The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-06-22
From Manila freedom, Mays.
/ DESIRE NO FRIARS.
Natives Now Want the
| Gospel.
Power of the Church Waning
Through Love of Frlars.

There was an exciting time at San
Angeles, Tarlac and Dagu-
pan last week when Reverend 81. F.
F. Miller and Reverend A. w. Prautch
took a trip through that section dis
tributing copies of the books of the new
testament and tracts printed in the
several native languages. Their sup
ply was limited and the natives almost
trampled over one another in their ef
forts to secure copies. There seems to
be strong desire on the part of the
Flipinos to find out what is meant by the
Protestant religion and any literature
that will aid in satisfying their curiosity
is in demand among them.
.Sicne their occupation the missionary |
representatives of the different protest |
ant denominations have been doing sue |
cessful work among the Filipinas
been made to reach the ma
tives in the provinces on account
of the fact that they had little litera-
ture in the nativelauguagest to distribute
They have, however, succeeded in hav-
ing the several books of the new testa-
ment translated into Tagalog and Pan
eastman and the trip North made by
Mr. Prautch to the towns of tarlac, San
Fernando and Angeles was for the pur-
pose of giving the natives of those towns
the benefit of them.
!, 1t was surprise to the reverend gen.
tleman to find that before his arrival
the natives knew of his intentions to
visit them and the ovation be received
resembled that of general of a con-
| quering army. The missionary was
the most interesting parsonage in their
estimation that had paid them a visit IN
| many months and after he had stated
in definite terms his object, they crowd
ed round him and waited with impa-
tience for the distribution of the Cos
pei. The demand did not fall off until
every one of the pamphlets was dis
tributed, and the last six given away Al
Tarlac were wanted by fifty persons
Mr.. Miller had a similar experience
at Dagupan, where he took up large
| number of copies in Pagasinan of tht
/ gospel OF Saint Matthew. Mr.. Mile
represents the British Foreign Bibl
Society and that organization Away
endeavors to have the people purchas
the literature that they supply. Th
fo hof oil
make the purchase. If any one, how
ever, shows that he is unable to pul
chase, they present it free of charge
In following this line the society er
courages an independent spirit anon
those that receive the benefit of th
distribution. The cost of an entire b
BILE would prove too much for the avel
age native to pay, so they have publisl
ed the books of the new testameI
separately and sell them at four cen
\ each. This places the gospels at
rate within the natives reach.
y That the natives are very anxious :
II study the gospels was well illustrate
II by the manner in which they purchase
the gospel of ST. Matthew in Pangasi
/ an. 1t took just half an hour to sc
q the whole lot and as the stock w
u nearly exhausted many natives offer
al 10 and 20 cents to secure copy. II
price, however, was kept at FOUR Ger
and they were served in turn.
- The disposition of the natives
I learn all they can of this religio
which they have heard so much abol
is said to be occasioned by the oppt
tunity that they now believe they ha
- of shaking the friars. Their past {
~ lperience has excited in them an anti
IL athy against the monastic orders a
jurisdiction over them again in a
: way, they are free in declaring tt
i they will abandon the church. T
church authorities by their neglect
not considering the wishes of the p'
pie in respect to the friars have Il
their former firm hold on the Filipi
- people and the opportunity to regs
their support is fast passing away a
that the liberal religions that are n
z represented in the islands can nev
impose upon them the hardships a
= Tyranny that they suffered un(
; = the regime of the friars. The Of
4lpossible means by which the chul
= can retain its followers is to withdr
D the Objectionable features and give
otpeople the priests of their choice.
Several representative natives fir
{ 1lCagayan visited the representative
the bible society and offered to secl
$Ia translation of the gospels in tn
: Iladguage if the society would publ
: and distribute them. Arrangeme
= have already been made and it is 81
. that the intelligent natives of Cagay
. are looking forward with great inter
when they can read the gospel in tn
own language