The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-11-22

through the smoke of battle. Hi
vision was naturally blurred. AS wei
might we judge the beauty of a land
scape when it is swept by a hurrj
cane or splcndor of the moon durin,
an eclipse Most Americans, accordin.
to one of your most celebrated journal
lists, until Dewey destroyed the Span
ish fleet at Cayite, did not know
whether the Philippines were island.
or canned goods" l do not know
whether Father Hart entertained the
canned goods opinion or held the
islands theory. From his interview
l would think the former.
'"Thcir attachment" continues Fa
Their Hart, Ito the native Filipino
priests was unlimited. If they show
opposition to the frars, it is for othe,
reasons than for that of their priest
hood"
Is it not strange, then, that the
native priests themselves often COM
plain that the people will not hearken
to their voices as they formerly did
to the friars? Another strange thing
is that wherever Il friar is stationed
i'll the provinces, the best people of all
the surrounding pueblos come to his
church for confession. The native
priests seem unable to make improve
mcnts on church property, as they say
the people will not cooperate with
them. In Manila, where the atmos-
phere is charged with Freemasonry
to the sitting point, the religious pro-
cessions from the friar churches are
often swelled to fifty thousand people.
Nothing to compare with it from any
OF the churches in charge of the native
padres, not even from the Cathedral.
The Filipino people have the beau
tifu faith of little children. This
faith. sublime in itself, is easily warp
Ell and declines into superstition. The
filipinos are surrounded with peo-
pie devoted to superstitious rites and
practices. The European priests have
always had to curb the excessive faith
of the people. The native priests, in
stead of directing the faith of the peo-
pie within dogmatic limitations, often
encourage it to rove unbridled. This
fact has become very emphatic during
the last few years of relaxed discip-
line. During the war amulets and
charms of every size and variety were
furnished insurrectos by native pad
res. The most ridiculous powers were
attributed to these amulcts. Some of
the insurrecto leaders initiated the ma
tive padres and became even more
eXtravagant Whenever they found
their power waning they would retire
mysteriously and have an opportune
vision with some celestial being who
never failed to promise them victory if
they persevered. Thus the dropping
spirits of their deluded and discour-
aged followers were animated anew,
and thus did they impose upon the
simple faith Of Il simple people. These
people had relied upon the friars in
times past and were never led astray.
During these last years they have fol-
lowed blind guides and both have
fallen into errors against faith and
morals. In some places they have
brought our holy religion into ridicule.
"The orders had monopoly of reli-
gion,' says Father Hart, "and how
ever well intentioned the directors of
II monopoly are, and whatever the
causes that led up to the formation
of Il monopoly, it will always in the
long run induce opposition and hat
red. l would place the number of
native priests in the neighborhood
of 500"
Religion, according to any Of it's
definitions, would be hard thing to
mon0poliZe even if it were desired.
a monopolized religion, if Father
Hart will only glnnce through some
of his e'volumes of forgotten lore"
he must admit, is no religion. have
read of the munificent fees paid
American attorneys for drawing up
the papers Of successful monopolies
in steel and iron and oil and tobacco.
etc. But you might as we'll try to
monopolize the sunlight or the air we
breathe as to. monopolize religion.
The religious orders of the Philippines
may point with just pride to the
grand work. they have accomplished
in lifting Il tropical people from the
depths of savagery into the high
plains and pure atmosphere of Chris
tianity. They did this. too, not at
the expense of the Filipino Indians.
In this connection it would be interest
ing to know what you have done
with your American Indians. We
have more than 500 Filipino priests;
how many Indian priests have you?
How many Negro priests have yo,r?
We never desired n monopoly" in re-
ligion. We sowed the highways and
byways, the mountains, the valleys,
the open fields and the dense thickets.
To God belongs the glory that most
of the seed fell upon fertile soil and