We know from a good source that all communication with the imprisoned Friars has been forbidden under the most severe penalties. The faithful are permitted neither to salute us nor to visit us. On Sundays we ask permission to go to Mass, and when that is granted us we have to go escorted by bayonets, and are not permitted to say Mass ourselves.
The Governor of the locality is polite enough with us, but does not obtain any favor for us. Fathers N. and N. have written several times to him, begging him to get our position bettered as far as he is able. A great number of rebel chiefs have come to see us, and all seem possessed by a satanic hatred for us, and instead of pitying us rejoice to see us in a state of misery.
They boast of having taken part in the massacres of the insurrection, and say to us: “Fathers So-and-So have escaped us, but if we catch them we will make them pay for their conduct. It has been decreed to exterminate you all; however, we will allow you to live.” The insurgents demand freedom of worship, of teaching, of association, civil marriage, etc. These theories are proclaimed in public, and civil marriages have already taken place. They are celebrated in presence of the Mayor, according to the new decree, and the fee is five francs. The Blessed Virgin, who delivered us from death, will deliver us also from this perilous situation, and by that will put a seal on the favors she has already bestowed on us.
Kindest remembrances to all the brethren.
Appendix VI.
The Rev. W. Hykes on Burial Fees and the Paco Cemetery outside Manila.
The following is a sample of the Rev. Mr. Hyke’s report:—
“The burial fees demanded by the priests during an epidemic of smallpox were something enormous. As many were unable to pay, the dead were lying in the churches and in private houses in such numbers as to become a serious menace to the public health. The thing was so scandalous that the Governor-General interfered, and issued orders for all the corpses to be buried at once. The priests disregarded it and telegraphed to the Government at Madrid, who reversed the order.
“I heard such a revolting story about the Paco Cemetery (Paco is a suburb of Manila) that I decided to visit the place and ascertain the facts for myself. In the centre of a plot of ground, containing about two acres, is a mortuary chapel. Around this in concentric circles, and with a space of about twenty feet between, are three or four walls. These walls are from five to seven feet wide, about ten feet high, and contain three tiers of vaults, one above the other, and of sufficient size to admit a coffin. The Filipino in charge told me that there were 1,278 vaults for adults and 504 for children. The fees are collected five-yearly in advance, and are $33 for an adult and $16 for a child. I said to the attendant: ‘Suppose that at the end of any period of five years the friends of the deceased are unable to pay, what do you do?’ ‘We remove the coffin, take out the remains and throw them on the bone-pile.’ ‘Will you show me the bone-pile?’ ‘Certainly.’ He conducted me to the rear of the cemetery, up a flight of stone steps to the top of the wall. The receptacle for the bones was a space between two parallel walls, about thirty feet long by four wide by eight deep, and it was nearly full. Near by were two metallic coffins which had evidently just been opened, and on top of the bone-pile were two complete skeletons. A dog was munching the bones. You can imagine how such a system would work with an ignorant, superstitious people like the natives. All of the vaults except three were occupied. The fees amount to more than $50,000 every five years. The fees of a church near to the hotel at which I was stopping amounted to $100,000 per annum.