Calmecacs
Training College of Aztec priests. (See Mexico and Central America.) Calmet, Dom Augustin : A Benedictine of the congregation of Saint-Vannes, and one of the most diligent and active of his order, who died in 1757 at his abbey of Sesones. He was the author of a Dictionnaire de la Bible and of many well-known commentaries on the scriptures. But he is chiefly famous among occultists for his Dissertation sur les apparitions des anges, des demons et des esprits, et sur les revenans et vampires de Hongrie, de Bohème, de Moravie et de Silésie. (Paris 1746, and 1751-the latter being the best edition). It was translated into English in 1759, and is alluded to in the article "Vampire." The greatest faith in the supernatural (some might perhaps stigmatise it as credulity) marks the work. But he notices unfavourable theories equally with those which suit his hypotheses, and if he places too much credence in the classical authors, he is never dull. He became the butt of Voltaire, who wrote beneath his portrait in verse of questionable quality: "Des oracles sacrés que Dieu daigna nous rendre Son travail assidu perca l'obscurité Il fit plus, il les crut avec simplicité Et fut, par ses vertus, digne de les entendre."