Evening star., 1903-12-23
LANDS OF THE FR|ARS
The Controversy Has Been
Removed to Rome.
Is NOW IN THE CHURCH
BETWEEN THE VATICAN AND THE
RELIGIOUS ORDERS.
Money to Be Received From the United
States Will Be Paid to the
Philippine Church.
rs NOW IN THE CHURCH
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
| Special Correspondence of The Evening Star and
Chicago ecord-Herald.
ROME, December 13, 1903.
| The controversy over the lands formerly
| occupied by the friars in the Philippines is
no longer between the United States and
| the Roman Catholic Church, but Is now be-
tween the Vatican and the religious orders.
1t was suspended for several months owing
to the death of Leo XIII, but has been re-
sumed recently, and during the last few
days the holy father has notified the gen.
erals of the several congregations interest
ed, notably the Augustinians, Francscans,
Dominicans, Recoletas and others. of the
policy he intends to pursue. He has de-
parted considerably from the attitude occu-
pied by Leo XIII. and has shown busi-
ness judgment that Is commended by every
body except the friars and their advocates.
The whole difficulty from the beginning
has been whether the church at large or
the friars themselves and the congregations
they represent should enjoy the benefit of
the money which the United States has
offered TO pay for the lands. Under the
late administration Leo XIII and Cardinal
Rampolla took the position that the pro-
ceeds should go Into the general treasury
of the church at Rome, to be used for what
ever purpose 1t might be needed. On the
other hand. the friars insisted that the
property belonged to them, and they would
not consent to its sale until they were as
sured that ownership would be recognized
and that the money would be paid into their
own hands.
The Pope's Position.
Plus takes an entirely different and
new position. and has practically decided
that the property belongs neither to the
I iIat,
nor to the church at large, but to the Phil
| lppine church alone and that the proceeds
of its sale should be devoted to the parishes
in that archipelago.
In other words, he has determined that
Whatever money Is paid by the United
States government in the purchase of the
property of the friars shall remain there as
permanent fund for the promotion of the
interests of the Catholic Church in the
Islands, and, although his Ideas are not
fully developed it is believed to be his
intention to invest the funds in Interest,"
drawing securities as a perpetual enlow-
nent of the Philippine church. the inter-
est from which shall be used to build and
support churches, schools, seminaries and
charitable institutions.
This is a grand idea, and while I am not
authorized to say that II will be actually
carried out have the very highest author
ity for aging that the holy father intends
to make such an arrangement If possible.
The pope bases his plan upon the assump-
ton that the lands We're donated by the
Spanish government to the church for the
be nefit of its members IN the island and
not for the benefit of the frars living there,
nor for the members of the several orders
In Spain, Italy and other parts of the world.
He holds further that the present value of
the property Is due to the labor of the peo-
pie of the Philippines and not to any.hinS
that the members of the religious congre-
cations in other parts of the world have
done. Nor can he claim that the -reasury
of the church at large Is justly entitled to
the proceeds of the sale OF the property.
Justice demands that-it be invested for the
benefit of the people to whom 1t na.urd ally
belongs. and in pursuance of that idea the
pope has instructed the superior generals
in Rome of the religious congregations in
terested to notify their provincials at Ma
nila that the property belongs to the church
in the Philippines and not to them per-
sonally. 1t came into their possession as
ministers of religion for the benefit OF their
parishoners and not for the benefit Of ;he
orders which they represent.
Stunning Blow to the Orders.
This is a stunning blow to the four great
religious congrega tions at large. as well as
to the friars in the Philippines, but they
| have brought it upon themselves by their
stubborn resistance to every measure that
has been proposed. They cannot complain
of injustice. for from the beginning they
have been treated with the greatest consid-
Grafton. When Judge Taft came to Rome
last year, with power to treat for the dis
ed a committee of five cardinals to deal
with him. and three of the five were men,
bers of the congregations interested.
Cardinal Gotti. ''the red pope as he is
called because of his powerful position at
the head of the Propaganda Eide, is the
superior of the Carnelite order, and to this
day. in spite of his elevation to the rank of
prince of the church. and to the head of
the most important department, continues
to live like monk, sleeping on hard
mattress in a cell. with no more comforts
or luxury than the humblest brother of the
barefooted friars.
Cardinal Wives y Tuto Is the head of the
Benedictine order. and is recognized as it's
representative In the sacred college. He
was particularly interested in the Philip
pine question because he is a Spaniard and
his order owns large amount of property
In Luzon.
Cardinal Steinhuber. one of the most ag-
gressive and able of the sacred college is
Jesuit and devoted to his order.
Gov. Taft's Proposition.
These men, to whom the negotiations
were intrusted by Leo XIII, considered the
proposition of Judge Taft that board Of
arbitration be apponted-two members by
the pope. two by the Philippine govern
ment and the fifth by the governor general
of India-and that they be empowered to
appraise all of the agricultural lands build
ings. irrigation plants and other property
belonging to the religious orders in the
Philippine Islands which is not used for re-
igious educational and charitable pur-
poses: and the government of the United
States agreed to pay the price fixed by this
commission In four annual installments.
provided all members of the Dominican
Augustinian, Franciscan and Recoleto So
cieties now in the Philippines Withdrew
permanently from the island, and that here
after no Spanish member of either of the
orders be sent there.
Hhis proposition was rejected as you will
remember. and that papal commission de-
cided that the question of sale and every
| thing relating thereto must be settled at
| Manila and not at Rome. The secret and
con,roiiing motive of this verdict was that
| IL the business was conducted at ROME ths
| money would be paid to the pope and he
| subject to his disposition. Ii the trade
| was arranged at Manila the fri,rs ,,,o,,I5 -