Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-23
MEXICAN CATHOLICS
CELEBRATE TREATY
Nationwide Lay Demonstra-
ton Gets Under Way as
Thousands Flock to Churches
BY the Associated Press.

MEXICO CITY, Jurs 22-Tfo
Catholic population OF Mexico tonich
prepared for nationwide lay demon
stration at the still priestless shrines
tomorrow in general thanksgiving over
the agreement between church and
state, reached last night, that will per-
nit the clergy to return to the churches
they left three years ago.
The demonstration began in the CAPT
tai at noon today, when the church
bells of many cathedrals, rung By
jubilant laity. rang out message of
| restored harmony and understanding.
Crowds Streamed toward the churches
throughout the day to offer prayers OF
gratitude. Plans were made for huge
demonstration to President Emilio
Portes Gil on July 6 to show the public
appreciation of his broadmindedness in
dealing with the representatives of the
Catholic Church.
Centers at Shrine.
The demonstration tomorrow will cen
ter at the Church of the Virgin of
Guadalupe on the outskirts of the city,
which has been the best beloved shrine
OF Mexico for three centuries 1t Is
unlikely that the national cathedral.
which has looked down on most of
the significant events of modern Amer
lean history, will figure in tomorrow's
celebration, although its huge size would
lend 1t to the popular demand. The
cathedral dates back to the time of Cor
tez, and is now closed for q thorough
oVerhauling and repair.
NHaLo Don4
The machinery for putting into effect
the agreement reached by the President
and Archbishop Leopoldo Ruiz was In
movement today. Plans were made by
the. government to turn the churches
back to the bishops and priests and by
| the epiScopate again to take charge Of
the ediiceS and to FeasSign the 1000
or more priests who have scattered
widely since they Withdrew on August
J., 1925, In protest against enforcement
at the religious laws. Many of them
! Went to the United States or hid in
ISOLATED sections of Mexico.
This task Of reoccupying the churches
Is tremendous and will probably require
several weeks time. It seemed probable
that many churches in the interior
would be without benefit OF clergy for
several weeks to come.
The principals in the long negotia-
tions concluded yesterday are already
tuning their attention to other mat
! tiers. President Portes Gil, with Sec
rotary Of War Amaro and former PreSi-
dent Gales, is going to San Luis Potosi
where tomorrow he will muster out 1900
Cancellation. He conferred at length
revolutionists.
Morrow Congratulated.
United States Ambassador Dwight w
! KrtrFf Nxxyf nln
latory messages for his part in the
consolidation. He conferred at length
with the President this morning, and
| this evening went to his country home
at Cuerna-Vaca where he viii rest for
most of next week
Archbishop Ruiz and Bishop Pascual
Diaz have announced no immediate
plans because they have been thrown
into a mass of detail In connection with
the resumption of services.
Gen. Plutarco Elias Gales, VINO has
remained in the background during the
conferences, Is known to be greatly
pleased by the success of the negotia-
items. 4. The basis of the agreement is
practically identical with that reached
between him and Archbishop Ruiz more
than Q year age, according to a state
warmly praised the part of Gen Gales
/ The presidential statement said, THE
result arrived at by these parleys was
the same as. that which in 1928 was
Ton the point of realization. The deciq<
rationS ! have delivered are no dir
ferent In any respect from those Presi-
dent Gales was going to make witt,
regard TO the church then. as is show!
by documents now in the archives G
The Presidency"
DR.. Walsh to Return.
DR.. Edmund A. Walsh, vice president
Mere six weeks in connection with tn
Negotiations, plans to leave next wee.
f0a' Washington.
One significant fact in the present
accd~d Is that this is the first time in
the Almuituous history of Mexico wilen
thereN has been settlement of ques-
ton On importance without victory on
one SIDE and defeat on the other, with
resulting disgruntlement to the follow
ers of tn, losing side
There EaS no mention in the agree
rnent about the return of foreign, Span
ishing-specA.ing priests, who were ban
iShed threet years ago and presumably
are still Forbidden to conduct services in
Mexico.
The religiouA law expressly states that
only native-boII ministers are allowed
w oEINhGA-Ss D0t ali aII16IlQTIlGDI
in 1926 permitted priests other than
Spanish speaking to remain for SIX
years to train Mexican assistants to take
over their work.
The bishops now hSre. numbering 10.
conferred for two hoGrs this morning
with Archbishops Ruiz and Diaz on
matters connected with reorganization
of the church system in Mexico: Later
the two archbishops conferred with
Acting Secretary of the interior Canales.
1t was learned in official quarters to-
night that an amnesty measure was be-
ing considered under which all religious
rebels still in arms against the govern
ment would be given opportunity to re
turn to their home unniolested.
Registered Priests May OfRciate.
It was understood that pending re-
sumption of services In the churches,
priests who register with the govern
ment, viii be permitted to oficiate at
private ceremonies in houses, such as
weddings. baptisms. combinations and
private masses. This Is only a tenn
ceremonies are forbidden by law.
A special steamer will be placed ct
the disposal of the women exiles at
the Las Urea Marias prison colony
whose violations of the religious laws
were pardoned last night. Many of
them are members OF socially pron1i-
nent families.
The stream of grateful pilgrims to
the Church of the Virgin Of Guadalupe
reached such proportions tonight that
trafIic for many blocks around was
paralyzed 1t was estimated that nearly
100, 900 persons visited the shrine. those
who could not get inside kneelins and
praying outside.