The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-14
FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES
MISSIoNARY'S REPORT ON IS
LAND PEOPLE.
Shocking immortality of the FTiars-
Good Field For Missionary Work
Climate Is a Continual Summer.

New York, Dec 13.-The American
Bible society has received a special report
from the Rev. John r. Hykes, whom il
directed in September last to proceed
from Shanghai, China, to Manila and in
vestigate concerning the Philippine
Islands as field for Bible work. lie re-
ports concerning the islands. the people,
the views Of Admiral Dewey and Ameri-
can officers. The first part of the report
Il devoted to describing the racial and
tribal characteristics of the inhabitants
and to a statement OF the diversity of the
languages spoken in the Islands. Further
on Mr.. Hykes says:
Not more than one-third of the arabic
lan6s in the valleys of LuZon has been
brought under cultivation. The noun
taiDs are rich in the most valuable timber
10 be found anywhere in the World. While
some Of the valleys have been Genuded
of the forests Spanish official obstruction
has efectually spared the valuable trees
in the interior 1t is not a bad thing that
II required about two years effort and a
large fee in order to get a license to fell
single tree and heavy duty before it
: could be exported. The climate is a
SSlunuaI summer and 1t is not unhealth-
yful for Europeans. Inc cold or dry season
is from November to February inclusive;
the hot season from March to June, and
the wet season from July TO October. The
average temperature for the year is about
81 degrees fahrenheit. The most. common
diseases among Europeans are malar1al
fever, diarrhoea and dysentery."
Mr.. HykeS deVoteS some space to a
recital of instances of what he terms
''sacerdotal despotism and official
rapacity" under the Spanish regime, and
says regarding the former: l am sure
that the Roman Catholics of the United
states would be as much shocked as any
body at the immortality Of the friars. l
am aware that this is not Roman Catholi-
cism as it is to be found in England and
the United States today. and il is Reces-
Sary that this should be emphasized in
order to comprehend the religious condi-
q a n 81 l.
lie their spiritual needs.
1T is astonishing that a lower standard
of morals does not exist among the peo-
pie when we consider the character Of
their spiritual teachers. 1t is generally
conceded that the Filipino priests are
vastly more moral than the Spanish
friars. and it is perhaps this fact and
their inherent superstidons that has pre-
vented the people from abandoning all
religion. With the natives religion is a
mere form and not q spiritual life. The
symbols of the faith and the observance
OF religious rites arc about all he knows
Of religion. The 1riars have long been
losing their hold upon the people. They
cannot much longer be held in mental and
spiritual thralldom-"
In concluding bis report, Mr.. Hykes
saws; AGenerai Ous. the military and
civil governor. said there can be no doubt
of the great need of our work. The Span
1sh priests are thoroughly hated by the
Fnipinos and their. hold upon the people
IS gone. lie would welcome the American
Bible society and any other missionary
organization, and he would have much
pleasure in giving us any help in his
rQwer- He thought that our work would
- sebably be discouraging at the start. but
tlIFe could be. no difference of opinion as
20 this being the church's greatest op-
7ortunity in. the Philippines.
Admiral Dewey received me most corr
daily. and spoke very freely and enthus-
iaStically about opening mission work He
said he was anxious for the churches and
the Bible society to come in and begin
woSI ct once. We could not come 100
SOON"