The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-24

II Is strictly mission church. 1t could not
nS S% ya TG tSs r sa % h. benz qSs ss
$500 toward the necessary expenses right
on tho Isthmus-r raised Il in spite Of the hard
of work on the canal
Mr. Geddes is also, temperance lecturer
among the youth of the isthmus Two Of
the silver medals given by Mr.. Demorest Of
New York for temperance work have gone to
Mention has been made OF the meeting
house In Panama. It is strictly shed 1t Was
managers man 'V Of the road. who have extended
many other favors to thu congregation, let the
building to them for a nomi nal sum.
his work. Mr. Geddes said
Il want a small hand printing press and
prohibitory 1 had to pay s. for 300 little
cards tho other day. would like to distribute
circulars to invite people to my meetings. but
| cannot afford the money | would be glad
indeed II I could build church for the people
should like to have such home for my fam
cannot think Of such thing as that. But a
suitable press. with type. would not cost very
much. l. some 2f the readers of The Sun in
Near the centre Of the lower part Of the city
leads from the main thoroughfare. 1t was at
one time the most important point in the city
the citadel to which the people might fec
when invading buccaneers or other enemies
great stone fort crowned the hill. and even
the wayfarer; But u singular TRANSFORMATION
came over, the hill when its use as a fort was
Of ~ hs ws By
highest points In the city. and yet, instead OF
being taken for the homes Of the wealthy Il
digging days these tenements were crowded
to the roof One would have thought that
when bankruptcy followed In the trail OF the
French invader. these tenements were the first
:, In, place, Of whooplng tenement population,
crowned with a Protestant Episcopal mission;
where once. was heard the blars Of the buCIe
and the voice Of supplication has taken the
The Rev. benjamin Walker first came to the
lsthmus from Jamaica In 1883. He found a
number Of his people already organized. At
from the islands OF the Caribbean Sea; Then
in 1868 1865 BY Mrs. Carrie A. HoIsh. Ms.
Iork. Mr. Walker has since Inc, been Connected
with the Episcopslian church here. There
services are held. and two preachers are en-
gagged, But the attendance at the Panama
chapel. the largest station. does not exceed
Until the f fai 1892 the congregation wor
shipped In a quarter OF the city similar to
that occupied by the Rev. Mr. Geddes. but.
finding the tenement on the old fort vacant,
Mr.. Walker leased 1t, and by taking partitions
from the. upper story made most airy and
delightful meeting room. The view from the
windows over the bay and its islands and hazy
blue shores Is superb. One would think the
room might be filed on every occasion If only
for the comfort and pleasure Of sitting there
to gaze on the scenery.
However. the Bishop OF Jamaica and certain
English societies make up what Mr.. Walker
cannot collect toward the expenses Of the mis-
sion. and the institution Is not likely to fail
There arc no other Protestan mt preachers In
Panama. Tho Ladino population adheres to
the Catholic faith, and the ministers Of that
bothered the Protestant workers. Even when
the Rev: +. Penzotte OF Callao Peru. sellero
Bibles for the American Bible Society OF New
York. went there and gathered great congre-
cations OF Spanish speaking people, nearly
every one being Catholic and preached and
sold Bibles to them. there was no opposition
from the Catholic authorities "a fact that will
astonish. doubtless. q good many Protestant
readers Of THE SUM- On the other hand. the
railroad company. even when under French
control. has always aided the Protestant mis-
sions In q variety OF ways. even by the dona-
ton OF liberal sums Of cash. visit to the
Protestant missions OF Panama is therefore
likely to prove Interesting and in some ways
instructive to the American travellers passing
through the city. JOHN Il SPEARS.