hospitals for sick persons in general, and primary schools for children, were founded, together with houses where food and shelter were provided for travellers and strangers. The members lived according to monastic rules after the Augustinian rites, but were subject to secular jurisdiction.[1] Their four vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and hospitality were binding only while they remained in the brotherhood, but after a membership of three years they were allowed to bind themselves for life by an additional vow.
On his departure from New Spain in 1680 the viceroy further showed his regard for the order by making a donation of a thousand pesos and presenting them with all his carriages.[2] Rivera proved himself no less capable as a military leader than as a prelate, and indeed it was necessary that at this epoch, when the coasts of New Spain were continually infested with corsairs, the one at the head of affairs should possess the qualities of a soldier. Meetings were convoked, and measures adopted to prepare against threatened depredations. A council was held in February 1675 to discuss the means of raising a force of nine hundred men, asked for by the governor of Campeche. Soon afterward news reached the capital from Habana that a hostile force of about fifteen hundred men was preparing to land between old and new Vera Cruz, and immediately steps were taken to place that port in a state of defence. Ammunition was sent there, companies of cavalry were raised, and guns placed at the
- ↑ The bull of Pope Clement X., issued in 1674, placed the order under the jurisdiction of the bishop, Medina, Chrón. S. Diego, 12, but the royal cédula of February 29, 1676, permitting its establishment in Mexico, forbids the establishment of a convent, 'que no ha de ser ereccion Eclesiastica, sino sugeta é incorporada al Real Patronato. . .apartando todo aquello, que puede tener color de Convento, ó Casa Religiosa, ó Eclesiastica,' expressly placing it under secular jurisdiction. Montemnyor, Svmarios, 11. For the rules of the order see García, Hist. Beth., ii. 174-97.
- ↑ A detailed account of the Bethlehemite order will be found in García, Hist. Beth., ii. 100 et seq. Vetancurt, Trat. Mex., 37-9, gives also many particulars, as the founder, Pedro de San José Vetancur, was a near relative to him.
