New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-02

continually going on and rebellions uprisingf
and revolutions were charged by one order on
the other IAN observant traveller" says the
author "unacquainted with the historical ante
cedents Of the friars in the Philippines. could
not fail 10 be impressed by the enlargement OF
religious orders whose sacred mission, If senu-
inc ought to have formed an inseveraOie bohH
Of alliance and good fellowship
The orders all received large donations from
the Crown. and about 81 100000 was expended
annually for the maintenance Of the various IN
stitutions The cathedral IN Manila alone all
sorbed $1,000 Of which $l2 600 went to the
Archbishop $1,000 for other salaries. and 5000
for EXPENSES" The religious orders posseSse0
large private revenues from investments IN the
Pbiliprfncs and in Hong Kong. Foreman says;
The Augustine and Dominican Friars. in par
ticular. neId very valuable real property in the
provinces near Manila. which was rented out
70 the native agriculturists on tyrannical cond-
tions on the Iaguna de Bay shore the rent
was raised as the natives, at their OWL eN-
pcnso improved their holdings. Leases were
granted for the nominal term Of three years
but the receipts given for the rent were very
cunningly worded. The amount. OF money
paid the extent Of the land rented. and its
ment. 50 that the tenant was constantly at the
mercy OF the owners. The native planters were
much incensed at the treatment they received
from these land owners and their numerous well
founded complaints formed part Of the general
cutlery against the priesthood
THE bailins of these corporation LANDS were
unordained brothers of the order. They mace
their homes n the estate houses and 10y
h.. ma
They were under certain religious vows but
not being entitled to say mass, they were termed
legos' or ignorant men, by their own order.
OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE.
The clergy also derived large revenue from
the sale OF Papal bulls masses. pictures DOCKS
chaplets and indulgenoes. marriage. burial ana
baptsmal fees. benedictions, donations touted
for after the crops were raised legacles 10 De
maid for in masses remains of wax candles left
in the church by the faithful, fees for getting
souls out Of pJrgatory, aims, etc The surplus
revenues over and above parochal requirements
,yere eunnosed to augment the common Church
funds in Manila The corporations were cohse-
ouently Immensely wealthy, and their influence
and power were in consOnance with that wealth
There are no statistics available by which tn
actual wealth Of the various orders II the
Philipplnes may be shown. but il is well known
that their wealth is great. THE Church. says
the writer las body polite dispensed 10
charity but received all. 1t was always beg
cing. always above civil laws and taxes, claimec
immunity proclaimed poverty, and inCulcated IN
others charity to Itself
The missions. hospitals and other institutions
Of that KIND which are maintained 10y the va
rious orders in the Philippines have done much
good and are considered necessary features IN
the cities where they exist and these instl.u-
tions are pointed to by the defenders Of the
orders when the critics speak Of the tyrannical
practices by which the holy organizations have
enriched themselves.
SUPERSTITIOUS VENERATION
"Irp TO the rebellion Of 1896 in Luzon,' says
Foreman and elsewhere till the last day OF
Spanish rule the placid word of the ecclesiastic
the superstitious vencratiOn which he INSPIRED
in the ignorant native community, had greater
law-binding effect than the commands OF the
civil functionary The gOwnsman used those
weapons appropriate to his Office which best
touched the sensibilities and won the adhesion
of a rude audience The priest appealed TO the
soul to the unknown, to the awful and the mys-
terious Go where he would, the convert 5
IMAGINATION was SO pervaded with the mystic
tuition that he came to regard his tutor as being
beyond common humanity. The feeling Of dread