| Calced Augustinians | (1892) | 2,082,131 |
| Discalced Augustinians | (1892) | 1,175,156 |
| Franciscans | (1892) | 1,010,753 |
| Dominicans | (1892) | 699,851 |
| Jesuits | (1895) | 213,065 |
| Secular Clergy | (1892) | 967,294 |
| Total, | 6,148,250 |
It is difficult to estimate the number of heathens and Mohammedans; they cannot be under 500,000, nor can they exceed a million.”
Any account of the work of the Religious Orders in the islands would be certainly incomplete if particular mention of their efforts in behalf of education were omitted. These efforts were systematically carried out until interrupted by the recent rebellion. The briefest and most summary mention of what each of the Orders has done, however, is all that may be attempted within the necessary narrow limits of this volumes.
1. The Dominicans are in charge of the University of Manila, which was founded and confided to their care about two centuries ago. It has been generally attended by between two and three thousand natives, who thus receive the benefits of a professional and liberal education. A correspondent of the Daily Telegraph (London) tells his English readers that as “the education of the people has been exclusively in their (the religious’) hands, it is enough to say that practically it does not exist.” The following account of the studies pursued in the University, taken from the official report of the year 1893–1894, is a sufficient answer to this unworthy remark.
COURSE OF STUDIES.
The Faculty of Theology and Canon Law has the following courses of lectures:—
- 1. A course of Ontology, Cosmology, and Natural Religion.
- 2. The Controversial Course.
- 3. Dogmatic Theology.
- 4. Moral Theology and Sacred Eloquence.
- 5. Sacred Scripture.
- 6. Canon Law.
- 7. Ecclesiastical Procedure and Discipline, especially as used in Churches in the East.
- 8. Ecclesiastical History.
The eight lecturers in this faculty were Dominicans. There were thirty students.
FACULTY OF JURISPRUDENCE.
- 1. Metaphysics.
- 2. Spanish Literature.
- 3. Constitutional History of Spain and Natural Law.
- 4. Canon Law.
- 5. Political Economy.
- 6. Ecclesiastical Discipline.