The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-07-23

far surpassed by what the Jesuts have
done in the island of Mlndanao in half
generation for the spread of Christi
anity and civilization, as we'll as for the
geographical exploration Of the second
largest island of the archipelago. When
they arrived they found Christian
population only on the cast and north
coasts, and in a few isloatcd spots of
the other coast regions-such as Fam
boanga Pollok, Cottabatto Davao and
Pundabuitan-and these were mostly
Bisayos, with Il few Buktnons, Man-
| dayas, Manohos and Subanos. In the
interior the Spanish Christian settle
mcnts along the Macajalas bay reached
only as far as the upper course of the
ltlo TaSoloan; on the Aglsan, from the
lako region at Linao to its mouth near
l3utuan, only two villages. 3rnauan and
Taacogon. All that was then known
| of the interior of Mindanao was the
Lanao lake, the lower course OF the
Tulanin or Rio Grandc from its mouth to
| 1-ahabay, and the lake region belonging
to this river Of Liguasan or Buluan. OF
the tribes over and above the Bisayas
(Christians), and Moros (Mohammc-
| dans), only tho Mandayas, Manobos, SUI
banos, and Buki,lnon Tor "Moncsrs,' of
the Spaniards), We're known by little
| moro than name. but scarcely mentioned
to contemporary literature. OF the rest.
| except the Tirurayes, scarce the name
was known. OF tn" Atlas. Tuabawas,
names were unknown.
How changed since then! The net
work of rivers in the great island is
now very we'll known, whilst tho lcgcn-
| Diary lake in the center of the island,
whence the Rio Grando was said to flow.
and from which the whole island WAS
supposed to derive its name, has now
happily disappeared from our maps. In
numerous sketches and maps the mis-
SionaricS have recorded tho results of
the geographical explorations and dis
covercs. The manners and customs of
all the heather tribes have been fully
described by the Jcsuits. 1t has, there
fore, always given me the greatest pleas
researches of these Philippine mission
aries to wider scientific circles.
The Jrsuits can also point to very
great rcjnlts in their evangelical labors.
Most of the heather tribes are now en-
tirely or in part converted to Christian
ity, or have AT least settled around their
missions. Even tribe so ohstinatcly
| refractory to civilization, owing to their
| unsettled and wandering lfc as the
Mamanllas (whO belong to the Negrtos)
can already point to Christian villages
But the greatest success OF the Jcsllits
has been in bringing Il considerable
number of the Moros on the gulf of Da-
vac to embrace Christianity. When it
is remembered how rare a thing ii is to
induce Il Mollammcdan to be baptized, ii
must be especially noted that here not
Il few isolated MorOs living among
Christians have nbjurcd Islam, but that
tho Moros converted to Christianity arc
so numerous that, as they can no longer
1.-Two among their former co-religionists,
they have been allowed to build their
separate villages in the region of the Rio
Davao.
In 1895 the status of the Jesuit mis-
sions was as follows: 2l3,0G5 souls,
1908 baptlsms of children of Christian
parents, 1913 marriages, G,2lS funerals,
1888 baptisms of converted hcathens.
In the article. "Dic Kntolischcn Mis-
| sioncn" Oscar IIccht gives the number
of Christians in the Philippines as
100000. This is Incorrect The nocks
of the different orders were as follows
Called Angusinlnns 0A!g> ............2 0S2 .l2l
Dtscnlcr'f Augustinans US92) ........1 Ia. l;di
l'ranciscunS n%92) ....................l9l 80 -,
l)o,nnicars tl&G) Observation-Disclosures. GM'S,l
J"SliitS uS@) ...........................2 l,0iJ
Secular Clergy nSo2) observation-disclosures. !G7 ~
Io'hi ......,...... .................G llS,@:D
| 1t IS difficult to estimate the number of
hcathcns and MOhammctlans; they can
not he under 100000, nor can they cx-
| coed % million.