Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-06-08

The comfortable homes of those popu-
lators, when Christianzed standing
| side by side with the degraded huts of
those who remain pagans, will be rcvo-
! lutionary for good. The Porto Rican and
the Filipino will come out from his un-
clcansed and low rooted and uninvting
kennel and say TO his neghbor of beau
| tiful household, "Why cannot | have
| things as you have them" And when
he finds that it i, the Bible, with its
teachings on family life and personal pu-
rity and exalted principle, and the church
of God that proposes the rcctification of
all evil and the implantation of all good,
he will cry out, give me the Bible, and
the church, and the earthly alterations,
and the eternal hope which have wrought
! for you such TRANSPORTATION"
| A Splendid Opportunity.
Now, church of Cod now all Christian
| philanthropists. is your opportunity. Moth
| ing like it has occurred since Christ came.
| Perhaps there may be nothing like it till
his second coming. Here is Il definite
ness of aim that is most helpful and in
| spring. The millions Of dollars given
for the redemption of the world and the
thousands of glorious missionaries who
| have as volunteers gone forth among
under great and unreasonable idea.
/ But when they come to add to thu great
and unreasonable idea the idea of detin-
itcncss we will infinitely augment the
work. More than 300,0O0,000 OF heather
in India, more than 300O00.000 of peo-
pie in China and more than millions of
heather than can be guessed outside of
/ those countries. sometimes stagger and
confound and defeat our faith. But here
in these islands of present controversy
we can farm out the work among the
churches, and in five years, under the
blessing Of God, not only fit the people
for the right of suffrage, but prepare
them for usefulness and heaven. The
difference between the general idea of
/ the worlds evangclization and some par
ticularized field of evangclization is the
difference between the Improvement Of
agriculture among all nations and the
Improvement of - acres put under ones
especial care and industry. BY all means
let the general work go on. But here
is the specific field for religious concen-
tration and development. This is not
chinerical or impractical. | read this
morning that the American Missionary
association of the Congregational Church
has already begun the work at San Juan,
Utrado and Albonito, and all denomina-
tons of Christians. in six months, will
be in those isandy fields, and we all
need with our prayers and contributions
to cheer them on to take for God and,
righteousness those regions which our
American navy has captured from Span
ish perfdy.
1t has been estimated that this Amer
ico-Spanish war cost us $500, 900, 900. 1t
would not cost half of that to proclaim
and carry on and consummate a holy
war that will rescue those archipcla goes
from satanic domination. Who will vol
untcer? | beat the drum of Il recruiting
station. Who will enlist under the one
starred, blood striped banner of Imman-
ucl? Cuba and Porto Rico and the Phil
ippnes are stepping stones for our Amer
lean Christianity to cross over and take
the round world for God. We need a new
evangelical alliance organized for this
/ one purpose. In all denominations there
are those with large enough hearts and
/ who have been thoroughly enough con-
vcrted to join in such an advanced move
ment; men who, putting aside all minor
differences of opinion, believe in God the
Father Almighty, Maker Of heaven and
earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only be-
shoulder to shoulder in such a gospel
campaign. The result would be that
those islands, after a scene of gospeliza-
ton. would assert themselves into de-
nominations to suit themselves. and some
would be sprinkled in holy baptism, and
others would be immersed in those warm
rivers and some would worship in re-
ligious assembaec silent as the Quaker
meeting house. and others would have as
many jubilant calculations as a back
woods camp meeting, and some Of those
| who preached would be gowned and sur
plced for the work, and others would
stand in citizens apparel or in their
/ shirt sleeves prea ching that gospel which
is to save the world,
| Religious Education.
Mark you well that craftsmanship,
however grand it is, and wise men of the
world, however noble. cannot do this
work. Mere secular education does not
moralizc Some of the most thoroughly
educated men in all the world have been
| the worst men. Quicken mans intel
lect. while at the same time you do not
make his morals good. and you only aug
mcnt his power for evil. Geography and
mathematics and metaphysics and phi
! losophy will never qualify a people to
govern themselves. A corrupt printing
press is worse than no printing press at
all, but let loose an open Bible upon those
islands and let the apocalyptic angel once
fly over them and You will prepare them
to become either colonies of the United
States government or as | hope will he
the case. independent republics.
! God did net exhaust himself when he
L,,l 81. To-. IL. 4