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Show 9309 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY CATHOLIC nee argent — dag traveling over miles of desert — hs : , Z Bishop y receive well was He this journey. Ame resented, resigned all jurisdiction to the to his worthy successor the ee: (aan aia sey _ work of accomplishing the great reforms which were ae The imperative necessity for a change in the matter ol a 2 bi. tion of church affairs in New Mexico had been well known . mg Fe i years. Reports of a scandalous nature touching the priesthood in New Mexico had been carried to the states by tra : and travelers over the Santa Fé trail. A great many of these r ports were false, but some, and these concerned the morals of a bers of the priesthood, were only too true. During the last he of Spanish and the twenty-five years of Mexican rule the pa Together wit he the clergy in secular affairs was overwhelming. Far removed from the sea : military they governed the country. in outthe diocese, Durango, safely intrenched, some of the pane A man lying districts were a reproach to the religion they taught.”** 257 When Bishop Lamy came to Santa Fé, he was soon ; peng a v. Joseph P. Machebeuf, who had been a pioneer priest in a ade ‘ arrived at Santa Fé, and prior to Bishop Lamy’s departure io fee a most unusual incident occurred, and one which reflects no a Baker. then chief justice of the supreme court of New Mexico, on oe onde Bishop Lamy’s first work was to obtain possession of the ¢ pores milton ecclesiastical property. The civil authorities were in possession e ices eae chapel, having used it for secular purposes since the a Baker did question as to the right of the church to this property, but Ju ue Judge not care to give up possession or recognize the claims of the o peer of Baker, having indulged too liberally, and while laboring under ae aoe his indiscretion, publicly announced that he would not give a har Maen to Bishop Lamy but would have them both (Bishop Lamy and aA ot Chae buef) hanged from the same gibbet. Judge Baker evidently — a. alitie ae stand the temper of his auditors. The following morning his Y atition marks were told throughout the city and indignation was great. th a me was circulated and signed by more than a thousand people, yoga: of the Protestants alike, civilians and soldiers, asking for justice and had gathered church property to the bishop. In the meantime an excited mo ‘ oepetiel at Baker’s residence. He called upon the military authorities for srachebel but this was declined by Colonel Sumner. For two hours Father caners aan and an officer from the post stood between this mob and reba waa to the begged for mercy and promised to do justice. In the evening : nd on the residence of Bishop Lamy, apologized for his words and conduc sree of day following in open court, held in the church itself, in the aia tamed tle governor and all of the civil and military authorities, solemnly roperty over to the bishop. : 258 Howlett Rev. W. 7 Infe of Rt. Rev. Joseph P. Machebeuf, D. oe : bor . 179, 180: ‘‘The scarcity of priests was so great that Bishop Lamy Machebeuf were Mexican priests obliged to become real missionaries again. could be reanimated with zeal they were Where the - |. ted assiste and eD- CHURCH IN NEW MEXICO 331 of noble and lofty character, of heroic spirit, capable and just in all his dealings, Bishop Lamy was indeed the good surgeon who knew how and where to apply the knife to the cancer. Returning without delay, having traveled nearly two thousand miles, the good bishop visited all the churches and missions of his vicariate . He found great abuses existing, and by kind and patient advice endeavored to recall the clergy to a true ecclesiastical spirit, but very few responded. Very Rev. Juan Felipe Ortiz, 2°° who had for many years been virtually independent in the rule of the church in New Mexico, was the center of opposition. Another who defied the bishop was Rev. J. M. Gallegos,?®° pastor of the important church at Alburquerque. couraged, but where nothing could be done with them in this way they were relieved from duty and permitted to go away, or they were suspended from all exercise of their ministry. . A few exemplary and zealous priests were found by Bishop Lamy during the first few months of his administr ation, who were willing to devote themselves to the care of extensive districts until more help would come, and thus the faith was at least kept alive.’’ The neglect which the people suffered and endured is shown by a letter written by Father Machebeuf, Shortly after his coming to New Mexico, in Which he Says: “The lack of instruction and other helps has left religion in a deplorable condition in New Mexico. Its practice is almost entirely lost, and there Temains little but the exterior shell. With such ignorance the consequent Corruption can easily be imagined, and all the immoralit y that must flow from it. * : + In spite of their ignorance and immorality, they hunger for instruction, and they have a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin. It is a blind devotion, rae ’$ Sometimes mixed with fanaticism and superstition, but it gives us hope a explained and properly directed, lead to good results.’’ — Letter of Rev. J. P. Machebeuf, Pefia Blanca, itN. will M., May 31, 1852. ~ Shea, John Nhe ‘The baits’ ‘om a... divided, hola Points th Gilmary, History of the Catholic Church in the United States, condition of Bishop Lamy as Vicar Apostolic was one of diffi-- Powers He were limited, saw many he insisted; one the diocese of evils to redress, was that mass Durango had not been canon- but did not act harshly. should be said every Sunday On and rd in the parish church or one of the authorized chapels, so as to afford ; aithful oe ag More a an opportunity of fulfilling their duty. fees demanded for marriage, baptisms, The other point was that and burials, should be rethey were far in excess of even the amounts allowed by the old The Mexican priests assembled and threatened to lay their grievances pended 'e Bishop of Durango, and even to appeal to Rome. One of the sus© priests, José Manuel Gallegos, contrived to have himself returned as Ah & congress, but Mr. Otero was declared the legal delegate. ‘head pr 23, 1853; Detroit Catholic Vindicator, July 29, 1856. eader Cided, Gallegos Freeman ’s Before it attacked Bishop Lamy in a speech to the House. The era] ea the opposition was Very Rev. Juan Felipe Ortiz, who, as Vicar-Genparish ; een almost absolute. When Bishop Lamy proposed to divide the rtiz i Santa Fé, and erect new churches for the convenience of the faithful, 2 Claimed to be parochus proprius, and set out for Durango.’’ me owlett, Rev. W. J., Life of Rt. Rev. Joseph P. Machebeuf, D; D,, p. 191 ishop w mong those who refused to listen to the kindly counsels of the "as a certain Padre Gallegos, pastor of the important church of Albur- |