GERMAN INFLUENCE IN LATIN AMERICA 147 



prevailing in the South American republics and the " necessity of 

 raising the standard of the clergy so that they may contribute to the 

 better intellectual and moral condition and progress of the people of 

 those countries." The clerical apprehension of approaching danger is 

 shown in various attempts to hide or destroy ancient insignia of idola- 

 trous superstition; thus, witness on the fagade of the church of La 

 Merced in Lima, the capital of Peru, there existed up to a few years 

 ago the following inscription upon a fillet over the grand portal, " In- 

 dulgencia, plenaria, cuotidiana, perpetua por los vivos y los difuntos." 

 It has now been removed under the sneers of an advancing civilization 

 of the people and the sensitiveness of all to the comment of foreigners. 



This is but a single instance among many illustrating the trend of, 

 a growing influence among the people, obliging the clergy to abandon 

 its methods and pretensions. A half century ago, the priest in bless- 

 ing the national troops in Costa Eica walked over the abased national 

 flag to sprinkle it and the troops with holy water. To-day the flag is 

 laid reverently upon a table and the priest walks around it in the per- 

 formance of the ceremony. 



Probably the story of the priest, Francisco Pablo De Vigil D.D., 

 of Lima, is the most comprehensive illustration of the condition of life 

 in its relation to the features here treated that can be presented in one 

 single biography. This distinguished theologian, scholar and states- 

 man was excommunicated from his church because he refused to accept 

 the dogma of papal infallibility. Notwithstanding his expulsion, he 

 continued to wear the ecclesiastical garb and the tonsure and to attend 

 the functions of the church, occupying a seat among the laity. He 

 had warm friends and sympathizers among the lower clergy, but could 

 not receive absolution after confession, since he refused to renounce his 

 error. The national government, recognizing his purity of character, 

 his high degree of scholarship and devotion to liberty of thought, 

 placed him in charge of the national museum, which is a great educa- 

 tional institution of Lima, and brought him into close intellectual 

 contact with the students of the university, so that in this position he 

 had the largest field he had ever yet possessed for influencing the grow- 

 ing mind of the nation. While occupying this station, he died. His 

 death and funeral were as full of interest in the world of thought as his 

 life had been. A personal friend in the priesthood attended him in the 

 last hour and received his confession, but had been expressly forbidden 

 to give him absolution, unless he renounced his error. His confessor 

 relates that he was weeping as he knelt by the bedside of his dying 

 friend, who laid his hand tenderly upon his head and said, " Don't 

 weep for me, dear brother, but for the archbishop, whom you but obey; 

 I am going before a greater judge than he." The body was refused 

 admission to the church of La Merced for the ordinary requiem mass, 

 and the clergy also refused the certificate required for burial in the 



