The Washington herald., 1909-06-11

Facing nearly 200 Catholic missionaries
in the great hall Of the Catholic Univer-
sity Of America, President Taft delivered
a speech last night In which he deoried
''invidious distinctions in elections on ac-
count OF religion" and declared that If
his visit 10 the Pope at Rome had oc-
CURED forty or fifty years before 1T
would have sunk any administration re-
sponsible for it."
The address was made TO the Congress
Of Missionaries 10 Non-Catholics. which
has been in session under the auspices OF
the Apostolic Mission House. Frequent
applause interrupted the words of the
Chief Executive. Tense eagerness was
apparent on the part OF the auditors TO
hear what the President would have to
say on the question OF the Catholic lands
in the Philippines, the disposition of
which furnished an undercurrent in the
last national election.
The occasion was also unusually apro-
pos for the reason that the priests repre-
sented a progressive movement OF con-
version by the Catholic Church which
has extended the length and breadth Of
the land. and has become Of national
significance as one Of the distinctive re-
hgious movements OF the day II has
the highest approval and Iiveliest interest
OF the Pope al Rome, who has kept in
constant touch with its progress through
the papal delegate and through Father
Doyle, rector OF the Apostolic Mission
House For these reasons every man in
the room leaned forward in his seat eager
TO catch every word and every infection
OF the President OF the country directly
affected by the movement
storm OF Applause.
AS the President stepped upon the plat
form from the hallway and was received
by Father Doyle the assemblage rose
and storm OF hand-clapping swept for
ward from all parts OF the auditorium
In presenting the President Father Doyle
spoke OF him as "the great harmonizer'
In outlining the work Of the Catholic
missionaries and the spirit in which il IS
AIAAAA LuAA AC4 vi. Ll4E LELLOL VI the MIS-
sion House said:
Il am sure it IS with a great deal Of
pleasure that we welcome you to this
congress OF missionaries We are Cath
olics. and we are Catholics out and out:
but we are American citizens And I
think we are all the better American
citizens for being good Catholics.
'Our missionary work is being carried
on in a noncOnroversial spirit The world
has Travelled far past the stage OF rancor
In religious discussions. Our methods are
expository- As the great harmonizer we
shall be glad 70 grasp your hand"
The President said in part:
Father Doyle and my feIlow-citizens:
In the selection of army and navy chap
lains from the different denominations.
we have some one who represents each
denomination upon whom we can RELY as
the true representative Of that particular
church. so that when a chaplain from
any church shall not do his duty.-a rare
case, / am glad 10 say-we may hold his
church in a sense responsible. In that
way. we obtain chaplains Of the highest
character Now. Father DOYLE represents
the Catholic Church in respect to chap
lains appointed from that church. and
that brings him into contact with the
President a great deal. so that when he
i
listen TO him with a great deal Of care.
That is my explanation for being here to-
night. he invited me. and came. I feel
as II ought not to interrupt your de-
hberauons and your counsels with refer
ence to your work by coming here 10
make few desultory remarks.
Problems of Difficulty.
When I went to the Philippines I did
not know as much about a good many
things as I know now. The problems
that we're presented there were problems
OF great difficulty. They were Of great
difficulty because Of the circumstances
that nobody could have prevented. II
was a change from a government IN
which the church was so inextricabfv
mixed, II may use that expression. with
the government that when the govern
ment was transferred 70 American SOW
ereignty. In which it was Impossible 70
unite church and government. there was
a good deal Of headache produced in de-
termining what were the church's inter.
ests ard what were the governments
interests.
"Of course. upon such a question differ
ences were likely to arise. I don't know
that you know It, but even ministers
sometimes differ, and We had those dff-
ferences there. But I came into most
delightful relations with a gentleman
sent by Leo XIII-Archbishop Guidi-a
diplomat. a man OF great ability and OF
great experience. a broad man In every
way. and we worked along year after
year. apparently not making any prog
ress. but after time we wore each other
out and we got TO a compromise.
The change which has taken place IN
the Philippines has been great strair
upon the Roman Catholic Church, the i'm
portance of whose functions in the
island. from the standpoint Of peace and
order and good government, I have al
ways attempted to emphasize To change
from a church supported by a govern
ment. whose priests We're paid by the
government. whose buildings. churches,
and rectories were all maintained by a
government and kept in repair. TO ore
in which the support Of the church de-
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