Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-27
American Friars for the Philippines

From the Boston Transcript
Now that two American friars, members
of the Augustinian order, have been select
ed to go to the Philippines as pioneers We
may regard the ecclesiastical movement for
the reformation of the clergy In those is
lands as fairly begun. This action is doubt
less taken in obedience to directions from
Rome and therefore is more significant
than If it was a purely voluntary mission
airy effort. The Catholic clergy of the
United States Is morally and Intellectually
so far above those Of the Philippines that
there Is no common ground for meeting
There appears to be no room for charitable
doubt to the low character of the Phil
ippine clergy, notably the friars. Very few
Americans returning from the Philippines
have good word to say for the friars
while the peculiar rancor of the natives
against the orders was displayed by the in
surgents who, while respecting the ordinary
parish priests, gave no quarter to friarS.
Part of this rancor may be traceable to
political animosity, for the insurgents re-
garded the friars the most offensive of
all the agents of Spanish rule, but there
were other causes at work which infiame ed
the popular mind against the members of
the orders. They were currently charged
with being addicted to gross forms of cor
ruption, and while many charges were
doubtless exaggerations, there Is usually a
smoke. A returned American who, in ad-
diton to two years service In the army
had business experiences which brought him
in touch with all classes of the F'ilipinos,
assures us that from the most cultivated
down to the common laborers they were
unit in their detestaton of the friars. These
same Filipinos he found devout Catholics,
much attached to their faith and to their
ordinary pastors, but determined in their
position that the friars should be deprived
of all power and anxious to see the lands Of
the orders brought into the market.
Making all allowances for political an
tagonism, and dismissing from discussion
some of the stories current in Manila as
to the private lives of the friars, and the
truth probably will be found on investiga-
ton tina. the orders" in the Philippines
had become what such associations are apt
to become when they absorb great political
and social power in an isolation that keeps
them a little out Of touch with their dis
tant headquarters and rather off the direct
Line of frequent inspection. The two Amer
lean brothers Of the AuguStinian order who
are going to the Philippines have passed
their lives in this country, one from birth
and the other from early childhood and are
therefore in touch with American thought.
They may be trusted to hold to ideals vast
ly higher than those of the friars in the
Philippines, and their example as devout
and disnterested men ought to have ben
eficial effect on public opinion with regard
to the American representation In the or
ders" 1t should teach the Filipinos that
there are friars and friars, and SO prepare
the way for calmer temper for the set
Element of question now burning"
II is a fair assumption that the acquies-
cence Of the Catholic hierarchy In the sug-
gestion that came from Americans in the
islands that American Catholic clergy be
sent thither marks it's determine ton event
ually to remove all causes of friction be-
| tween the ecclesiastical element there and
our civil government, as trustee for the
Filipino. The Vatican has Ito move with
caution In all such matters, for above all
things it must preserve its dignity and pres
tige In the eyes of it's own people. These
would be lowered if ii conceded so promptly
as to suggest that 1t was yielding to press
ure. The Vatican desires to avoid quarrels
with governments. 1t rather cherishes a
purpose to show that the church, so far
from being antagonistic, Is helpful to the
civil power.
II it is simply asking for time in which
to consider ways and means to an end at
once desirable to itself and to the civil
government of the Philippines no one ought
to complain of delay.