The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-12-31
HARD TASK FOR MGR AGlUS.

On last Wednesday, Mgr. Agius, the
papal legate to the Philippines, sailed
from San Francisco to take up the
task left to him by Mgr Guidi. He
has spent several weeks in the United
States visiting some of the largest cit
les, among them Washington, Chicago
New York, Philadelphia and Balti-
MORE and has no doubt, to IL certain
extent, familiarizcd himself with the
way in which the Catholic Church is
administered in the United States. Un-
doubtenly, he like other distinguished
foreign prclatcs who have heretofore
visited this country, was struck with
the wonderful accomplishments Of the
church in this non-Catholic country
church dignitaries from such Cnthol
countries as Italy and France to find
that there is in every quarter of this
country large congregations which
compare very favorably in their
CHtholicity to those found in the
Catholic countries of Europe. Mgr.
Agius has frankly expressed himself
upon this subject and while he may
have been surprised, as he probably
was no doubt, some Of our officials in
Washington were likewise surprised
at the broad-minded character Of the
man whom the Pope has entrusted
with the delicate task of arranging the
difficulties, first, between the United
States government and the Spanish
friars in MANILA, and, second, between
the Spanish friars in Manila and the
local churches in the Philippines. Mgr.
Guidi, ut the time of his sudden death
was progressing very we'll in his eff
forts to straighten matters out. He
was peculiarly fitted for the task be-
fore him for it was he whom Leo had
sent to Brazil to straightcn out the
matter Of church property between
that government and the church at the
time that the government OF Brazil
was ltthcu oNSl Nv lcNOlullOllISlSs Ills
mission to that country was eminent
~ successful. Later he was sent to
Ecuador where he performed a like
service. So far as we know Mgr Agius
has had no experience in the diploma
tic service of the church but he has
impressed himself upon the officials
of this government in a very favorable
light. He was to the White House
twice and he delayed his departure
from the country two weeks awaiting
the return of Secretary Taft from
Panama.
AS is well known the United States
some time ago purchased from the
religious orders in the Philippines all
their vast lands. The titles to these
lands, for the most part, We're in the
name Of the friars. At least this was
true of the Augustinians and the
Recolletos. The Dominicans, immed-
lately after the occupation of the
islands by the American troops, fear
ing possible confiscation of their
lands, turned the titles over to the
PHILIPPINE Sugar Estates Company.
Ever since the price of the lands have
been agreed upon dispute has been
in progress between the Vatican and
the friars as to whether the money
from these lands should go to the Pope
for the benefit Of the church in the
Philippines or should go to the friars
themselves. These latter are all
Spaniards, and if they succeed in Sc
curing the money it will all be taken
away from the Philippines. In the case
Of the Augustinians and the Recolletos
the United States has paid directly to
these religious orders their share of
, the moneys because the titles come