Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-09-22

ohSASN W du American plSnOp, py inc
archbishop OF Canterbury, but was
refused. and the present incumbent,
Ri. Rev, Alfred Willis. d. D., was
consecrated in 1872, Now that the
Islands have become American ter
ritory the Episcopal church will
push the work there with vigor,
The American board did not ac-
cept the invitations OF the Preshyte-
rta0s t the conference because II
already has field In the Micranesian
islands, which include the Carolines,
and l.adrones, the Marshall and the
Gilbert islands
Before the missionaries appeared
the men in these islands went nearly
or quite naked and the women wore
two mats belted at their waists. Both
men and women were deliberately tat
to2ed. The people worshipped the
spirits of their ancestors and were ex-
tremely superstitious.
The American board has been as
sisted in its islaUd work by mission.
aries from Hawaii. 4 feature of the
Since the beginning OF its work in
1852 IN re have been four of these, all
bearing the same name, the Morn
ing star" These ships make yearly
trips among the islands of Micronesia
carrying missionaries and supplies.
1t is the intention of the American
board to confine its labors for the
present t. this work, and to leave the
philippines to other boards that are
net represented in this part of the
world The ", rk in Cuba and Porto
Rico will probably come within the
province Of the home missionary So
ciety.
With the except on Of the Episcopal
and American boards. the other prot
estant missionary boards sent repre-
sentatives to the conference called
by the PreSbyte ter ans and resolutions
were adopted declaring it to be the
Judgment Of the conference that the
Christian people Of America should
Immediately and prayerfully consider
the duty OF enteriNg the door which
God in his providence is opening"
The fact was noted that seven
boards have already undertaken work
In Cuba or arr expecting TO undertake
namely, the home mission board
Of the southern Baptist convention,
the missionary society OF the Metho-
dist Epi. copal church, the board OF
missions Of the M. Il. church. south
the general conference OF free Bap-
fists the fareign missionary society
of the UNited Brethren In Christ, the
American church missionary society
Of the protestant Episcopal church,
and the New York and Indiana year
ly meeting of friends"
The following facts were also ooted
by the conference:
THAT three boards contemplate
work in P rto Rico, the NJ. u. church,
the NJ Il church south and the south
ern Baptist convention.
"And three boards arc disposed 10
consider seriously tho opening OF
missionary work in the Philippine Is
lands, namely, the Presbyterian. the
Methodist Episcopal and the Baptist.
I'VE feel that it would be unfor.
tunate II several boards were to enter
any one Of these fields at the same
time, except of course In large centers
Of population.
I'VE therefore recommend: % That
each of the ards mentioned appoint
committee Of two on the field or
fields which II thinks OF entering,
each group of committees to cGafer
with Wow to frank and mutual
understanding of the most effective
and equitable distribution Of the ter
ritory and work under the several
boards.
"(2) That the committee take early
steps to secure all available informa.
ton regarding these various islands
as missionary fields, and that all In
| formation thus obtained be shared
with the other committees concerned
with a view to subsequent action.
"(3) That the committee on tho
Philippine islands be requested to in.
form the American board that our
board has expressed an intention Of
undertaking work In the Ladrone Is.
lands, and that the question waf
raised as to whether the equipment
OF the American board in connec-
ton with the Caroline islands does
not At 1t better for work in Che
Ladrones."
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