Telegram from Luke E. Wright to William H. Taft
Governor Wright forwards pending legislation for Secretary Taft’s review.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1904-11-17
Your TR Source
Church property
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles E. Magoon
President Roosevelt has received Provisional Governor Magoon’s letter about the church property matter in Cuba and clarifies that he did not mean to hurry “in that sense.” He merely wants to have the facts “clearly before” him, so that the matter can be “in such shape that I can answer bores and critics.”
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-05-13
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles E. Magoon
President Roosevelt sends Governor Magoon the text of a letter from Cardinal James Gibbons outlining the Catholic Church’s plan to sell property to the provisional government. He asks Magoon to prepare a report on the matter. Roosevelt also thanks Magoon for the cigars and preserves.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-05-06
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Julia Ward Howe
President Roosevelt is unaware of the Armenian matter of which Julia Ward Howe speaks. Roosevelt has heard of recent Bulgarian atrocities and of the seizure of Armenian church property in Russia, but nothing else regarding the treatment of the Armenians. Roosevelt asks Howe for more information.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1904-07-13
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Ireland
President Roosevelt informs Archbishop John Ireland that Secretary of War Taft is arranging a special court for the church property cases in the Philippines. Roosevelt expresses his appreciation for the “great service to the country” that Ireland has given.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1904-06-03
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft
Bishop Rooker has requested that the bishops’ houses in the Philippines currently controlled by the government be returned. President Roosevelt would like to help the bishops and considers friendly relations with them to be important in “securing good civil government and order and peace.”
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-08-15
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Francis Smith
President Roosevelt introduces Bishop Dougherty, the new bishop of Nueva Segovia. Dougherty is concerned about church property and insurgents in his diocese. Roosevelt trusts Commissioner Smith’s judgment in the matter.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-08-05
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Herbert Blenk
President Roosevelt and Governor Hunt understand the claims of the church in Puerto Rico and will work towards a “just and satisfactory” settlement.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-06-25
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root
Letter of introduction for Bishop Blenk of Puerto Rico who seeks a solution to the church property question in Puerto Rico. President Roosevelt approves of Blenk’s thoughts on the matter and would like to see prompt action.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-06-02
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Henry Hunt
President Roosevelt has received Bishop Blenk and is impressed with his thoughts on the church property question. President Roosevelt asks what he can do to help.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-06-02
Letter from Eugene F. Turner to Theodore Roosevelt
Eugene F. Turner implores Theodore Roosevelt assist the George Peabody College for Teachers in his capacity as a member of the Board of Trust. Turner explains that the campus of the College—alongside its public funding—will be given over to the Methodist school of Vanderbilt University by the University of Nashville. Due to a misunderstanding communicated to the Methodist Episcopal Bishop William Lawrence, it was assumed that the Peabody fund could be put toward the religious institution, while the reality of the Tennessee constitution and George Peabody’s will indicate otherwise.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-05-31
Letter from Charles E. Magoon to Theodore Roosevelt
Charles E. Magoon, Provisional Governor of Cuba, refers President Roosevelt to his prior letter, wherein he outlined the steps that have been taken to discover the location, extent, and value of a church property in Santiago de Cuba. Cardinal James Gibbons may not understand the difficulties involved in the investigation. The price of the property is not $35,000, but $535,000. Magoon is moving forward with the report as quickly as possible.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-05-14
Letter from Charles E. Magoon to Theodore Roosevelt
Governor Charles E. Magoon details for President Roosevelt the difficulties the Provisional Government in Cuba faces in closing the matter of Catholic Church property in Santiago. In large part the difficulties in assessing the property stem from the loss of accurate records and a lack of cooperation from the Archdiocese. Magoon will write up a final report and close the matter by June.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-05-07
Letter from James F. Tracey to Theodore Roosevelt
Judge Tracey writes to President Roosevelt from the Philippines regarding a judicial controversy over church buildings there. The supreme court has been waiting for a fitting case that would address the issue neatly, without involving too many extraneous questions that could result in the decision being too broadly applied. There are other tensions between the church and the government, as well.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-08-24
Letter from Henry C. Ide to J. J. Harty
Henry C. Ide, acting Governor-General of the Philippines, requests that Archbishop Harty withdraw his letter to the Philippine Commission to prevent it being accessible to who want to develop hostility on the islands. Ide explains his position on church property ownership and administration in the Philippines, his investigation of complaints regarding the Catholic Church, his interactions with the Apostolic Delegates that have been stationed there, and his belief in the public education initiative.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-03-02
Letter from Luke E. Wright to Theodore Roosevelt
Luke E. Wright responds to the allegations of Bishop Rooker about the violation of rights of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. Rooker claims that the Federal Party is at the root of the Aglipayan movement and that Governor Taft and his colleagues are “merely puppets in the hands of the Federal Party,” with the result that “a large amount of church property has been seized and is now withheld.” Wright disputes these allegations by explaining the origin of the Federal Party and analyzing the relations between different religious and political groups in the Philippines. Wright notes that the continued discussion about independence has made the situation in the Philippines more difficult.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1904-08-15
Report on religious issues in the Philippines
Series of exhibits highlighting religious issues in the Philippines, including disputes between religious and municipal authorities, opposition to the friars, and conflict between the Catholic Church and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903
Letter from Luke E. Wright to Ceferino Joven
Acting Governor of the Philippines Wright urges Governor Joven to exercise his authority as provincial governor and investigate the complaint that has been filed against the Municipal Council of San Luis. The council is alleged to have refused to allow the assessment of buildings and land belonging to the Catholic Church, and to have ejected the parish priest from possession of those properties. If the municipal council has acted illegally, and if the parties refuse to restore the properties to the church, Joven must enforce the law.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1901-11-20