The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-20
THE PHILIPPINE CHURCH
IT'S POWER TO IMPOSE TAXES HAS
HELPED ON THE REVOLUTION.
why It's Priests Are Sent Away from
Spain-Harassing Religious Re-
strictions ON Commerce.

almost exceeds Jndt OF the state, ana the
archbishop of Manila once walked over the
Spanish flag on Sundays. But although this
act seemed to go too far, and was finally
abolished, the influence of the church is still
as great as ever, and the islands have in no
wise ceased to be a sort of colonial store
room which Spain has all along been stock
ing with the excess Of her friars, whose
morals as displayed at home, needed toning
up by long sea voyage from the PENN
sula.
So the Philippines, Manila and the prone
made along the Malecon have long been
overrun with Jesuit and Dominican monks,
whose features have hardly correspondent
with the sanity garbs that encased their
rounded forms. and beer and billiard tables
have found their way into the luxurious
"conventos'' connected with many big ca
thedral in districts both rich and poor.
Substance has all given way to form, which
serves to play the leading role In religious
life, and fireworks, fiestas and flaming can
dies have done their share in drawing the
natives within the influence of the church
To see the peculiar demonstrations which
take place weekly in first parish and
then the next is to wonder whether or not
such circuses can fairly come under the
name of religious observances.
Each suburb of the capital has for its
center the big church of buttressed walls
and lofty transepts, whose cool interior
could well contain the hcpes of the entire
district, and each edif1ce has its certain
special feast days to be celebrated independ-
emily of any other parish. Indeed, so nu-
merous are the churches that each week in
the calendar seems to be a special one for
some one. and when night comes distant
dome, glowing with it's mass of lighted
candle-cups, will usually stand out against
the sky to show where the hesta is IN
Walking through the narrow streets to-
wards the glare of light, one comes to sort
of county fair that attracts an audience
from all quarters. A multitude of toy and
drinking booths hastily put together from
tual support on the plaza or the outyard OF
the church, and for the days that the snow
continues forms center of amusement for
their penance or see their friends. The ma
tive girls who preside behind. the counters
of the drinking booths or toy bazars. where
tin whistles and collar buttons made in
Germany are sold, seem chosen for their
charms and affability rather than for their
spirituality, and each week finds them reap,
ing their harvest Of pesos and pesetaS
by treating with familiarity the gallant
youths, who show no interest in getting
nearer to the altar of the sanctuary.
ELABORATE PROCESSION.
In the early evenings, ClOSSly dLlCA SUN
set, the religious professions start from the
church, composed of many of the women
and children of the parish, and wind
through the chief gateways of the suburb
until they finally return to the starting
point. Richly decorated floats contain
ing life-size figures of saints and apostles
dressed in garments of gold and purple, are
borne along by sweating coolies, who stag
ra nj
shields from view all save their lower
limbs and naked feet. In front and behind
come the women and children, clothed IN
black and carrying candles, wearing the
black mantillas, which fall gracefully from
their heads; their faces bear look or
saint-like grace, except at such times as the
evening breeze makes the candle grease ERE, re-
self a spectator at celebration In SeVllla
The huge floats with their weight of wood
breath at every turn, and bring on the mats
of the spectators who line the sidewalks
the Spaniard in this show of respect, that
If he sees it neglected he takes so personal
a hand in correcting the culprit that have
known of a serious conflict occurring on
a tram car because an Englishman failed to
lift his hat to passing funeral.
In the balconies of houses that line the
route the smiling crowds of lookers-on, and
Roman candles or bengola lights add I'M
pressiveness to the scere and drop their
sparks the garments or those pdradlnS
below. In due succession. pass the. wab-
bling images of apostles, the descent from
the Cross, and the Virgin Mary weeping
tears of purest glass. until the long winding
line of lights have reached the church and
disbanded. Then the carriers drop their
burdens to seek refreshment. and few
small 'glassfuls'' will start them quarreling
as to the merits of their respective floats.
One set claim that their descent from the
Cross was more lifehke than that carried by
their rivals, and they almost come to ploWs
over which of the Virgin MaryS wore the
Easter Week-Semana santa-is Of all Pc
RODS the most sacred in the Philippines,
and from Wednesday till Sunday night bust
ness is at a standstill. For days before the
coming of Good Friday the nights resound
with that weird caterwauing. coming from
the singing of the Passion Songs" which
unenlightened natives use to impress tnem-
selves with penitence. A newly arrived OBJ
server would think bedlam had been let
loose to walk through Manila suburb on
the eve of Easter week. From Holy Thurs
day to Easter Sunday the use OF carriages
We're re- not not allowed to hoist their Umbrellas
o Oe fIes and besides the ice cart and the
doctor, few vehicles have the right or way.
The town is as still as death, and the for
eign colony takes this as the one opportunl-
ty in the year to make excursions to Cor
regidor, to the lake and mountains, or to the
volcanic regions south. Steam Launches are
and for three days Tom, Dick and Harry
bathe in the China sea or shoot birds and
rapids in the country districts or Pagsan-
gan.
If a merchant vessel ever happens to be
short of time and wants to discharge or load
her cargo on a Sunday, the archbishop, not
the governor general, is the only person
who may grant the permit, and it is no easy
thing to make him willing. In Easter week,
of course, work in the bay is almost en-
tirely suspended, and wrathful shippers may
be seen at every turn cursing at the delay.
Just before my last Semana santa IN
Manila a large American yacht anchored in
the bay on her way from Borneo to Hong
Kong and, contrary to all usages, two SOL
diers from the civil guard We're placeq
aboard to see that nothing was smuggled
ashore Instead of receiving the courtesy
of the port as do generally all war ships
and yachts, the Eleanor was obliged to
enter at the custom house, as any mer-
chairman, while native carabineros pa
raded her decks with loaded rifles. The
Wednesday before Holy Thursday came,
and the yacht was to start for Hong-Kong,
where her guests expected to spend Easter.
But when the captain went to the custom
of the port had gone home for a siesta
and would not return till the following
Monday. Although it was early in the af-
terpoon the officials who We're left re-
that the yacht must wait at anchor in
Manila bay for the passing or the holidays
and the return of the chief. But the cap
tain of the Eleanor was Dewey in MS way,
and going back aboard his vessel, he told
the civil guards he was going to sail. But
you haven't had the inspection and haven't
got your papers" said they. I'VE refuse 10
let your vessel 60.
Armed with four Calling guns on her rail
and with a show of rifles and cutlasses IN
.tr,vat fha W