New-York tribune., 1902-07-21
SAYS THE FRI4RS MUST GO.
THE REV DIR. BABBITT ACCUSES THEM o
GREED. ROBBERY AND OPPRESSION IN

The Rev. DR.. Dean Richmond Babbitt. rector
the Church of the Epiphany McDonOugh-st- an
Tompkins-ave.. Brooklyn, preached yesterday
The Friars and the Friar Question" He said
part:
This country is bringing a greater liberty to N
Philippines than ii has ever been able to bring.
bring under present conditions, to Cuba-for IN
darkness. oppression and superstition OF the gres
the masses OF the Cubans, and American hbert
and mercantile considerations have too long OF
n iTTii NJ S9ve o6ane5 leor in I'M m
Philippines, but the wiser, more thoughtful mind
cotton gods are going through that door, or sugai
fOfee speTs % & and hemp are eGmnf nsa2 bag 5Rs @
with satisfaction the Stars and Stripes carrie
which they are proud They have thousan
American school teachers sweep through II. wh
elbow and still not teach their Professionalism
the Philippine schools except by the purity OF the
tolerant American Governor General Taft go an
q2i yve for What Whom next are they wstehin
TO pass that door? They are watching, expeetin
door Spanish friars. mark you; unclean. indoleni
gTeeS 5 n 2s rsbeTs i o the oe peope and Rv IN
passed that door. the American people expect tina
Spanish soldiers SO that the land that knew ther
will know them no more forever
II is sad thing when religion lends itself
greed and robbery. That is what it did as centre
Roman Catholic church in the PhiIippnes thoag
three hundred years is long time for an unsue
five hundred native Roman Catholic priests ther
Is much pety and goodness 1t should be ad
mitted that the Roman Catholic secular priest
are loved by their hOcks; that large degree Q
whatever intelligence and advancement in civiliza
ton the FiliDinOS possess has been bestowed b.
that Church. Yet liberty languished there, anC
OF religion to the thirsty souls OF the people be
came their greatest oPpTessOTS. History is wtha
ton is that men set 10 convert souls have con
Verted lands TO their Religious order
vowed TO poverty have fattened TO riches on tn
people iand- W nat SaNonarola SAID 0I tne friars
and Ihther said of the friars and Wycliffe saii
of the friarS, the FilipnOS say in this twentieth
century of the friars But there is no word $
not and burning with Indignation in our prolifi
English language as to be too strong to apply L
one or these greedy fraudulent Spanish friars VIII
nave ground down the Filipino tenants with pitt
less landlOrdism to which Ireland in it's deepes
misery IS a stranger. Four of these orders
Spanish friarS-the Augustnians the DOninicanS
the ReCOlieCts and the Franciscans-have so out
ragged the Justice the liberty yea, the very religion
OF the FtptnOSi have so concentrated in themselve
people killed some OF them imprisoned others an,
drove the rest from their i'll gotten lands at tn
peril of life and limb.
That is the gist Of the 'friar question Ant
the generosity, gnanimity and justice OF gov
ernment seek TO buy those i'll gotten lands through
the rope, 10 whom those orders owe allegiance. q
people who have been robbed of them. and 70 hav,
the frlarS now living charity in Manila depar
themselves How Is our government metz 1t send
a business commission to ROme-an unDrecedentet
step for America. II gives the Vatican an oppor
tunltE 10 make return step toward recognition
at Washington long coveted and so abhorren
10 italy and the American people. 1t spends man,
weeks IN fruttleSs negotiations with those who. bu
generosity and magnanimity of the American Gov
eminent. But the friars must go, and the Anerf
can people will never tolerate the recognition O
the temporal power or admit that Rome is a nation
WITHIN all other nations.