The evening times., 1900-04-30
In DEFENCE OF THE FRIARS.
Father McQuaiAs Vigorous Reply
to Blshop Potter

TO Bishop Potter.
NEW YORK. April S0.-The Rev. ]. P.
McQuaid. OF San Francisco. who is return
ing to his home from the Philippines,
preached at the Roman Catholic Church
Of ST. Paul the Apostle last evening. Fa-
ther McQuaid's subject was the Catholic
Church in the Philippines" and he took
occasion to reply sharply TO the criticisms
Of Bishop Potter and Dean c. Worcester,
who was ore of President MeKinley's COM
missione-s to the islands
Faiths. McQuaid declared the Catholic
religion prevailed today amorg 50 per
cent of the entire population Of the arehi-
pelago, and that the practice OF Christian
virtues is as clearly evidenced and is Of
as high a standard on the islands OF Panay
Cebu. and Negros as on LuZon, or in and
about Manila. He said in part:
"At the time of discovery the population
of the archipelago was placed at SOC. 600.
Today il is supposed to be 5000, 600. Such
an increase in the eace Of the complete
change which religion effected in the hab-
its OF the people is almost unparalleled in
he histOry Of missionary experiences. We
blessed with the most equable climate,
and learE of a people well-nigh swept off
the face of their heath under the soften
ing influences Of a certain phase of Christ
ianity.
The Philippine friars were the advance
agents OF Christianity and civilization.
They arrived with the Spanish mariner.
By their moral influence they did the work
OF Spanish soidiery Indeed, they were
Fh. Is oil yar rf=
speak. They went from most highly civ
ilized country. They were men NJ fine
breeding and Of splendid education They
voluntarily exiled themselves to work
among savages. They found slavery, mur-
der. robbery, and idolatry in their worst
horrors prevailing; yet so thoroughly did
the friars work that twenty-seven years
after the appearance Of Legaspf and Padre
Urdaneta there were bishoprics and an
archbishopric. and peace and happiness
reigned over all the islands save those OF
the Sulu group. The friars brought the
Philippines into the light of day. Almost
everything in the customs of the people,
geographical studies, maps, dictionaries.
and grammars besides the mineral and
vegetable products that go to distinguish
one island from another, has come from
the friars.
TT is easy for carping critics, who sit
a
times by bigotry or woefully ignorant OF
the pages Of missionary experiences. to
pick flaws in the work of the Philippine
friars. Ii is the height of audacity for
such as Worcester, whose tripping TO and
from the Philippines is more in the nature
Of a pleasure jaunt, enhanced by the Tat
salary and incidentals of Commissioner,
and Bishop Potter. who, accustomed 20
New York velvet. endured the heat Of Ma
Mia just four days. under the watchful eye
of his friend. companion keeper, and guar
dian-Mr. Percy Grant-for such to cast
aspersions on the friars. For what DO
they know of sacrifices of exile self-im-
posed. Of lives spent unselfshly in the
cause of Christ?
And speaking Of Bishop Potter. let il
be added that II he is correctly reported
as saying that cOncubinage is widespread
in the Philippines he says what is not true.
And if he says that this condition of things
is the result of exorbitant fees charged at
the marriage rites he says again what is
not true Ny six or seven months eX-
perience is worth as much as his four
days The friars owned certain proper
ties. and their title 10 the same is flaw
less. IL is only when. under economic
management, the possessions OF the friars,
originally worth little. became valuable.
that the malcOntencs saw a difference In
a community and an individual having
right to own. A good part OF the revenues
from these possession went toward fur
thering the missions in the Orient. toward
tIlding monasteries churches asylums
and hospitals. The people did not rise
against the friars. Some public agitators.
especially those of the "katipunan tri-
angle" managed so TO manipulate things
that the friars were thought by some 70
be the chief cause of grievance But
AguinaIdo's two letters to a professor in
st. Thomas University are sufficient
to show that the agitation Of the natives
was directed against Spain's corrupt rep
resentative officials
The Filipnos are a civilized, religious.
| hopest. and brave people. In treating
with them we can well afford to be mag
unanimous. The spirit OF the Constitution
which fired the courage Of the men of 76
should guide US yet; for just as soon as
We part from it will come the Republics
| ruin and decay"