Further transactions in Manila up to the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-eight.  Chapter XXXVIII.

Although in Manila we had received novices from the very beginning, and although a goodly number of acceptable men of various ranks had entered our Society there, and had proved to be zealous servants of God and very useful in our ministries, at the time of which we are speaking their number was greater.  For there were seven novices—­all very religious, humble, and devout—­also three brethren of long standing, and six priests; all were busy, each according to his degree and vocation.  The number of those who attended Lenten services and the regular sermons continued to grow with the increase of the Spaniards in Manila, and our Lord was pleased to give our fathers the immediate reward for their labors, so that they might be thus encouraged to toil with even greater ardor.  Besides the large number of ordinary confessions, many general confessions were made of great importance, and by persons who for many years had not confessed—­at least, not as they should.  In a single year one father heard forty general confessions; another, fifty; and another, two hundred.  There were also many persons who desired, some to amend their lives, others to attain a higher degree of virtue, and who made retreat at home, in order to perform the exercises—­especially persons serious and of high standing, such as the schoolmaster of Manila, the commander of the fleet, and other captains and men of reputation.  During Lent and Advent sermons were preached on Sunday afternoons to the soldiers in the guard-room; and these were attended by many people of the city, as well as by the governor and some of the auditors of the royal Audiencia.  Before commencing the sermon the children were, as usual, instructed in the Christian doctrine, with questions and their answers.  After the sermon was concluded, the soldiers were invited to make their confessions, which they did with alacrity.  After that a kind of usury was abolished, which the soldiers, without considering it as such, were inadvertently practicing in their eagerness for gain.  This was to sell certain things for a higher price, on condition that the purchaser should make his payments from what he might gain at play.  This they called “putting into one’s hands” [dar a las manos].  During Lent, the discipline was practiced three days in each week, with so extraordinary a concourse of people that besides the Indians, who came in large numbers, there were more than five hundred Spaniards of all ranks and conditions—­ecclesiastics and laymen, merchants, captains, soldiers, and men of other callings.  Various friendships were made in this way, especially between ecclesiastics and laymen, which were of great service to our Lord.

Many needs of poor people were remedied, especially of those in the prison; and efforts were made to alleviate the hunger and thirst that they were suffering, and compassionately to settle their difficulties, so far as we had means and opportunity.