The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-01-14
The Sectarian Big0try of Ameri-
can Military Officers.
INSULTING CATHOLIC PRIESTS
The Church Services Interrupted In
the City of Ponce.
BANDS PLAYING DURING MASS
Disgracefal Meetings In Front OF
Catholic Church.


IN. L. P" writes from Ponce, Porto
Rico, to the Catholic Truth Society of
America, disclosing the methods en-
ployed by the Protestant missionary So
cieties to evangelize the natives of the
confiscated Spanish island. The con-
duct of the American army officers is
scandalous, if what the writer says is
true, and it most probably is. The fol-
lowing passages are selected from the
letter:
Some time ago Gen. Henry and Col.
Castleman (First Kentucky called a
meeting of the religiously inclined ma
tives and American soldiers at the court
house for the purpose of organizing a
church where the principles of sound
morality should be taught, to be called
the American church, without sectarian
bias. This mind you, under the shadow
of the parish church, the handsomest &C.
clesiastical edifice in the island, served
by seven clergymen of the religious Or
der founded by st. Vincent de Paul in
France in the latter part of the last CEN
tury, called here Paules, and in the
United States Lazarists, from the great
leper hospitals in Paris, which they
administered. These priests, all COM
paratively young men, were the flower
of the houses in Spain, from which they
were sent seven years ago, and since
then have founded a college, which is
attended by the sons of the elite of the
city. These men are shining examples
OF what religions should be, and though
not finger can be pointed at them,
nor charge of unpriestly conduct made,
yet they are cordially hated by this mis-
creant people simply because they are
Spanish. But to return to the American
church. Why Col. Castleman doesn't go
to the Episcopalian church, of which he
is member. isn't very clear, unless it
be that he and his fellow proselytizers
like to do more talking than would be
allowed in the church. Well, in order
to make fine showing, the First Ken
lucky band practiced hymn music for
whole week in the barracks, and part of
another with the young ladies of tine i'm
provlsed choir. 1t is probable that the
band were invited to give their services.
but they knew what an invitation of
Col. Castleman means, and although
one-third of the band are Catholics, they
had to go to the services, which were ap-
pointed for the very hour of the soldiers
mass and English sermon at the parish
church.
Each Of the gentlemen present was
invited to speak on the subject in his
turn. Judge Matienzo, of the audiencia
(court of appeals), said that he hailed
with delight the coming of the Ameri-
can, particularly because of the religious
liberty they taught, and he thought that
1t was in accordance with the progress
OF the age that the present laws con-
cerning marriage should be abolished:
that the Catholic Spaniards had bur-
dened marriage with red tape; that that
was entirely useless and interfered with
mans liberty, viz, banns, licenses, rec
ords, etc. For his part he advocated
what was called free love; that is to saw.
tnat marriages should last no longer
than love between the parties. Of course
this Mortified the Americans, who were
not prepared to go to such lengths. This
Judge Matienza is the father of seven
daughters of marriageable age. On tho
third Sunday of these services note
was sent to the members of the munich
pal council, summoning them to con-
vene. The mayor pro tempore, Senior
Sierra, refused to attend, for which he
was fined $5, though he protested that
he could not be forced to attend relis-
i0us services.
AT this meeting large number of
tracts were distributed among those
present. One of them bore the title,
How Much 1t Costs to Be Catholic
asserting that in the Catholic church
the faithful must pay for the sacra-
ments. This betrays the animus of the
propagandists. 1t shows also how un-
fair Col. Castleman is, for not long ago
he asked one of the priests Of Ponce If
1T We're true that the poor were Obliged
to pay for being married, and was told
that they were not
THE Porto Ricans seem to have had a
curious idea Of Professionalism, notwith-
standing the fact that an English church
has existed here for some time. They
seemed to confound it with anti Christi
anity so far that, as soon as the Ameri-
cans began to arrive, the municipal coun-
ell rescinded the contract with the Sis
ters Of Charity (Spanish), who had the
public school, alleging no reason what