The state herald., 1902-08-29
PRosELYTING DENIED
ISLAND SCHOOLS NoNsEcrARIAN
Charges Against School System Of the
Philippine Islands Refuted by the
Superintendent's Report.

Superintendent's Report.
Washington, Aug. 25.-The bureau OF
insular affairs of the War Department
has made public the report of Frank
FL. Bowen. acting general superintend-
ent Of public instruction for the Phil
ippine islands. upon charges made in
the United States against the school
system of the islands, alleging that 1t
was used as a proselytlng agency
against Catholics and generally used
to the prejudice of Catholicism. The
charges were forwarded to Manila,
and the reply was made to Acting Gov
ernor Wright. The report of Superln,
tendent Bowen is dated July 7th, and
is general and specific denial of the
charges.
He says that of twenty persons who
have been division superintendents,
only one has ever been Il clergyman.
Three division superintendents were
appointed from list submitted by
leaders of the Roman Catholic Church
in the United States. In this connec-
tion the report says:
'The question of the religious belief
Of applicants and appolntees was new
er considered until late in 1901 At
that time special lot of applicants,
gathered by the authorities OF the Ro-
man Catholic Church in the United
States, was sent to the civil govern
ment of the island and transmitted to
the general superintendents. From
fhpSa iSfG inc m a
enis and twenty-three teachers were
appointed. In reporting these APP
pointments to the civil government the
general superintendent stated: 4 have
had much difficulty in finding people In
this lot of applications who are pos
sessed of the educational preparation
and teaching experience which is re
quired of other appointecs In this de-
partment. Those who have not been
selected seem to be wholly unsuitable
The only departure from strict non-
sectarianism in the conduct OF the
schools was a provision of the Philip
pine Commission which made il lawful
for a priest or minister of any estab-
lished church in a pueblo where pub
lie school is connected TO teach relig-
Ion for one-half hour three times
week in the school building to pupils
whose parents have expressed wish
for such instruction"
Concerning proselyting, the report
says:
Not only is no proselytiDg allowed
or attempted in any of the public
schools. but inquiry of the leaders of
The four principal Protestant denoml-
nations here brings out the fact that,
50 far as is known by these leaders,
there is not one Protestant Sunday
school teacher In the entire archipel-
aRo. The statement that not onc-third
OF the Protestant teachers ever
taught n day before going to the Phil
inpines and the Catholic teachers are
sent TO the distant provinces is en-
pbatically denied"
rhe assertion Is made that the edu-
ca'ional department has no knowledge
Of the distribution OF Bibles In pri-
rase church school by missionaries. Ii
Is also stated that the conditions of the
public schools In the Philippines do not
warrant the statement that they are
wr1'se In the Islands. as viewed from u
Catholic standpoint, than In the Unit
ed States.
1he report closes with the following:
The venomons attack on the Philip
pine Commission. especially the FIJI
plno members thereof. who ARE termed
traitors and rascals. serves TO show the
dccsee OF bitterness and recklessness
which charncierizes the whole article.
The negotiations at present under way
In Rome In regard So the church lands
In these islands Is sufficient refutation
OF ,hc last Wild statement Of this ex-
iraprdinnry production, In which not
one material statement is true"