The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-22
MISSIONARIES AROUSED.
New COnquests Open New Fields for
Their Lab0rs

Their Lnb0rs.
New York June H.-The committee of
China and the executive council OF the
Presbyterian board of foreign missions. 10
which was referred the expediency Of
opening missionary work in the Philip
pine Islands, has reported as follows
1--WE feel tina. the political and military
relations into which the United States
has been so strangely forced with reference
to the Philippine Islands. and also to Gu
ba and 10 Porto Rico, involve certain
moral and religious responslbuitles-re-
spousibilLtes which are, perhaps quite in
dependent of the precise character OF the
political relationship which may hereafter
be formed with them, ana that the Chris
tan people of America should Immediate
ly and prayerfully consider the duty Of
entering the door which God, in His provb-
dence Is thus opening.
This appears to be, so far as we can
judge, the feeling of the Presbyterian
Church II is significant that already let
ters have come 10 the board from persons
in several of the states urging the import
lance of taking up this work and making
offers of cooperation in men and money
one pastor having actually raised and paid
over to the treasurer of the board 1000 to-
ward the support of the first missionary,
while the general assembly gave strong APP
proVal to paragraph in the report of It's
standing committee on foreign missions, to
the effect that We cannot ignore the
fact that God has given into the hands of
American Christians the Philippine
Islands, opened a wide door TO their popu-
lations, and has by the very guns of our
battleships summoned US 10 go up and
possess the land However IL Is only fair
10 presume that this sentiment is not pc
culiar to Presbyterians
Indeed there are rumors that the for
egn mission boards of other churches are
disposed 60 consider the question of their
relation to those opening fields. We feel
that It would be quite unfortunate if sew
eral boards should enter any one of these
fields a the same time, thus unnecessarily
duplicating expenses and perhaps intro
ducing elements of rivalry. We have heard
much in recent years OF the principles OF
comfy and we are earnestly striving to
promote that comfy In lands which are
already Jointly occupied. We believed that
the new sun has providentially forced upon
US affords an excellent opportunity not
only for beginning this work, but for be-
ginning 1t right from the view point Of
Christian fellowship and the economical
use of men and money.
ITO this end we recommend that the ex-
ecutve council be directed TO hold an ear
ly conference with the representatives Of
the American board, the Baptist mission
union, the Missionary Society of the
| Methodist Episcopal church and
! the board of foreign missions of the
reformed church in America with view
TO a frank mutual understanding as to the
responsibilities of American Christians to
the people of Cuba Porto Rico and the
PhilippneIslands,a and an agreement as 10
the most effective distribution OF the work
among the several bodies If It shall be
found expedlent and practicable to under
take it,"
The report was submitted to the board
of foreign missions during their regular
monthly meeting by w. S. Richards, chair
man Of the committee on China and also
! the executive council committee The re-
port was accepted by the board