Evening star., 1899-07-08

boldened by the assurance OF a cordial re-
ception on the part OF large numbers OF our
legislators. and we are confident that the
Congress OF the United States OF America
VIII in the future as I'm the past prove true
to the largest sentiments OF humanity. May
the divine blessing attend your delibera-
tions."
A letter received In Washington gives
some interesting information concerning
tbs Philippine friars, concerning whom
comparatively little is known here. In part
the writer says:
THE Official records OF both the religious
orders and the government. published long
before Dewey entered Manila bay, show
that In no Catholic country is the number
OF priests so small compared with the pop
ulauou as In the Philippines. The priests
are fewer than In almost any diocese I'm tbs
United States, compared with its Catholic
population. In 1886 the whole clergy OF
the islands only numbered 1 9SS priests
between all the orders and the Seculars
combined; The secular clergy amounted
to Is3 OF whom about one-half were OF
the native races. These had charge of a
population OF over 1.1eo.Ooo. Tha arch
diocese of New York last year had 597
priests for less than q million Catholics:
ST Louis 3Ss for 212Oo0 and Chicago $50
for over half a million. The secular priests
of the Philippines are almost exactly I'm the
same proportion TO the population as are
the priests In Chicago.
The whole number of friars In the Phil
ippines. Carolines and Ladrones was 2i5
including Jesuit and Dominican professors
I'm the colleges, those In charge OF the Ma
among the Mohsmmedans of Mindanao and
the heathens OF the Carclines. The latter
were occupied by los OF the 167 Jesuits
the other sixty-two being in Manila I'm the
usual scholastic work of their order Two
hundred and thirty-three Dominicans SUD-
piled the religious needs OF nearly $50 900
Catholics
1T is commonly asserted that the orders
own as much of the land as IL is said the
New England ex-missionaries have acquired
In Hawaii. The actual facts are, IL is con-
tended, that the only property owned by
the orders are a few estates devoted TO the
support of hospitals and colleges In the
missions. the buildings of the church. with
a garden attached, are the sole property
held by the clergy. Their support was pro-
Nided FOR by salary paid by government
In the same way as I'm most European Cath
Ollie countries. The usual salary is $500 in
silver, though in some of the larger par
ishes the sum Of $50 is allowed. Unless n
parish has more than 10000 people the SAL
airy for only one priest was allowed by the
treasury.
"One thing appears clear, and that IS tho
expulsion Of the Spanish friars would con-
vulse the whole social system OF the Philip
pines TO an unknown degree. Religion is
Intimately connected with the life of tha
natives. and for nearly 6 6O0ae 900 Of people
the frfars are the only teachers and guides
Inc Fhillppine languages-the only ones I'm
use-are practically unknown outside. and
II would take generations to train IN an
adequate supply Of priests from the native
populations. even were vocations numerous
enough among them. Spaniards or not the
friars cannot be dispensed with unless the
Philippines are to risk the fate of San Do
mingo during the last century and their
population be thrown back into barbarism"