Relations With the Local Authorities

59) The dean of the American churches is the immediate superior over all the churches and missions; and therefore: a) for all that exceeds the authority of the priest and missionary, and for every difficulty or doubt, resolutions, instructions, and counsel must be requested from the dean; b) all complaints, whether from the clergy or from the laity, must be addressed to the dean.

60) The dean, being the immediate superior of the colonial clergy, is at the same time the guardian of the churches and missions in all respects; and therefore all returns, accounts, requisitions for churches, and so forth must be submitted to the dean over a common cover.

61) Since the maintenance of churches will for the most part depend on the resources of the American Company, the satisfaction of requisitions can only be through it; and therefore, upon the compilation of returns, accounts, and requisitions to be transmitted by the dean to the Company, the latter is obliged to fulfill them promptly—to the extent of its means.

62) All communications with the colonial authorities, should any arise, are to be made only through the dean; whereas communications with the local authorities—such as requests for assistance for journeys, or the like—each priest may make on his own behalf, while church matters are to be dealt with through the dean.

No mention is made here of the fact that you must beyond all this fulfill all instructions as they are given—since it goes without saying that all general and particular regulations concerning churches, and those not incompatible with local institutions and the spirit of the preaching of the faith, must be fulfilled in all their force and exactness.

Remember that you are in a place where you may more and more quickly than many receive rewards—both heavenly and future, and earthly and present. The heavenly rewards are in the hands of the Great Rewarder, who will always see your deeds, and your intentions, and the spirit in which you act. As for earthly rewards, attention will be given to the following: your diligence, your manner of fulfilling your ministry, the number of those converted and baptized by you, and the degree of their establishment in the Christian life and in the faith.