Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-06-29
NEW RELIGION IN LUZON.
Provides That It's votarics Need Not
Work, and 1t Is Spreading
Rapidly.

A new religion has been startedkn
Luzon and some people think it will
lead to trouble. Its main doctrine re-
leases it's followers from the necessity
of working. The supreme being to
whom prayers are directedNill, it is de-
clared, provide sustenance for all true
believers. The religion is therefore at
tractive to the Filipino, who does not
do any more work than is necessary to
keep himself in rice, cigarettes and be-
tel nut, anyway, says the New York
Sun.
A man named Gabini started the re-
ligion and it's votaries are known as
Gabinists. Gabni and several of his
deacons, or chiefs, were quietly andin-
formally shot by the Spanish authori-
ties at Apalit. The new creed was not
stamped out, however, for Gabini's
chief clerk, Felipe Salvador, took it up.
After doing little service in the Fill
pino army Salvador now devotes him
self to extending the faith. Wonder
full stories go abroad concerning mir
acles Salvador has performed. Sick
| people are carried to him to be cured,
and if they die under his treatment it
is said they were not sincere in their
faith.
The Gabinistic religion, as nearly as
can be learned, is very simple. The peo-
| pie gather and pray long and earnestly
to an invisible supreme being who is
supposed to provide food to his faith
full subjects in some miraculous man
ner, and to perform cures. The chief
| dufy of tho ha1;ava, ;c ~, La - Ioo
one pilgrimage n year to the main
shrine, which is located five miles above
San Luis on dry spot in the pinac,
or swamp, of Candaba. Here Salvador
has had church erected 1t is an i'm
posing affair of bamboo and nipa
thatch, rudely furnished with few
seats.
Salvador styled himself General"
and by this title he has been called. It
was at the suggestion of several people
of the village of Balinag that Gen. Otis
at last gave orders to have Salvador
placed in custody. This happened two
months ago. His church was not mo-
Tested and neither were his services,
which went on again after slight in
terruption, new general being in
stalled in the person of Salvador's chief
clerk. Salvador's arrest was due to a
belief that as an insurgent leader he
was simply melting the people to fresh
outbreaks. In addition TO the church
general there are several chiefs. 1t is
the main duty of these chiefs to collect
the fees which are regularly eXacted
from all believers.
AT the present time the Gabinistic
church is thriving wonderfully and
growing every day.
Planters complain that it is taking
away their laborers. 1t is said the new
church has now at least 10000 men,
bers. The members seem to be little
affected at the removal of Salvador,
for they believe his body consists of
two parts, one n material and one a
spiritual part. The material part is of
course confined in Manila, while the
spiritual part returns to pray with the
congregation at intervals.
The sick people who are carried to
! the shrine on litters are expected to
make complete confession of their
! sins, whereupon they become cured. II
) the cure does not follow it is a sign
, the patient has not made full adlmis
) sion of his shortcomings, and therefore
r cannot be forgiven.