292 
GUATEMALA. 
priation to the uses of public education, as well as for 
hotels and government offices, — acts which have greatly 
advanced this once priest-ridden country. I would not 
have it thought that in speaking of the sequestration of 
the churches and monasteries I undervalue the offices 
of religion, or am at variance with the particular branch 
of the Church whose property was so treated. Guatemala 
needs more religion, not less; and could some of those 
pure and devoted priests of the Church of Rome whom 
I have rejoiced to meet in many a remote region, turn 
their energies to Central America, it would be well. 
It cannot, however, be too clearly stated that what was 
called the Church in these lands was a church for any 
other purpose than those truly religious men could ap¬ 
prove. The evidences of corruption are too clear to 
admit a doubt that the clergy had ceased to do the 
people any good: they failed to do their duty, in their 
eager struggle for temporal power; and to-day the splen¬ 
did churches they built are in ruins, or left to the minis¬ 
trations of some itinerant priest. There are in Guatemala 
church edifices enough to contain the entire population, 
not a tenth part of which ever enters for worship, since 
the majority has been repelled rather than attracted by 
the unfaithful padres. 
The legislative power is in the Asamblea Nacional of 
Guatemala, which convenes on the 1st of March annu¬ 
ally; and its ordinary sessions last only two months, 
although it may continue in session another month if 
necessary. Owing to the adoption of a code, the repub¬ 
lic is generally saved the “ hayseed ” law of the Northern 
legislatures and the “judge-made” law of the courts; 
and the work of the Asamblea is greatly lightened. The 
