New-York tribune., 1901-09-01
RELIGION IN THE PHILIPPINES.

A curious example OF speculation carried 10
an extreme is presented in a recent article in
The Spectator" Of London, on Religion in the
Philippines" The writer OF II frankly admits
that his speculations are not based upon COM
plete knowledge OF existing conditions. Never
theless. he erects his superstructure OF fears
and hopes with almost bewildering rapidity and
with an intellectual nimbleness which we must
admire even while we cannot agree with its
results. His line of argument is substantially
as follows: The Filipinos. who probably once
nduged in various kinds of spirit worship,
were largely converted at least nOminally. to
Roman Catholicism. But the tyranny OF the
friars drove them to both civil and religious
revolt Now they are generally profoundly indif
ferent to all religious creeds In such circum-
stances there is an opportunity for one of three
things TO occur. First, the Protestant mission
aries may convert the people TO their faith.
This 'The Spectator" regards as the most desr-
able but least probable course. Second, the
Roman Catholics may make a new and purer
propaganda and restore their worship through
out the islands. This The Spectator regards
as less desirable but more probable than the
first And, third there may he a period of
intellectual anarchy, followed by the rise of
great new system of faith, dreamy and mystical
in character This THE Spectator" thinks most
probable of all, but least to be desired
II is well that the writer in The Spectator"
confesses imperfect acquaintance with the facts,
for at the beginning of his speculations he
makes a serious and fundamental error. The
Filipinos have not generally revolted against
Roman Catholicism. but against the alleged
corruption and tyranny of alien friars in civil
affairs The islands have been governed in
civil and social as we'll as in religious matters
hv portion of the clergy and these ecclesias-
tical rulers have been not native Filipinos, but
Spaniards That Is what the Filipinos revolted
AGAINST. Just as the Cubans long protested
against the filling of their churches with priests
from the Peninsula. There is no Indication that
the Filpinos object in the least to Roman Cath
oic priests of Filipino blood who attend strictly
IN religious duties and do not medde with the
civil government. Indeed IL is perfectly we'll
known that many of the Filipinos are intensely
Ioyal to that church thus manned and con-
ducted OF course, United States rule will
assure the complete separation of church and
state and il is intmated that the authorities at
Rome are inclined to replace the Spanish clergy
In the islands largely with natives, though also
to some extent, especially in the higher offices,
with Americans. In such circumstances 1T seems
probable that the Filipinos will largely remain
Roman Catholics, though there Is little doubt
that Professionalism will make hosts OF converts,
as 1t is already doing
The writer in "The Spectator" errs also in
his speculations as well as in his facts. or at
least overlooks one salient and dominant fact.
namely, the vast difference between these times
and those In which mystical faiths have arisen