Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-09-19

early as 1861. This was at one time
oHered to an American bishop, by the
archbishop of Canterbury, but was
refused, and the present incumbent,
1T. Rev. Alfred Willis, D. D., was
consecrated in 1872. Now that the
Islands have become American ter
r1tory the Episcopal church will
push the work there with vigor.
The American board did not &C
cept the invitations Of the Presbyte-
rians to the conference because it
already has field in the Micronesian
islands, which include the Carolines,
and Ladrones, 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
tooed. The people worshipped the
spirits of their ancestors and were ex-
tremely superstitious.
The American board has been as
sisted in it's island work by mission
aries from Hawaii. A feature of the
Since the beginning of it's work in
1852 tn 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.
It is the intention Of the American
board to confine it's labors for the
present to this work, and to leave the
Philippines to other boards that are
not represented in this part of the
world. The work in Cuba and Porto
Rico will probably come within the
province Of the home missionary So
ciety.
With the exception of the Episcopal
and American boards, the other prot
estant missionary boards sent repre-
sentatives to the conference called
by the Presbyterians and resolutions
were adopted declaring it to be the
judgment of the conference chat 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 are expecting to undertake
it-namely, the home mission board
Of the southern Baptist convention,
the missionary society of the Metho-
n icf ENr13r oh AIn %NA
missions of the M. e. church, south,
the general conference Of free Bap-
lists, the foreign 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 noted
by the conference:
'That three boards contemplate
work in Ptrto Rico, the M. e. church,
the NJ e. church south and the south
ern Baptist convention.
"And three boards are disposed to
consider seriously the opening Of
missionary work in the Philippine is
lands, namely, the Presbyterian, the
Methodist Episcopal and the Baptist.
eve feel that it would be unfor-
any one of these fields at the same
time, except of course in large centers
Of population.
eve therefore recommend: (1) That
each of the boards mentioned appoint
, a committee of two on the field or
fields which 1t thinks of entering,
each group of committees to confer
! with a view to frank and mutual
understanding of the most effective
and equitable distribution of the ter
ritory and work under the severa
boards.
"(2) That the committee take earl.
steps to secure all available informa
ton regarding these various island
formation thus obtained be share,
with the other committees concerned
with view to subsequent action.
"(3) That the committee on tn
Philippine islands be requested to in
form the American board that GU
board has expressed an intention c
undertaking work in the Ladrone is
: lands, and that the question wa
raised as to whether the equipmen
, of the American board in connet
ton with the Caroline islands doe
; not fit it better for work in tn
Ladrones.'
SEVEN YEARS ON THE ROAD.