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Show LEADING 338 OF FACTS NEW MEXICAN HISTORY CATHOLIC In 1856, Father Martinez, who had already been elected a member of two legislative assemblies of the territory, since the American occupation, was a great politician; he had some words with Bishop Lamy, who criticised him for his political activities, the worthy bishop being of the opinion that members of the clergy should not take part in the politics of the country. Father Martinez never had been well disposed towards the bishop, having been identified in every way with the Rev. Juan Felipe Ortiz, the vicario, the leader of the opposition to the bishop when he first came as vicar apostolic. Father Martinez tendered his resignation of the parish of Taos to Bishop Lamy, giving as his reasons old age and infirmity. The resignation was accepted and Father Damaso Taladrid, a Spaniard whom Bishop Lamy had met in Rome, was appointed in his place. Unfortunately Father Taladrid entertained the notion that, being a Castillian, he occupied in every way a somewhat higher position than that held by any of his Mexican brethren. This assumption of superiority annoyed Father Martinez greatly and it was not long before friction developed between them, the pride of both admitting of no mutual concessions. After his resignation and retirement that the coming of the American was a death blow to his power and pre in the country and he is said to have done everything he possibly could to crea e a sentiment of suspicion and distrust against the American people. He Wet acknowledged to have been one of the most brilliant men of his time. No aie except those actually engaged as principals in the insurrection of 18e knew positively just what part he took in the uprising. He was a very cratly man and the American authorities never could affirmatively fix upon him oe active participation, although in later years there were many native pee he who had been identified with the movement, who did not hesitate | that they had been guided by his counsel and advice. He ostabeee | printing office, the first in New Mexico, in which ‘he printed his own genes books, catechisms, and some few books of church ritual and service. For oF a time also, he published a small newspaper, El Crepusculo, the first peg published in the territory. His private residence was used for his quasi C0 alé and many of the priests of New Mexico during the years of Mexican baie studied under him. He died at Taos, July 27, 1867, and his remains buried in the cemetery at that place. el OAS Rev. W. J. Howlett, in his Life of Bishop Machebeuf, says of him: ‘ak was said that he had much to do with the uprising of the Indians and Mex1 Na at Taos, when Governor Bent and about fifteen Americans and their ar es sympathizers were massacred on Jan. 19, 1847. He at least shared We oof Indians and Mexicans in hatred for the Americans, and, in their igo they events and conditions outside of their little valley, they imagined ‘the untry were but beginning a patriotic war which would result in freeing their ak to from the foreigner, who was supposed to be an enemy to their race - aoe their religion. The suspicion is probably well founded, although the U. ©: . rap : ernment did not find Father Martinez guilty of direct complicity 12 the unfortunate insurrection.’’ CHURCH IN NEW MEXICO 339 Father Martinez said mass, and occasionally officiated solemnly at the parish church, and the difficulty arose over the marriage ceremony between some of the relatives of Father Martinez. Instead of referring their differences to the bishop for settlement, they spread their troubles among their friends, finally coming to an open rupture, and Father Martinez set up an independent church. Bishop Lamy hearing of this, went twice to Taos to confer with the two priests, but Father Martinez had fallen into the hands of bad advisers and refused to submit. No alternative was left to Bishop Lamy, after all sorts of fatherly advice and admonitions had been unheeded, but to suspend Father Martinez from the exercise of every priestly function. This did not end the trouble, for Father Martinez continued in his rebellion, and was followed into schism by a large number of those who had always known and respected him, and who could not now imagine that he could be in the wrong. Besides, his relatives were powerful in Taos and had the pride of wealth and position, which would permit neither him nor them to accept what they considered a humiliation. In addition to this case there was a priest, Mariano de Jesus Lucero, at Arroyo Hondo, twelve miles north of Taos, whom Bishop Lamy had been obliged to suspend for irregularities and schismatical tendencies, and who had been a pupil and great friend of Father Martinez. These two now joined their forces and continued their °Pposition to Bishop Lamy, until he was obliged to go to the extreme Nn punishment and to pronounce upon munication,2¢ ee . e Howlett, look t them the sentence of excom- mata ri Rev. W. Simple people J., Life of Bishop Machebeuf, knew nothing of the discipline pp. 230-232: of the ed upon this as a persecution against their old pastor. Church, ‘‘Many and they They were willing ° Stand by him even in opposition to the Bishop, and the relatives of the a and their more influential friends were cunning enough to take advan‘ ec of their ignorance and friendship in order to arouse still more this a foro! °PPosition, and to intimidate the Bishop if possible. The old idea of ot tyranny was also injected into the controversy, and when mu hication ie that Father Machebeuf was coming to publish the sentence threats of personal violence were openly made.’’ ‘ehigg Fouri, Rev. J. H., Catholic Church in New Mesico, p. 125: it became of excom- ‘“As he had bated a years parish priest of Taos, and his family being one of the most missio in that district he drew to himself a party, either in Taos or in the ath ~- that were attached to Taos. Thus remained affairs to the death of lion Martinez, July 28th, 1867, who gave no sign of submitting to the Father and demanded before dying, to be buried in his own chapel, and er Lucero buried him, acting as pastor of the schismatics.’’ |