The daily sentinel., 1908-11-10

The Sentinel publishes another let
ter from Clayton Nichols. an old time
resident of Grand Junction who has
been engaged in the lumber business
in the Philippine Islands for several
years. From time to time letters
that have been written by Mr.. Mich
OILS to his brother. Henry Nichols.
of this city. have been given publica-
tion in The Sentinel.
This letter is mainly an answer to
the exceptions taken to statements
made in a recent letter from Mr..
Nichols. by Father Conway, of the
local Catholic church. AS Father
Conway denounced in forceful man
ner certain statements regarding the
alleged fees required by the priests
of the islands for masses over the
dead, that were made by Mr. Nichols,
The Sentinel feels that it is only Just
to Mr.. Nichols to publish his answer
to Father Conway's exceptions. The
letter is given without comment by
The Sentinel, Mr.. Nichols alone being
responsible for the statements he
makes.
The letter follows:
Cadiz, p. L., Sept. 20, 1908.
Dear Henry:-I had a good laugh
when | received the clipping you sent
me showing that Father Conway had
announced my name for membership
in the Anninas Club.
Poor Father Conway,
He howled before he was hit no
doubt he has hard time herding his
flock and SHES at any shadow that
might stampede it,
In the part of my letter to which
the reverend gentleman took eXcep-
tions | made no statement other than
Il
| asked, now how much will mass
for your fathers soul cost?" and she
replied about $4,000"
or course Father Conway would be
foolish to deny that the woman made
such "A statement. | will admit that
at the time | asked the question my
ignorance of the legitimate fees of
the church was as profound as my
Indifference was great.
Since have learned that the Faith
er has taken so much interest in the
matter | have taken pains to accumu-
late some facts.
1t is not only common here but it
is frequent that masses of one kind
or the other for the repose of the
soul of the dead costs more than $50.
Sometimes families are impoverished
by the expense of these masses. l
am ollhlhN SAdAiit hhN AaANAos ioth'i
Conway can state whether ii is legal
or not.
The other day | dined with four
educated Spaniards, all of whom are
Roman Catholics. | told them how
an American priest had called me
down. They thought 1t a great joke
and laughed heartily. One of them
is an old sea captain who has .trav
eled in many parts of the world and
is exceptionally devout He crosses
himself every time the barometer
falls. He said. why. the priests even
cnarge for the tone of voice; mas alto,
mas dincro," Imore loud, more
money!
] will send YOU copy of a Manila
daily paper with a full page "ad" an
nouncing the mass "Gregoriana" for
some rich man who died August 23rd.
The "ad"alone will cost several hun
dred dollars, and it is estimated by
those who have taken the trouble to
| find out that $4,000 will be spent
on masses before his friends can get
his soul to occupy its proper place in
the celestial sphere. How much graft
the priesthood will get out of ii | do
not not know
There are several kinds of masses
requeim, catafalque. gregoriana, etc
A poor relative who does not want To
give the departed more than four bits
worth of heaven or cool the Goals
more than half dollars worth, The
good Catholics of America would be
shocked at the things that have beer
done and are being done in the name
land shadow of the church in this
archipelago,
1t is matter of common knowl
edge to every one here that the bodie:
of the poor have had to lie in theii
coffins, or wrapped in their mats a
the gates of the cemeteries for hours
and sometimes days, until the friend.
or relatives who were taught to be
lieve that the body could not be in
TERED in consecrated ground unit
they could raise the money to pay the
necessary fee for the prayer required
for the soul of the deceased.
This practice has been prohibited
by the American sanitary and police
authorities in most of the cities.