The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-19
TO REPLACE FRIARS
AMERICAN PRIESTS ORDERED TO
PHILIPPINES.
ANNOUNCED AT vILLANOVA.
AUGUSTINIAN ORDER TAKES THE
LEAD.

Prior General Rodriguez Names Two
American Priests, Who HIVE
Agreed to Undertake the Work.
Others Likely to Follow soon.
They Go an Brothers of the Span
ish Frinrs and I'm Full Sympathy
With Their WorlS-The Friars i'm
Philippines Mssrepresented, Says
the Prior General.
Philadelphia, Sept. 1S.--An important
step toward the solution of the trou-
bles in the Philippine Islands, caused
by the presence of Spanish friars there,
when the Most Rev Thomas Rodri-
quez, o. S. A. of Rome, prior general
of the Augustinian Order throughout
the world, announced that Rev. Dan
iel O'Mahony of Andover, Mass, and
Rev. j. e. McErlainesof Villanova had
been ordered to the Philippines as
pioneers in the movement of American
priests to those islGrSs to~ucceed the
Spaniards. 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
are distinguished and able members of
the order. They were selected from
among about a dozen volunteers, who
offered their services to the prior gen.
eral in case he needed American Au-
gustinians for the Philippines. Many
of the Spanish friars in the Philippines
belong to the order.
I'VE go there to carry out the pro-
gramme which has been decided on by
the prior general" said Mr.. O'Mahony.
we are fully cognizant of the 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 now many American
Augustinians will be sent TO the ISL
ands."
The announcement was made dur.
ing the celebration of the feat o: st
Thomas, patron of Villano,a, which
was observed with impressive exer-
cises.
At 8 p. m. high mass was celebrated
by Prior General Rodriguez. and at II
O'Clock reception was rendered to the
distinguished Augustinian, who has
bcen HI tiiiS COut1lfy IL illlle more tildll
a month. The American provincial,
Rev. Martin ]. Geragty, delivered an
address of welcome to the prior gen.
eral on behalf of the American prov
| ince, which takes in all the communi-
ties of the order in the United States
An address was also made by Rev. DR..
l.. A. Delury, president of ViIianova.
All the addresses were delivered in
Latin. The prior general in replying
to the welcome, among other things,
said:
The Appeal to the Pope.
'"Througout all time the governments
of the world have appeal to the sover-
eign Pontif as a peacemaker. r he
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
,nly considered God-fearng men will
do tight and justice.
Unfortunately, nearly all the state
ments furnished from abroad to the
American press on the friar question
are filled with calumny and mendacity
in regard to the friars in the island
We do not blame t'H Philippine Com
mission for any opinions that body
holds, for we know the information
furnished to it was mainly obtained
from. our enemies. men who have
stopped at nothing to villify and ma
Ign our brothers. ] speak not as one
who does not know the conditions in
the Philippines. / speak wiz a per-
sonal knowledge of the priests and the
people"