Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1898-12-14
MORE NEWS FROM
THE PHILIPPINES
Rev Hyhes Makes . Report In whieh
Hs D.ssuasss tho Frisrs For the
way E'iigioa Is Abused There.

Bible society has received a special 70
port from the Rev. John X. Hykes,
whom IL directed In September last 10
proceed from Shanghai. China. TO Ma.
Mia and investigate concerning the
Philippine islands as n field fer Bible
work. Ho reports concerning the Is.
lands, the people. the views Of Aemiral
Dewey and American officers The
first part Of the report Is devoted to de.
scribing the racial and tribal character.
istics Of the inhabitants and 10 state
ment Of the diversity OF the languages
spoken in the islands Further on Mr..
II kes says;
mot more than one.third Of the
arabic lands Of the Luzon valleys has
been brought under cultivation The
mountains are rich In the most valuable
timoer 10 be found anywhere in the
world. While some Of the valleys have
been denuded Of the forests. spanish Of.
fetal obstruction has effectually spared
he valuable trees In the interior. II IL
not bad thing that it required about
two years effort and large fee in order
10 get license 20 fell single tree and
heavy duty before it could b. exported
The climate IL a continual summer,
and it u not unhealihful for Europeans
The cold or dry season IL from Novem.
Der TO February, inclusive; the hot sea.
son from March 10 June and ths wet
season from July TO October. The aver.
age temperature for the year IL about VI
degrees Fahrenheit The most common
diseases among Europeans are malarial
fever, diarhoea aud dysentcry.
DIR. Hykes devote- some space to n ~.
cital Of instances OF which he terms
"saeredoial despotism and official "a.
pacity" under the spanish regime, and
says, regarding the former;
II am sure that the Roman Catholics
Of the United States would b. as mucn
shocked a. anybody nc the immortality
OF the friArs. am aware that this IL
no, Roman Catholicism ~ u Is 20 be-
founi m England ana the United Stat
today, and 70 u necessary tnAi tLis
should be emphasized IN order "a com.
preuend the religious condition Of the
p'ople, and to Adequately realize 'her
spiritual needs
1T is astonishing that lower stand.
ard Of morans does not exist among tho
people whsn we consider the character
Of their spiritual teachers. IL Is gener.
ally conceded that the Filipino press
are vastly more moral than the Spanish
friars ana IL 4 perhaps this fact and
their inherent suporsfiiiOns that has
prevented the ucople from abandoning
ali religion With the natives religion IL
a mere form and not a spiritual life The
symbols OF the faith ana the observance
OF religious rites are about all he snows
OF religion The friars have long been
losing their hold upon the people. They
cannot mucn longer b. held In mental
and spiritual thralldom.
In concluding his report Mr.. Hykes
says;
General Otis, the military ami civ
governor, said there eau be- no doubt ol
the great need Of our work. The Span.
ish priests are thoroughly bated by the
Filipino. and their hold upon the people
IL gone
HE would welcome the American
Bible society and any other missionary
organization aud he would have much
pleasure In giving us any help in his
power. He thought that our work
would probably be discouraging at the
start but there could be no difference Of
opinion M TO this being the churches
great support, unity In the Philippines.
Admiral Dewey received me most
cordially and spoke very freely and on.
Enthusiastically about opening mission
work, lie said he was anxious for tho