Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-01
S[C[DE FROM CHURCH
Church In the Philippines On
the Eve of a Great
Upheayal
"A DIVISION AMONG CATHOLICS
Father Aslipay Becomes Head OF the
seceders and Natives are FIocking to
His Standard - Both Sides Appeal
to Taft to Settle Their Differences
Other News.
A DIVISION AMONG CATHOLICS


ports received at the war department
from Governor Taft in Manila indicate
that the Filipinos are on the eve of
an extensive religious upheaval. the
cause of which is the intense hatred
of the natives for the fTiars who con-
tinue in the islands. In some instances
riots have occurred where natives
claimed the ownership of church prop
erty in the possession of Catholic pre-
lates. The organization known as the
National Filipino church, composed
largely of natives who object to the
Spanish friars, is rapidly growing IN
power among the people, and is foster
ing the idea that parish churches were
built with the money of the people and
belong to the people and not to the
Catholic church.
The spirit of religious rebellion is
spreading SO rapidly that according to
some advices it will soon include all
the important parishes of Luzon. The
effect of the failure of the civil author
fact that Governor Taft was named
as one of the patrons OF the new
church, are cited by the Catholic clergy
as indications that the United States
is not ,lnfavorably disposed toward
the new church.
Both the Catholic archbishop in Ma
Mia and Archbishop Aglipay, repre-
senting the seeding members, have
appealed to Governor Taft to determine
the ownership of the church property
IN question Governor Taft cabled the
war department several days ago that
he had been petitioned to interfere and
explained that he advised both parties
that they must settle the question of
title in the courts.
Secretary Root has cabled Governor
Taft approving Of this position and ex-
planning that the United States must
keep free from the religious question.
AT the same time the officials are much
concerned over the outcome, tho not
at all surprised that trouble has now
arisen. Secretary Root foresaw last
summer that the natives hostile to the
friars could not be held in check as
long as the friars remained in Manila
ttbo 81 liid1SdAta III ilS lkhSll dSsioiaS
to Governor Taft when he went to
Rome to negotiate for the purchase
OF the friar lands. Notwithstanding
the fact that the church property now
in dispute between the different re-
ligious congregations does not come
up for negotiation between Governor
Taft and the papal delegate sent to
Manila by the vatican to continue the
negotiations for the friar lands, 1t Is
felt that the attitude of the people viii,
have some influence toward bringing
about the early withdrawal of the
friars.
When the movement for a national
Filipino church was first begun it was
not viewed seriously in Manila. The
officials We're amused that Father
Aglipay, the communicated Catholic
priest, who had served with the in +,
surgents, should have assumed a role
Of friendship toward the United States
and selected Governor Taft as one
of the patrons Of the new church. 1t
now seems that Father Aglipay cor
rectly interpreted the opposition of the
people to the Catholic church and they
We're quick to receive him as a native
archbishop at the head OF a native
church.