El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-09-03
Carrying the Light to Cuba.

ST. Louis Globe Democrat.
Gen. Gomez has sent to the United
States Mr.. Jose de Armas, q well-to-do
Cuban planter of high standing. charg-
irg him with the duty of consulting
with managers of church mission
boards, with freedmen's and other aid
associ ations, and with leading men in
this country, concerning the religious
and educational future OF Cuba. He
has already arrived, and has cold some
OF the persons indicated that be has
not come seeking money so much rs
methods. He says that he wishes to
ask those moral forces which sent
battle-ships to Cuban waters to free
Cuba what is best TO be done next in
order to make the most OF freedom.
Mr. De Armas also says he desires to
see the secretaries OF those Methodist,
Congregational and other societies
which undertook work among the col
ored aud poor white people OF the
southern states at the close OF the civil
war. Gen. Gomez Is sure they must
have learned by experience. He waot-
the benefit OF that experience. Mr.. De
Armas has already met several OF the
committees representing the Metho-
dist, Baptist, Episcopal and Quaker
societies which contemplate education
al work In Cuba. He is highly graft
ueu W lChFn tuhb kuCcG oONACbiCS eto w
observe comfy in entering into these
new mission fields. and, as far as pos
sible, to Danish sectsrian rivalry.
The Young Mems Christian Associs-
tion, through its international COM
mittee, has already taken preliminary
steps toIopen 10 Havana an information
nj as -ocia,ion headquarters. Inves-
LEGATIONS are under way to learn
whether such associations will receive,
lsA L. Of
some local support, or whether it must
be supported indefinitely from outside
sources. IL the former prove to be
the outlook, the international COM
mittee announces its intention of es-
tablishipg an association in Havana
Just as soon as political conditions will
war ant. 1t is purposed to begin in
Havana but associations will be plan
ned for other cities IL local support
can be h sd. The condition OF young
men of the better class in the island is
said to be such that imperative need
for such an agency as a Christian as
sociLtion exists.
High officials of the Church of Rome
are already acting In regard to reli-
Rious work ia Cuba and Porto Rico.
The private secretary of Archbishop
Corrigan Of New York, went within q
few weeks as chaplain on the transport
Keller, wn1cn led 10 the rumOr In OOtn
this country and in Cuba that the Ca
tholic church was acting through New
York. Such Is not, however, the case,
a prelate of the church fully cognizant
of its affairs saying this week that it is
as yet too early to tell what is best to
be done. He indicated the progress of
events TO date: Archbishop Corri gan
Is. as you know, in episcopal control of
affairs in the Bahamas but has never
had anything to do with Catholic af-
fairs in the West Indies. The Arch
bishop of Santiago outrsuks in senor-
ity any American Archbishop. We ex-
pect to see Cuba, inside of ten wears,
an Eaglish-speaking island. Hence
we think it wise At this early date
TO provide the church there with Amer
lean priests, because they know Amer
lean ways. Indeed, there are reasons
why American priests are best in any
event, since the church there must be
unsupported by the state, aud the Span
ish speaking priests Of Europe are un-
familiar with the system. We look to
see the priests now In Cuba sent back
TO Spain by the authorities at Rome,
and American priests sent to take
their places. Correspondence is al
ready passing concerning the best plans
to adoptn