118 
TRINIDAD. 
•opened for divine worship ; and since then the services 
of the sanctuary have been observed. The work in San 
Fernando is beset. with difficulties. Eomanism is pre- 
dominant; and so strong is its pernicious influence, 
and so numerous are its votaries, that there are few 
sufficiently unprejudiced to attend our meetings. The 
priests, of course, here as elsewhere, forbid the reading 
of the Scriptures, affirming that the common people 
cannot miderstand them; but that the church is the 
only authorized interpreter of the sacred writings. 
Tims the priests bear rule, and the people love to have 
it so. JMost convenient do sinful creatures find it to 
believe, or try to believe, that there is no need for them 
to read the Bible ; that indeed it is Avrong for them to 
do so ; and that if they listen to what their priests say, 
be attentive at mass, go to confession, and receive 
extreme unction before they die, all will be well Avith 
their souls in eternity. The priests take care to nourish 
such pernicious, but to them profitable opinions; and 
are ever on the alert to anyise and occupy the people’s 
minds — lio, I am Avrong, their senses — AAuth pictures 
and processions, images and festivals. Oh ! ’tis hum- 
bling, degrading to humanity, to see immortal souls 
blinded and deluded, and destroyed by such trumperies 
and mockei'ies, as are dignified AA'ith the sacred name of 
religion. And to see the attention and devotion, and 
apparent devoutness and sincerity of the poor ignorant 
Catholics is painful in the extreme, and cannot but 
force one to reflect and ask the (piestion, AAdiat a fear- 
ful retribution must there not be aAvaiting those who 
deceive and delude poor, ignorant, credulous souls! 
One cannot help observing also, hoAv great is the 
desire of aged Catholic Avoman and others, to become 
god-mothers to children; and especially are such per- 
sons pleased if they are permitted to have the charge 
and the religious training of their god-children. There 
is nothing tliey are not Avilling to do for them ; feed 
them, clothe them, educate them, leave them their 
