The Washington herald., 1909-06-11

/
have been IN the habit OF looking 70 the
church for aims and for support. 70 bring
them around 10 believe that they have
got TO contribute. that Il IS their church
and that they are responsible 20 keep the
/ church, involves lesson that Il takes
years 70 inculcate. and during that time.
OF course. there is a lack OF money sup
port that entails an enormous sacrifice
upon those who are conducting the
church IN the islands.
Now there have been introduced into
the islands since the change OF sover-
eighty ministers OF other churches. Of
other denominations. I am in favor OF
having them all there. because think
you will agree with me that all churches
\ get along better when there Is complete
Christian emulation between them; that
II ! may use a nonsaered term, competi-
ton helps along IN churches as II does in
other things.
/ 1T has fallen 10 my lot. by reason OF
my experience IN the Philippines and my
responsibility for the Philippine govern
ment, 20 become acquainted with great
many Of the Catholic priesthood and a
great many OF the Catholic hierarchy.
/ One OF my most interesting lie expert
ences was my visit 70 Rome. and I refer
70 that 70 comment upon the remark that
Father Doyle made with reference 20 the
change In the feeling between denonlina-
lions.
Visited Pope at Rome.
These problems that have outlined to
you had TO be settled iE some way, and
the question was How were they 10 be
| setted?' Were we 10 deal with agents IN
the islands who did not have authority,
and in the nature Of things could not
have authority. or were we 10 go 10 the
head Of the church. 70 the person who
had complete authority. and deal with
him? That was the straightforward
American way Of doing things.
There was suggested the difficulty OF
diplomatic relations which were contrary
70 our traditions. politically and consti-
tutionaily. and were liable 10 misconcep-
ton and Misrepresentation II religious
rancor and religious bigotry were allowed
20 have force. And so we consulted TO-
gether-Mr. Roosevelt. Mr.. Root. the Lead
ing members OF the Senate. and members
OF all church denOminations-and we con-
cluded. or they concluded say we
because 1 was the humble instrument TO
carry out what their conclusions were
that the best way was the direct way
and 50 I went 70 Rome and had the honor
OF being received BY Leo XIII, one OF the
greatest Popes that ever sat IN that chair.
and q man OF such high intellectual char
acter, such broad abilities. that I shall
always congratulate myself on having
had the opportunity Of coming into his
presence and meeting him.
I had supposed he AT ninety-two years
OF age was a lay figure rather at the
head of the church. and that we should
be turned over 10 the cardinals who really
conducted church matters. but my mind
was quickly disabused on that point Tor
as soon as I was brought into his pres
ence found a most alert old gentleman.
quick IN movement. quick in Intellectual
appreciation OF what was said 20 him, and
intensely interested IN the subject which
Il was my honor and my opportunity 70
present. After an address had been made
10 him OF some thirty minutes he re-
sponded IN French in fifteen or twenty
minutes. showing that he had caught all I
the points which were made. that he was
fully alive 10 the importance OF the issue.
and that he proposed to have a good deal
10 say about how that issue should be |
settled
we did not reach a definite conclusion |
at Rome. as we had hoped 10. and in the |
last interview that I had with him. he /
that we had not been able 20 reach just /
the conclusion that we hoped for. but 1
tEat he was going 10 send an agent Of his I
To the Philippines. who was going 20 /
carry out a policy that would come as 1
close az possible 10 satisfying the Ameri- /
can government in the settlement OF the 4
questions which were there. And ne did I
He sent, as I say. Archbishop Guidi 4
man whom Il was a pleasure 10 have
business with. and through whom most /
Of the questions were subsequently set i
tied. ! am glad 10 say that those which i
were left open were afterward settled 4
with Archbishop Harty. and that the set /
tlement was on a most satisfactory basis /
for both sides. so that there IS not to-day I
in the Philippine Islands an existing i
question; no snakeheads. as Governor /
Wright was in the habit OF calling them.
that can rise 10 trouble either the civil \
or the church government in those IS 4
lands
7 wish 70 90 back for a minute and /
say that after the settlement was ef- \
fected. after we had visited Rome. after 4
the conference was held. there were very
few. If any, extremists in this country
who took exception 10 that method of 1
reaching solution. I venture to say.
my dear friends. that If this visit 10
Rome had occurred forty or fifty years
before. it would have sunk any admins
tration responsible for II. This goes TO
show the increasing tolerance that there
IS between all religious denominations
because they are ali working. as they
understand IT. for the brotherhood OF
man and the fatherhood OF COD. and
that this country is wide enough and
broad enough 10 permit US al 70 live
here as American citizens and worship
Cod as our consciences dictate that we
shall. and to make no invidious distinc-
tons in elections on account Of religion"
Greeted the Priests.
On the conclusion OF the Presidents
address. a photograph was taken as he
stood on the platform faced by the
priests. Those present then fled past
him and grasped him by the hand.
President Taft arrived about $50 O'Clock.
Before that tine the evening session Of
he congress was devoted 10 a discussion
of the work OF the missionaries among
the non-Catholies OF the South. toward
whom the Apostolic Mission House has
been directing the most active OF its
-orces- Following a prayer by Father
Evers, Father Bresnahan read paper on
Missions by the Suwanee River" He
gave humorous and. at the same time.
and analytic description
of the difficulties that beset the priests
N their efforts to carry the teachings Of
catholicism among the people south OF