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Show T THE FRIARS IN THE PHILIPPINES. PHILIP-PINES. Rightly or wrongly, the administration administra-tion of the Friars in the Philippines is a question continually brought forth and made to appear paramount to all other considerations in those islands. Such beng the case, the question is one of vital interest to the Catholics of the United States, whose duty it is to con-corn con-corn themselves in seeing that the' government gov-ernment at Washington shall deal with the; Catholics of the Philippines, both the clergy and the laity, with strict i impartiality and absolute justice. So variud and conflicting are the re-l"orts re-l"orts of the administration of the church's affairs by the Friars, that Iconic to us from different sources that it is a most difficult matter to discern the exact condition existing in the island isl-and of Luzon. Some time ago, on information furnished fur-nished us by Father McKinnon, we made some deductions which now we are inclined to modify. This is owing to the fact that Father McKinnon is not, in our judgment, a safe guide in matters wherein the administration of Mr. McKinley is concerned, for he is now an army officer, and according to reports existing in the army, an avowed candidate for some Bishopric in the Philippines. "Whatever the situation is, in isality, wo had hoped that Archbishop Chappelle, Chap-pelle, the apostolic delegate, would have so adjusted it as to meet the approval ap-proval of all concerned the Catholics in the Philippines as well as the American Amer-ican people in general. A combination f unfortunate circumstances seems to have rendered the Archbishop's mission inoperative, or, at least, to have made him a persona non grata to the rank and file of the Filipinos. Notwithstanding this, we still hope that Archbishop Chappelle will so ; compose matters as to render his mis- ; sion fruitful. Briefly stated, the trouble seems tp come from an irrevocable desire on the part of the Filipinos for a diocesan, or, as it is commonly called, secular clergy. "While they are said to be determined to accept none but such a clergy, and unreservedly demand the withdrawal of the Friars, they are firmly insistent on remaining loyal to the church. A writer, whom we consider the most impartial that has yet written on this subject, speaking on this very point, Bays: "Upon no other question which concerns con-cerns the Philippine islands do I touch with so much of hesitation as upon that which is really the most important, import-ant, the religious question. This has been, and 1 llieve it still is, the keynote key-note of all. Excepting the Mohammedanism Mohamme-danism of the southern islands, there is no religion here save that of Roman! Catholicism. But it is absolutely necejs- j 1 - sary to make sharp distinction in the matter. It can be no more clearly stated, perhaps, than by saying that the Filipino people do want a secular priesthood of the Roman Catholic church, represented by men of pure character and high purpose, and that they do not want the present system of monastic orders. This is wholly patent pat-ent to any honest observer." It is hard to believe that a people as devoted to their religion as are the Filipinos, who are petitioning headquarters head-quarters at Manila for secular clergy, would threaten to kill the Friars unless the latter had given some just provocation. provo-cation. The best informed in Manila seem to think that our government will have to deal with this phase of the question before peace is re-established. In a government that insists on a separation separa-tion of church and state as a cardinal principle, it is difficult to apprehend how it can deal with the demands of the Filipino3. Heroin is the delicate part of Archbishop Chappelle's mission. mis-sion. Should he side against the people peo-ple and insist upon a restoration of the Friars to their parishes, there is little doubt in our mind that the government will interfere, regardless of well settled set-tled policy to the contrary. On this point the writer whom we have quoted above, comments as follows: "The real questions are, Shall the1 present order continue, contrary to the will of the people? Shall the Friars ba expelled and their places be filled by an acceptable secular clergy who will deal honestly, justly and in love and kindness with the reople? This is the demand, and the real question is that of compliance with it. In this question the American people are deep ly interested, whether they be Catholic Catho-lic or Protestant. "Will the American people back up the Dominican, the Franciscan or the Augustinian parish priest, as did the Spaniards, with bullet bul-let and bayonet? Already, it is said, the Friars are proposing a return to their parishes, and demanding their protection by American troops in the places to which they go. Already rumors ru-mors come of the assertions of the Filipino people that, if the Friars come back, they will kill them. Already petitions pe-titions are coming to headquarters for a secular clergy. A priesthood is wanted, want-ed, but the demand is for a secular clergy whose aims and purposes shall be the welfare, spiritual and social, of those to whom they minister." It is urged on behalf of the Friars that their large accumulation of property prop-erty entitles them to return to their parishes and to be maintained therein by the bayonets of the American army, if necessary. This is a view of the matter that we do not share. It seems that there are those who hold to the fallacious idea that the property of religious re-ligious orders belongs to the members of these orders quite irrespective of the church and its supreme head. "Whatever "What-ever property the Friars may have accumulated ac-cumulated in the Philippines is church property, and not Friar property, and if any or all of these orders should be required by the Holy Father to withdraw with-draw from the Philippine islands, the disposition of their legitimate property proper-ty would rest with the head of the church and not with the superior of anv order. , j "Without pretending to pass any opin- ! ion on the justice or injustice of the reasons actuating the Filipinos against the Friars, it is but just to say that they have no such hatred for the Jesuits Je-suits as they seem to entertain for the Dominicans, Franciscans and Augus-tinians. Augus-tinians. Commenting on this phase of the question, the same writer says: i "Comparatively little complaint is heard regarding the Jesuits. Their work, except for missions among the Mohammedans, has been chiefly along educational lines. In that department it has been of great value. Their college, col-lege, library, museum, observatory, with meteorological observations and reports, are of incalculable value to the islands and to any nation which may possess them. Much of that which they have received has gone back to the people increased a hundred-fold." It wall thus be seen that Archbishop Chappelle will have one element of great strength to aid him in his work. It is sincerely to be hoped the whole matter will be adjusted without giving occasion or provocation for govern- j mental interference. |