Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-26
APPEAL TO PRESIDENT.
Augustinian Friars Plead for Order
A.

Augustinian Friars Plead for Order
in the Philippines.
A dispatch from Oyster Bay. N. Y, last
night says:
Rev. Father James p. o'Reilly OF Law
renee, Mass. and Rev. Father William A.
Jones, president OF the ST. Augustine Col
lege at Havana, Cuba. had an interview
with President Roosevelt this afternoon.
Both the visitors are members OF the Au-
gustinian order. and they discussed with
Mr. Roosevelt the friar situation in the
Philippines, with special regard to the
members Of their own order.
After the Interview with the President
they. made public resolutions adopted by
the quadrennial chapter OF the Augustin-
ian order at yflanova, Pa. July l6, and
presented to him before their departure
The priests in attendance at the meeting
at which the resolutions were adopted
represented the Augustinians of the Unit
ed states and Cuba The resolutions fol-
low:
Whereas we. members of the Augustinian
order, assembled in quadrennial chapter at
Nilanoya, Pa, rejecting on the sad
straits of our brothers religious in the
philippine Islands, where they have man.
ruby toiied for 300 years and upward as
pnuanthropists, educators, missioners and
pioneers of civilization, now suffering I'M
der grave deprivation of civil and religious
liberty, threatened moreover with igno-
mfnfous exile from a country whose very
clVllization is the conquest of their heroic
labors and self-sacrifce. do deem II our
duty as American citizens, who confide in
the honor and integrity. of our government
and the justice Of our people, to raise our
voice In behalf Of these Catholic missioners
the friars of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. honor
Integrity and rights are so wantonly as
sailed; therefore be 1t
Resolved. That We enedgetically protest
against the concerted effort which is be-
ing made to defame and to yilify the friars
of the Philippine Islands and to ALLEVIATE
from them the love and reverence of
people whom they have ransomed from ig-
norance and barbarism.
Resolved. That We. depioring the SEEM
ing disposition OF our government to dis
credit the services OF the friars I'm the Phil
ippines, do regard any hindrance to the
legitimate exercise of their labors as
serious menace to the civil and moral we'll
being OF the people of these islands an
unwarranted precedent fraught with peril
70 the Catholic Church in the United
states, grave violation of the treaty of
faris. and fatal departure from the
time-honored American principle Of sepa-
ration of church and state.
Resolved. That We protest against the
general condemnatio of the friars for
what may have been the errors Of individ-
uai members of their body. and demand for
them that same measure Of justice and
protection which is so truly accorded all
other persons and corporations under the
jurisdiction of the United States.
Resolved. That We. sensible Of the I'M
merited obioquy heaped upon the friars in
the Philippine Islands by foul ISLANDERS
emanating from misguided friends and
treachereus foes, do proffer sympathy to
our suffering brethren and encourage them
TO conide in the hope that our govern
ment. true to its mission and purpose,
will ultimately fulfill the dictates of Jus
tice and fairness in their regard.