The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 36]

172

THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. 36

chosen, as there would be no accurate information of
his being less competent. That would be known
better within his own order, where by continual
intercourse it is learned who is most suitable for the
ministry. Besides that, there might be a religious
whom it would be proper to retire because of his
demerits, but by virtue of the fact that the prelates
have to present three religious for each mission, they
are obliged to include him in the presentation for
the sole purpose of completing the number. Who
will prevent a froward one from slandering the
electors, discrediting the worthy, and gaining the
favor of friends and relatives by putting forth all his
efforts to attain the desired liberty in order to escape
from the observance and the cloister? Oh, beginning so full of troubles! If one had to describe all
the troubles, it would be necessary to use much paper.
Let the above suffice, so that it may be recognized
that the reason why the holy orders resist subjection
to the bishops is not so much for the sake of preserving their authority, as because they see the grave
dangers that must ensue for them. Finally, they
exercise their right in that, of which no one can complain, for they are doing wrong to no one.
~ III
Continuation of the matter of the preceding section,
with especial bearing on our discalced Recollect
branch.
737. The reasons thus far advanced touch all the
orders in common. Let us now pass on to speak of
our own in particular. There is no doubt that St.
Pius V conceded the above-mentioned exemption to
the regulars because they were employed in the con