“A Remarkable State of Affairs”
By L. A. S.
There is a revolt in the Philippine Islands against the religious authority of Rome, and a movement away from Rome has for some time been under way, led by a native priest named Aglipay. Rome is, of course, endeavoring to suppress the revolt, and through her masterful diplomacy has succeeded in establishing an arrangement whereby she can make use to this end of the authority of the United States government. The facts relating to this matter show, in connection with other events which have marked the negotiations concerning the Philippine friars, how this government is unwittingly playing into the hands of Rome, and lending its power to promote the schemes of the papacy. There are some in the Protestant church who see the situation, and from time to time are sounding notes of alarm. One of these is the Rev. T. S. Childs, D. D., who in a contribution to the New York Observer (Presbyterian), written from the national capital, calls attention to the following statement in a recent issue of the Washington Post:— More than a year ago, with the knowledge and consent of this government, Chaplain Vattmann was directed by the authorities of the Catholic Church in the United States to make a thorough investigation of church questions in the Philippines, and to report the result of his conclusions to the Catholic hierarchy. This report he submitted to the archbishops at their annual meeting held at the Catholic University. The report of Chaplain Vattmann was not made public, and may not be for some time, and those cognizant of its contents manifest reticence in discussing it. It is known, however, that it covered exhaustively all phases of Catholic Church questions in the Philippines, including the friar question, and the result of what is popularly known as the “Aglipay movement.” Aglipay is an insurgent priest, who practically has renounced the authority of the Church of Rome, and has organized what he terms the “Philippine Catholic Church.” He has gained a large following among the Filipinos. While he does not incite open rebellion, he and his followers are not only opposing the authority of the Roman Church in the islands, but also are opposing insidiously and effectively the establishment of American rule. . . . Executive action concerning the matter will originate, necessarily, at Rome. In whatever action eventually may be taken, the United States government, however, is interested vitally. The questions presented by Chaplain Vattmann in his report to the archbishops were discussed by him with Secretary Root, and it was with the knowledge that Chaplain Vattmann expected to bring the result of his investigation to the attention of the Vatican that Secretary Root granted him an extended leave of absence. Upon this Mr. Childs makes the following comments:— Here is a remarkable state of affairs. A man appointed and paid by the government to act as chaplain in the army, is, “with the knowledge and consent of this government,” “directed by the authorities of the Catholic Church” to investigate religious questions in the Philippines, and “to report the result to the Catholic hierarchy,” six months’ leave of absence being granted him by the secretary of war that he might “bring the result of his investigations to the attention of the Vatican.” If the Post were not a very intelligent and carefully conducted paper, and if days had not passed without any denial or modification of the article, we should be inclined to doubt the accuracy of the report. So far it stands unquestioned. Assuming it to be true, why does the secretary of war seek his information in regard to Aglipay, for instance, from a man under the “direction” of the Roman authorities? The testimony of this chaplain is in the face of abundant other testimony, and carries an absurdity on its face. Aglipay’s position, as we understand it, is that of a Catholic reformer, and there is need enough of such work. But he owes his very power as a reformer to “American rule.” Without that rule his life would not be worth a day’s purchase. But, passing that, what are we to think of this tying up the action of our government with the judgment of the Vatican. . . . Here is a man commissioned by the government as a chaplain of the army, while his supreme if not his entire mission is in the interest of the Roman Church. We can easily understand—for we have seen just such things before—how a man in the uniform of the United States government could impress the natives of the Philippines with the belief that he was representing this government in his opposition to the reform movement of Aglipay, and in his support of the infamous friars and of the papal interests in general. We have no doubt that the administration intends to deal fairly with all the religious bodies, but we have as little doubt that in this affair, as repeatedly before, the government has been used to further the objects of the Roman hierarchy. The policy of that hierarchy, if sustained by the government, will evidently be to crush out the moral and religious reformation inaugurated by Aglipay, and indirectly at least the work of all other Christian bodies for the spiritual regeneration and reformation of the Filipinos. We mention these occurrences because they show how the way is being paved for a coming union between Rome and the United States, when the latter will, as the spirit of prophecy has foretold, “make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions.” And when that point is reached, “then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan, and that the end is near.