Tlee Field and Its Workers
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spoken by the Indians of Texas congregated in the missions in San Antonio was successful is shown by the work of Father Fray Bartolome Garcia, who published in I 760 his i11 anual para A dministrar los Sacra- men tos, aptly called the first textbook of Texas. It was the ultimate purpose of the king, however, that the Indians should learn Spanish. "We beg and urge the archbishops and bishops to instruct and order the priests and missionaries in charge of natives to incline and direct the Indians, through the gentlest and kindest means, to the study of the Spanish language in order that they may be taught our Christian doctrine in this tongue and that they may understand better the mysteries of our holy faith, gain their salvation, and obtain other advantages in self-government and their manner of living." 55 The missionaries were particularly warned not to engage in trade or commerce under any circumstances. They were ordered to keep with all care a book in which to record all births and baptisms, another with the names of those who died and were buried, and a third with all the marriages. Furthermore, it was their duty to make periodic inventories of all the property of the church and mission, and these were not to be removed under any condition. 56 To avoid wrangles and civil strife, the law provided specifically that the religious should not meddle in matters which were foreign to their state and ministry. Likewise, it was provided that the viceroys, royal audiencia, and governors should in no manner try to interfere in the internal affairs of the religious orders or the administration of the missions, respecting at all times the high calling of the missionaries. 57 Unfortunately, this wise injunction on both the religious and the civil authorities to respect each other's jurisdiction was more frequently ignored than observed, and was the cause of many of the vicissitudes suffered by the missionaries in their labors in Texas. In order to enable the missionaries to carry on their work, the king assigned to each one an annual stipend ( si11odo) of four hundred fifty pesos, which were paid out of the royal treasury. The government also bore the initial expense of founding a mission (ayuda de costa), allowing a sum sufficient in each case for the purchase of the necessary supplies languages, see Castaneda, Tlte Winning of Texas, (Our Catholic Heritage: T/ie Mission Era, II) 205-206. 55 /bid., Lib., I, Tit., XIII, Ley v. 56 /bid., Lib. I, Tit., XIII, Ley xxiii, xxv; xxxv; Tit., II, Ley xx. 57 /bid., Lib. I, Tit., XIV, Le-yes lxvi, lxvii.
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