It Seems A Pretty Clear Matter That, While
The Friar Told The Truth As Nearly As Possible As To What
He actually saw,
he did not hesitate to let the more exaggerated statements of the things he
had merely heard
Have as full weight as the people to whom he told them
desired. Anyhow, he has suffered a great deal of abuse as an exaggerator,
and even worse, though it must never be forgotten that people who fail are
always ready to blame every one concerned except themselves. Bandelier
warmly defends Fray Marcos, and his knowledge is confessedly great; but
Winship thinks he treats the charge too lightly.
Poor Fray Marcos, afflicted with rheumatism, had a painful time during the
remainder of his life, and finally died March 25, 1558, in the house of his
order, in the City of Mexico. Religious Zeal of Garces. It is appropriate
also that Fray Francisco Garces should find an honored place in these
necessarily brief historical notices. Fired with a wonderful zeal for
souls, without the urging or backing of any superior save the Spirit of
God, which spoke to his own soul, he marched from San Xavier del Bac, his
station in Northern Mexico (now Arizona), across these inhospitable wilds,
merely seeking opportunities for the establishment of mission settlements,
where the natives could learn of the way of Christ, salvation from sin, and
heaven. Five times he left his mission and made entradas (as they are
called) into the interior country, anxious to expand his work and his
influence.
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