Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-27

pOrtunftfes to confer with the officials of
the government who have to do with affairs
In the Philippines and leaves for his post
fully informed as to the disposition and
policy Of the administration toward eccle-
siastical matters In the islands He was
delayed for fortnight because Of the alb
sence Of Secretary Taft in Panama. but felt
fully repaid for waiting because Of the as
surances he received from the Secretary
that the government would assist him in
every possible way to perform the compli-
Gated and delicate duties intrusted to him
by the pope
Entertaining Mgr. Agius.
Monsignor Agius saw the President twice,
lunched at the White House, was enter
tanned by Secretary Taft and other officials
and left a very pleasant impression wher-
ever he went. The officials Of the govern
ment have expressed their satisfaction that
SO able and broad-minded man has been
selected to fill the post made vacant by the
lamented Monsignor Guidi
The latter was especially qualified to deal
with the complicated. situation In the Phil
ippines. He had settled similar complica-
lions in Brazil, where the church was forcl-
bly, divorced from the state and much OF Its
property confiscated by the revoiutionists;
he had done equally well In Ecuador, where
similar events had occurred. The struggle
between the civil authorities and the priest
hood there had been even more fierce ana
more radical measures had been adopted by
the government. Matters were going very
smoothly in the Philippines at the time OF
his sudden death 1t is believed that II he
had lived everything would have been set
tied by this time and he would have been
rewarded with red hat for his important
services. Since his death. however. new
complications have arisen. The friars are
again in rebellion against the authorities OF
ha faS MnnSfQnnr AptuS
growing more difficult every day.
Struggle With the Vatican.
There Is determined struggle between
the vatican and the religious orders over
the disposition of the money that is being
paid by the United States for the planta-
lions and other property OF the friars. His
holiness Plus x. like his predecessor. Leo
XIII, takes the ground that the property
held by the religious orders in the Philip
pines belongs to the church In the islands.
and not to the friars. and that the pro-
ceeds from the sales should be devoted to
its benefit, and not be taken away to other
countries. Money, Is. sadly needed there.
The houses of worship, the parish houses,
schools. hospitals, converts and other re-
ligious and charitable institutions are all
badly out of repair, and many Of them are
in ruins. Scarcely a parish in the entire
islands Is able to restore Its church to a
proper condition. All of the revenue-pay-
ing property belonging to the church Is
claimed by the friars, so that the arch
bishops and bishops of the several dioceses
are receiving nothing from it.
At the time Of his death Monsignor Guidi
was negotiating with the religious orders
for compromise. with the hope Of secur-
the local churches, but since his death all
of the money paid for the lands has been
retained by the friars and there is no i'm
mediate prospect Of the churches in the
fnc a dnl1 nf 4
The officials of the government have de-
clined to interfere, and have carried out the
original arrangement, which was to make
the payments for the lands to the persons
from whom 1t received the titles.
Two Orders Paid.
In pursuance Of this agreement 1t has de-
posted $2.212, 404 to the credit of the Span
ish superior of the Order of St. Augustine
In the Bank of England has paid $500 600
to their agents in New York and S98. 1872 OF
to their attorneys in Manila. This settles
all accounts with the Augustinian order.
Deeds for the property have been executed
and delivered. and the friars seem to be
perfectly satisfied with the transaction.
Satisfactory settlements have also been
made with the Order of the Recolletos,
which had an immense area Of land, includ-
Ing the two largest and richest estates In
the province OF Cavite. The deeds have been
and the price agreed upon has been paid in
cash to the attorneys of the friars at
Manila. There Is a report in Washington
that the pope has instructed the papal nun
clio at Madrid to bring legal proceedings
against the superior of the Augustinians in
that city to recover $4,000. 900 deposited in
the Bank Of England. but nothing Is known
of the matter here and the rumors are not
believed. Washington attorneys who are
familiar with such matters say that canon
ical law Is part of the civil law Of Spain
and the courts of that country would there
fore recognize the title of the pope to all
ders or any other. branch of the church.
Hence, II any such proceedings were fnsti-
tuted. as reported. they believe that the
courts would require whoever now has con-
troll Of the funds deposited in London to
pass them over to the nuncio, or whomever
the pope may designate.
Rights Of the Pope.
The government and the courts Of the
United States also recognize the title Of the
pope to all ecclesiastical property. even If it
belong to religious orders This was re-
Gently done in what Is known as the .'Pius
fund collected from Mexico as indemnity
for property in California formerly belong
Ing to the Jesuits While that state was
still part of Mexico and Mexico a part Of
Spain the Jcsuits were suppressed and large
estates belonging to them were confiscated
by the authorities. After California be-
came part of the United States the pope
of Rome through the archbishop OF Cali
fornia. applied to the government OF the
United States for its good offices in recover
ing the value of the property. The claim
was recognized by the Department of State
Mexico consented to an arbitration. which
decided In favor of the claimant. and Mex
leo paid an indemnity which was delivered
to the pope through the archbishop OF Cali
fornia. although the property In question
belonged to the Jesuits.
Neither the Augustinians nor the Recoi-
letos have left any money In the Philippine
islands except what was paid by them as
lawyers and surveyors fees. II Mgr. Guild
had survived until the settlement was made
1t Is believed that he could have obtained q
portion of the money for the benefit OF the
local churches.
Claims Of the Dominicans.
1t is also believed that an amicable settle
ment could have been reached with the
Dominicans. who have not been paid for
their land and probably win not be without
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