Evening journal., 1902-09-19
AMERICANS WILL
FOLLOW OPANIARDS
Sen to Philippines by the
Prior General
lie Defends FriarS and Says State
mentS Furnished Americans Are
Filled With CalumnY

Philadelphia, Sept 19.-An import
ant step toward the solution OF the
troubles in the Philippine Islands
caused by the presence Of the Spanish
friars there, was taken yesterday at
Villa Nova College, when the Most
Rev. Thomas Rodriguez, O. S. A., of
Rome, prior general of the Augustin-
ian order throughout the world, an
nonnced that Rev. Daniel ]. o. OMa-
hony, of Andover, Mass, and Rev. j.
L. McErlane, of villa Nova, had been
ordered to the Philippines as pioneers
in the movement of American priests
to those islands to succeed the Span
iards. The two priests will leave for
Manila within the next two weeks, and
will be followed in a short time. IT is
believed, by several other American
Augustinians. Both clergymen chosen
are distinguished and able members
of the order. They were selected
from among dozen volunteers who
offered their services to the prior gem
eral in case he needed American Au-
gustinians for the Philippines. Many
of the Spanish friars in the Philip
pines belong to the order.
'We go there to carry out the pro
gram which has been decided on by
the prior general" said Father O'Ma-
hony. I'VE are fully cognizant of the
great work done by the friars of our
and other orders in the Philippines,
and go to them as brothers working in
the same cause. We have no idea how
long we will remain or how many
American Augustinians will be sent to
the islands"
The announcement was made during
the celebration of the Feast of St.
Thomas, patron of Villa Nova, which
was observed with impressive exer-
cises.
At s a m. yesterday high mass was
celebrated by Prior General Rodriguez,
and at IL o'clock a reception was ten
dered to the distinguished Augustinian,
who has been in this country a little
more than a month. The American
provincial, Rev. Martin j. Geragty,
delivered an address of welcome to the
prior general on behalf of the Ameri-
can province, which takes in all the
communities of the order in the Unit
ed States. An address was also made
by the .ev. L. A. Delury, president of
Villa Nova. All the addresses were
delivered in Latin.
The prior general, in replying to the
welcome. among other things. said:
Throughout all time the governments
of the world have appealed to the SOW.
ereign pontiff as a peacemaker The
American government has appealed
to him, and rightly so. to settle the
troubles in the Philippines. We have
no fear of the outcome. Prejudice and
cant must be put aside and the facts
only considered. God-fearing men will
do right and justice. Unfortunately
nearly all the statements furnished
from abroad to the American press
on the friar question are filed with
calumny and mendacity in regard &
the friars in the island. We do not
blame the Philippine commission fol
any of the opinions that body holds
for we know the information furnished
to it was mainly obtained from oul
enemies, men who have stopped a
nothing to villify and malign oui
brothers. speak not as one who doei
not know the conditions in the Philip
pines. speak with a personal knowl
edge of the priests and the people"