Note 1 — AUGUSTINIAN PARISHES AND MISSIONS, 1760

Escolapios: regular clergy of the Order of Escuelas Pías (or “religious schools”), founded early in the seventeenth century by St. Joseph of Calasanz (1556–1648), an Aragonese priest. (See VOL. XLVI, pp. 114, 115, note 49.) Besides the usual three vows, they took another one, to consecrate themselves to the instruction of children. They soon attained great reputation, and their order extended to many countries. So highly were their educational services appreciated in Spain that when the religious orders there were secularized (1835) that of Escuelas Pías was exempted therefrom by special grant, which was extended also to the Philippines. “Nevertheless, it is argued that they do not accept any salutary innovation or judicious reform, even when it is guaranteed by the experience of accredited instructors; and it is said that they walk on leaden feet, as if tied down to a stale routine.” (Dominguez.)

Echegaray also gives to the word Escolapios the meaning of “students attending the Escuelas Pías,” in which sense the word is evidently used here—except that the schools are simply the parish schools conducted by the friars among the Filipino natives. ↑