Friars and Filipinos
An abridged translation of
Dr. José Rizal’s
Tagalog Novel, “Noli Me Tangere.”
By
Frank Ernest Gannett.
New York:
The St. James Press.
Preface.
While serving on the staff of the first United States Commission tothe Philippine Islands my attention was called to the life and writingsof Dr. José Rizal. I found in his novel, “Noli MeTangere,” the best picture of the life of the people of thoseislands under Spanish rule, and the clearest exposition of thegovernmental problems which Spain failed to solve, and with which ourown people must deal. It occurred to me that an English translation ofRizal’s work would be of great value at the present time. Myfirst intention was to reproduce the entire novel as it was written,but, after careful consideration, I thought best to abridge the storyby the omission of some parts which did not seem essential to the mainpurpose of the work. The present volume is the result.
Readers should not understand any of Rizal’s references topriests and friars as reflections upon the Roman Catholic Church. Hewas throughout his life an ardent Catholic, and died a firm adherent ofthe Church. But he objected to the religious orders in the PhilippineIslands, because he knew well that they were more zealous in furtheringtheir own selfish ends than in seeking the advancement of Christianity.From experience, Dr. Rizal knew that the friars, under cloak of thegospel ministry, oppressed his fellow countrymen, and took advantage oftheir superstition and ignorance. These wrongs he was brave enough toexpose in his writings. In the friars he saw an obstacle to theeducation and enlightenment of the Filipino people, [vi]and, usingmoderate means, he did his utmost to secure reform. His writings willexplain to us the cause of the hatred shown by the Filipinos toward thereligious corporations, and will make clearer the nature of one of thepresent problems in the Philippines.
There are in the Philippines five religious orders: the Dominicans,Franciscans, Recoletos, Augustines and Jesuits. According to JohnForeman, an eminent authority, the members of all of these, except thelast named, come from the lower classes in Spain, and are on the wholecomparatively ignorant and uncultured. Under the Spanish system ofgovernment certain provinces were assigned to each of theorders—except the Jesuits—and the friars were distributedamong the different parishes. In the town assigned to him the friar hadmuch authority. He was chief adviser in all civil affairs, and, by hisinfluence over the superstitious natives, maintained absolute controlin all matters pertaining to the local government as well as to thelocal church. So firm was his hold that he led the Spanish governmentto believe that the islands could not be ruled without his aid. Knowingthat his power res