1885.
64
Bid-well s hth. Pan., 242. The congress of Nueva Granada in 1837 fixed
the bishop s salary at $4,000. N. Granada, Reyistro Ofic., 21.
Originally there were 11 churches, 4 convents of friars, one nunnery,
a cathedral, and one ecclesiastical college established by the government of
Old Colombia under a rector, vice-rector, and assistant, with a sufficient rev
enue. A law of New Granada provided for the sale at auction of all prop
erty that had formerly belonged to the Jesuits not required for national
use. Pan , Cr6n. Ojic., Aug. 5, 1852. Stories are related of buried treasures
having been disinterred in after years by Jesuit agents, from the ground of
their old house, and from the orchard of T. M. Feuillet. These stories bear
some semblance of truth. See Memoranda, in Maldonado, Apuntes> MS., 36
et seq.
636 INTELLECTUAL ADVANCEMENT.
heirs, a certain amount to the church for masses and other supposed benelits it
could do to his soul. Successive descendants followed the example. The
priests often threatened the dying with the penalties of hell if they did not
purchase their salvation. Clerical intolerance knew no limits.
6y
Excepting only cathedrals, the chief church of each parish, and the sa
cred vessels and ornaments. Maldonado, Asuntos Polit. Pan., MS., 3-5, 15, 17.
69
The bishop of Panama left, and his priests followed his example one by
one. Panama was thus left without a priest; the dead had to be buried without
the offices of a minister; for more than a year the churches had 110 bell-tolling
or officiating minister. An English catholic missionary, passing to San Fran
cisco, ventured to say mass and baptize in private. He was arrested, though
finally allowed to embark. BidwelCs Jth. Pan., 238-43.
PANAMA CHURCH AFFAIRS. 637
70
ministration of religious rites. From all accounts the
people had not lost much by the absence
of the priests
The clergy, taken all in all, did not deserve any con