Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/710

690 thence the host through the streets during the visitation of the sick.

The metropolitan of Mexico on certain occasions had the supervision over, and on others the administration of vacant suffragan sees. Among his duties was that of casting his vote at the election of professors of the university of Mexico.

It was provided by law that in nominations for the chapter of the archdiocese of Mexico and its suffragan sees, preference should be given to graduates of the universities of Spain, Mexico, and Lima, or to clergymen who had served in cathedrals; or to those proposed by the king himself or his representatives in the Indies by virtue of the royal patronage. Where possible two of the canons were to be jurists, and two theologians. The four stalls, called respectively doctoral, magistral, lectoral, and penitenciario, were given to those who excelled in learning and general efficiency. All the members were to be permanent residents, and faithful attendants at the chapter's sessions and other service, and could not absent themselves from their posts without leave from the crown.

The annals of the church in Mexico, after the period of spiritual conquest and missionary labor, contain little worthy of note. I might present an outline of its progress, record the names of