Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/716

696 During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries a number of religious cofradías or fraternities were established in Mexico and other towns for the purpose, mainly of rendering special worship to God, or the* virgin, in some of their attributes, or to saints in whose influence and intercession in heaven they placed their trust. Among them are many that deserve mention for their exertions in succoring the needy and sick, and in the spread of education as well as of religion. I am unable for want of space to furnish a history of these associations and their work, but as a mark of respect to their good intentions will name a few of them. The colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, of which much has been said in other parts of this work; an institution of a similar character in Querétaro; the archicofradías of La Cruz and the Santísimo Cristo de San Marcelo, the first named of the two being founded by the conqueror Cortés; the archicofradías del arcángel San Miguel and of La Inmaculada Concepcion; cofradías de San Anton, Nuestra Señora del Socorro, and Santiago; and that of the Santísimo Sacramento in Vera Cruz. The country teemed with sanctuaries, and to some of the images kept therein were attributed miraculous manifestations.

The church of Mexico owned real estate, probably to the value of between two and three million pesos. After the suppression of the Jesuits few lands went into the possession of the church. Its real wealth consisted of the tithes and vast amounts secured by mortgage, á censo redimible on the lands of private parties.