The Washington times., 1903-07-15
FOUR BISHOPS WORTH AN
ARMY IN PHILIPPINES
Bishop Rocker Confident of
Influence for Peace.
FAR BETTER THAN BAYONETS
Believes American Churchmen Can Lead
the Natives to Obedience to
Lawful Authority.

Bishop F. q. Rocker, now at the Apos-
tolic Legation in Washington, and who
will go to his diocese in the Philippines
in August. has great faith in the power
of the church to pacify the islands and
win them to good citizenship. The field
for church work in the islands, he says.
is broad and he prophesies a great work
by the Catholic church there
Better Than an Army.
He says: -Four American bishops in
Church In the Philippines will be worth
1000 soldiers to the United States.
The means at their disposal will accom-
plish more for the pacihcatIon OF the
people than bayonets. The policy will
be to lead the people to God through the
church. to peace and obedience to law
full authority"
The Very Reverend F. T. Rocker was
formerly secretary of the Apostolic Le-
cation in this city and was recently con-
secrated in Rome as Bishop of the Dio-
cese of Jaro. Philippine Islands.
DIR. Rocker left Rome June 26, four
days after his conservation, and brought
the latest direct news about Vatican
affairs to the legation After his ar
rival, in New York he went to his home
in Albany, where he was cordially re-
ceived On Sunday he was celebrant at
mass and the central figure during the
vespers of his home church at Albany.
Bishop T. NJ. A. Burke, of that city, be-
ing present.
Contingent Engagements.
Bishop Rocker will remain here a
week Unless the Pope should die. which
would. of course. delay both events. he
Will be pesent when the pallium is con-
ferred on Archbishop Farley in New
York July p. and on the following lay
will be given reception by the Catho-
lie Church Union in Albany. Bishop
Rocker will then return to Washington.
and remain here until he starts for Ma
Mia, about the latter part of August.
While Bishop Rocker was on his way
to Rome word reached there of the re-
signation of the. Bishop of Jaro. Mgr.
Guidi. papal delegate to Manila. cabled
Immediately to Cadinal RampoIla asking
that Bishop Rocker, who had been ap-
pointed Bishop of Neuva Caceres. be
made Bishop Of Jaro. and this was done
The diocese ranks next in Importance to
the archbishopric of Manila, to which
post Rev. J. J. Hasty, of St Louis. will
be sent. II consist Of the islands of
Panay. Negros. Iloilo. and several 9TH
ers, and is one of the most important
fields of work in the Orient Bishop
Rocker Will have a more difficult task
before him there than he would have
had at Neuva Caceres. but is confident
of success. His many friends here en-
tertain the same confidence.
The Other Bishops.
The other two American bishops will
be Bishop Denis Dougherty, of Over
brook Seminary. Pennsylvania. who re-
turned from Rome a week before Dr.
Rocker. and Rev. Thomas A. Hendrick
The former Will go to the Diocese of
Neuva segovia and the latter to Cebu.
II is not known yet whether the latter
has accepted.
Speaking of the work before the four
American bishops. Bishop Rocker said:
THE policy will be one OF pacification
We Will work, above all things. for re-
ligion, to bring the people back to God,
20 save their faith to them. The Holy
Father is confident the problems will all
be worked out successfully. During my
interview with him he told me he had
every confidence in the American Gov
ernment. The general political ques-
tions are matters IN the hands OF Mon
signor Guidi and Governor Taft for solu-
tion in accordance with the wishes of tho
United States Government and the Vati-
can The American bishops viII have
nothing to do with the politics OF the
Their work will he for reii-
gion and the success of this work will he
Of incalculable value in bringing about
peace"