The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-12
He IS NOW 4
CHAPLAIN IN
REGULAR ARMY
Father MCKinnon Is
Back Again.
WILL PROCEED TO MANILA
HE TELLS ABOUT ARCHBISHOP
CHAPELLE'S MISSION.
WILL PROCEED TO MANILA

Rev. Father William D. McKinnon ar
rived IN the city yesterday after a six
weeks visit to Washington, D. c.. and
other large Eastern cities. Father Nc
Kinnon was recently appointed chaplain
OF the regular army by the President and
has been ordered to proceed to Manila and
report to Commanding General Otis for
assignment to one of the regiments now
stationed in the Philippines. He will re-
side with his mother at 1909 Steiner street
until the time for his departure, which
has been fixed for December 10.
During his stay in Washington Father
McKinnon paid his respects to President
Mckinley, who asked him many questions
regarding the prevalent conditions in the
islands. The reverend gentleman, who as
chaplain of the First California NOlun-
teeTs had acquired valuable information,
was enabled to enlighten the chief eNeCu-
tive on a variety of topics concerning at
fairs in Manila. Father Mchlnnon also
met the members OF the Phllpplne CON-
mission, but unofliCially, and he states
that his conversation with them was not
in the nature of testimony. he leclured
in various cities on subjects relating to
the war in the Philippines and was greet
ed by large and enthusiastic audiences
wherever he appeared.
Father MCKinnon's principal Work was
in his association with Archbishop Cna-
pelle, apostolic delegate TO the PhIlp-
bishop will arrive here on December
and Will proceed TO Manila on the same
transport with Father McKinnOn. The
latter in discussing the proposed mission
Of Archbishop Chapelle said:
I have no doubt that the efforts OF
Archbishop Chapelle in the Philippines
will ultimately result in bringing about
pacific relations between the E1HplnOS ana
the United States. His prime object, of
course, will be the settlement Of church
affairs and the strengthening out OF 81
ferences that have arisen between the
friars and the FtlipinCs. This, l am pos
tive will serve to establish better feel
ing toward this nation.
Il was engaged with Archbishop Cha
pelle in arranging the preliminary work
for his mission, in fact, acting as MS Sec
rotary, and l must say that he IS a man
of rare tact and wonderful ability. his
success in q similar capacity in Cuba and
Porto Rico will undoubtedly be repeated
in the far-off Philippines. He will have
absolute authority in church matters, this
having been delegated 10 him by his
Holiness the Pope.
the conditions as they exist in the Phil
ippines, having consulted with the mem
bers Of the commission on many points.
I communicated to him the result OF my
observations there and he viii be well
equipped 10 handle the situation. He
speaks Spanish f1uently and is at present
mastering the intricacies or the native
dialect He was formerly pastor OF one
of the leading churches in Washington,
D. G, and while there he renewed some
OF the friendships he had formed before
becoming Archbishop of New Orleans,
which exalted position he now holds.
In discussing the stories of the footing
of churches in the Philippines Father
McKinnOn Vehemently characterized
them as absolutely untrue.
IF there was any looting," said Chap
lain McKinnon, 1t was not done by the
American soldiers. Why would mold
myself personally responsible for any
such reprehensible acts, because after
every battle l was instructed by the COM
handing general to select the guards l
needed to protect the churches. picked
out the best soldiers for the work / could
find and we invariably discovered that
the lOotfng and dissertation had already
been accomplished by the insurgents
been left or overlooked by the insurgents
was stolen by the Chinese, who sold the
sacred articles for what they would
bring l myself have purchased num-
Der from them. There may have been a
few individual cases of our soldiers VINO
appropriated articles, but l am certain
that they. were very Few. Dlsclpnne, IN
that particular was rigid and soldier
who committed any such breach would
have been shot.
LAS far as associatlng the name of
General, then Colonel, Funston with
those practices, why, the charge has no
foundation In fact. / know General Fun
ston to be one Of the bravest, cleVerest
and most brOad-minded of men. 1t is do
a
done so much for his country. lie mad
too many other things to attend to on
that memorable 7th Of February to bother
himself about religious ornaments in
Caloocan church. It is a fact that this
church was occupied by the insurgents
from October %, 1898. until the day 1t
was captured. l was one of the first to
enter the church and saw nothing OF
a religious character lying around All
the church ornaments had been removed
long before by the insurgents.
LAS to the accusations against Captain
Alternately Of the Third Artillery having
looted the church in Pasig l know posi-
lively that he was never in Pasig. His
company was stationed all the time on
the northern line, while Pasig was on the
south When Pasig was retaken by the
Twentieth and Twenty-s regiments
We found everything in the way of
church ornaments boxed up, but the in
surgents had no time to remove their
plumber In all cases turned over the
property 10 the Archbishop Of Manila.
Furthermore, not one of the churches
was interfered with by our soldiers in
Manila, which was also stated In the pub
lished reports. The daily devotions went
on uninterruptedly and not a single arti-
Gle was disturbed. l consider the publ
cation Of he charges as unfortunate and
not borne out by the facts"