Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-21

sistanfs to the friars. doing all the hard
work for merely nominal pay. Where 4
friar received $1,000 or $500 salary from
the government before the American occu-
patton. a native pastor was paid only 300
or $500. he was hurailiated in every way,
was treated like a servant rather than an
equal. and was never allowed the privileges
and per1uisites attached TO the profession.
The native priests were few in numbers,
also, and when the friarS were withdrawn
or ran away there were no subs titutes for
| them. which explains why so many churches
were abar doned. Agiipay is ordaining large
numbers OF young men. He looks up young
| men who were deacOns, acolyes. school
teachers and secretaries for the friars be-
fore the revolution of 1895. and has very lit
tie trouble in inducing them to accept or
ders because here, as in all Spanish coul-
tries the priests are privileged class. Most
of the young men he has ordained have
nothing to qualify them except their ability
to read the service, but Aglipay tells me
that he cannot get any one else: that his
followers are organizing rapidly and de-
handing native pastors, and he sends them
the best men he can get He cannot walt
to educate candidates for the priesthood
If he did the whole movement would fall
through. and, besides he has no seminary
although he intends to have one as soon as
he can obtain funds.
He has consecrated twenty bishops In
place OF the four that were considered suf-
ficient in Spanish times, and explains that
so many are needed because his clergy have
no experience and require a great deal Of
looking after. He thinks he ought to have
share of the revenues from the church
property in Manila and elsewhere. and at
least half of the S7.2O0.OO0 which the gov
eminent is about to pay for the farm lands
of the friars. He insists that this money
belongs to the people Instead OF the monks
and should not be taken away from the
islands. The pope agrees with him on that
point, and intends that the proceeds OF the
sale of the lands shall remain here for the
benefit Of the church. but Agllpay Is not
I; 20 pt,tn 90 90
the government cannot recognize him in
any way. The money Will be paid to the
authorized agents of the friars. the men
who hold the deeds of transfer. and If Agli-
pay has any deeds of transfer he will re-
ceive corresponding amount
Aglipay's Following.
He has no funds and receives little sup
port from the people of education and prop
erty. His followers are nearly all poor.
consisting Of the peasant class. the 'toas."
as they are called. The intelligent and edu-
Gated classes have no confidence in him.
and army officers and officials from the In
terror say that the native priests who have
followed him are the most ignorant and de-
PRAYED in the country. An army officer told
me of his experience with one Of them. who
said that he intended to stick by Aglipay
for the present and until he was sure what
the movement would amount to. 1t would
be easier to renounce him and return to the
Roman Church than to get In with Aglipay
II the latter succeeded In that event he
would drive all his opponents out of the
country, hence 1t was safer to stick by
him. for the present at least.
The Protestant pastors and missionaries
are watching the movement with great In
terest. Rev. DR.. Stuntz Of the Methodist
Church, who Is one OF the pioneer mis-
sionaries In the Philippines. says:
1.-THE Aglipay movement helps US by de-
taching tens OF thousands OF members from
connection with the Church Of Rome ana