The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11
mission WORK IN MANILA
Christian Expansion Follows Amer
ica's Territorial Growth.
Methodists and EpiscopaIians First
Among the Professionals to E.tab-
hsh Churches md schools in the
philippine MISUNDERSTANDING of'a
Fine building for the Y. VI. c. A.

Long before the guns were silen. on the
firing line in the Island of Luzon all OF
the principal religious Sotiies in America
were represented in the Philippines. Chris
tian expansion let no grass grow on the
road that was lately made by American
political expansion. There was haste, but,
TO the credit of the Christianity of today,
it needs TO be recorded that there was not
unseemly haste. President Schurman, of
the Philippine Commiss on, wonders
whether there might not be presented to
the Filipnos one, and not many forms
OF reformed Christianity. 1t may not Is
possible TO obtain this ideal but amona
the religious bodies from America which
have begun work in the Philippines there
comes nearer 10 being an ami abe under
standing than it was ever possible to
bring about before.
There is 10 be held in New York at tie
emu oil the coming April a conference on
missions IL is an ecumeDical ons In that
1t represents the whole Christian world.
IL is coming together to see how Presiden>
srhurman's suggestion may be carried out.
1t does not come solely for that, of course,
but il is certain TO push on the progress
IN that direction that is unmis ,akably
making.
II 10 EOt YET quite determined what re-
ligious body, as such, first began services
in Misunderstanding. of course the one that
has been there for three or four hundred
years. Methodists and Episcopalians be-
gan at almost the same time. One was
helped by the fact that Bishop Thoburn,
the Methodist missionary Bishop OF India,
was near by, and could reach Manila with
out much delay, and the other by the ract
that an active chaplain, an Episcopalian,
took up the service of the Book OF Common
Prayer not as chaplain, but as a MEM
Der of the American Episcopal Church.
The very first representatives of Amerf-
can Protestant churches to reach the Phil
lippines were Young Mems Christian AS
sociation secretaries. who went from San
Francisco on the first transports to carry
troops thither. They took with them tents
and Bibles, literature, and singing books,
and they are still there, prosecuting sue
cessful work. They have been joined by
ten additional men, and in the lack of
chaplains they are performing service for
regiments which the Government ought
itself to provide. One of the landmarks of
Manila has come to be the Association
tent near the Bridge of Spain Crowded
beyond its capacity, the Government
loaned a building nearer to the Quartet
del Forth. Now property has been pur-
chased, and is being converted into an
Association building OF the usual pattern
The price paid for the property was Sc, O0O
The association holds services at Cavite
and upon the men-of-war anchored there.
Methodists began to hold a service in
the Filipino Theatre and another in the
Ermita district of Manila. Now they have
two churches. Both are mainly
Tor Filipinos, and both have services and
sermons in Spanish. There is school for
girls, and Bishop Thoburn, TO whom the
are Of the work has been committed, hopes
% have a school for boys in due time be-
sides a medical dispensary. Two mission
aries supported by the Missionary Society
Of the Methodist Church, are on the
ground
On decoration day last the Mission of the
Holy Trinity was started in Manila, al
hough Episcopal services had been held
n the city since the beginning of that
ear. The Brotherhood OF st. Andrew took
he lead in this effort. Holy Trinity Mis-
lion has now two c1ergymen and one lay
nan. and attached to it is another layman
Who has had tent and done work SINH
ar to that OF the Young Mems Christian
Association. The Mission has a typical
astern building of the Spanish type. and
S located in the midst of barracks. The
over part is fitted up as chapel, the
PIPER part as library and writing and
Meeting rooms Many officers of the army
nd navy attend services here.
Presbyterians have four missions in
Manila and are to establish a fifth. They
Helped the Young Mems Christian Asso-
iation by providing preachers for its tent
ervices. In the middle of February au-
hority was sent to organize formally and
egally one of the Presbyterian MISSION
nto the First Presbyterian Church or Ma
lila. and steps were taken to start york
4 Iloilo. Some native Filipinos have been
apti@ed by Presbyterian missionaries,
nd among them is a little child who is
s yet the only infant Filipino that has
cen baptized in the islands in the Prot
slant faith.
Baptists are to undertake work in lloilo.
ut have not get done so. Disciples OF
'hrist have opened mission in Manila
nd have started school. Congregation
lists will not go there, but are TO con-
inc their efforts to Guam and other Pa
life islands, their purpose being 10 line
he route from Honolulu to Manila with
'hristian mission stations.
Before this work was started by these
ifferent American religious bodies, con-
erences were held by those in authority,
nd in the Philippine work an effort is
making toward real comfy. Comfy in
Mission work will be discussed at the Ecu
1enical Conference already referred 20.
IS everybody in charge of missions will
e present 10 hear. a larger number than
yer before. il IS believed that some def
lite Step will result. Christians of all bod
es. their leaders, at any rate. say they
-ant no waste of mission funds and
hey have proved their professions by
heir works thus far in our new Tar East
Official territory.
A SOLID MAN.