Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-10-12

/ ing and educating so far as possible, and
for this reason he claimed that true pat
riotism should warmly support such work
DIR. Mosley's address was principally
confined to mission work in Cuba and
Porto Rico. The Baptists in the southern
states have for many years supported mis-
sion in the city of Havana, and an i'm
mense Baptist church there, numbering
perhaps 5000 members, or more, was ac-
lively engaged in that work under the SUI
pervsion of DR.. Diaz. IT will be remem-
bered that DR.. Diaz barely escaped from
Havana with his life, having been prison.
ed sometime before being able to get away.
The interests Of the mission of course were
very much demoraliZsd, but since the driv-
ing out of the Spanish and the occupation
of the Island, DR.. Diaz and others have re-
turned to the work in the western part,
and the American Baptist Home Mission
society came to consider the question of
beginning work in Cuba. An amicable
arrangement was made with the southern
board so that the latter are to continue to
occupy the western part of the Island, and
the other society was to take the eastern
and more remote parts, comprising Santi
ago, Porto Rico, etc.
In the course of his remarks he stated
that whatever might be the political affilia-
tions or opinions of his audience, no one
could gainsay the fact that God had turned
over to the Christian people of the United
States such an opportunity as had never
been given to any nation on the face of the
earth. After 400 years of Spanish, and
consequently Roman Catholic rule, the
Cubans have attained their freedom
through the intervention of the United
N 1,ns-
one of gratitude. With the downfall of
the Spaniards, of course, came the down
fall to very large extent of the rule of
the Pope.
The political and religious domination of
Cuba was very intimately associated in the
minds of the people, and it was very evil
dent to an observer there that the rule of
Rome had passed. There was a strong re-
volt against it. He quoted the remark of
Rev. Father Sherman, (brother of the late
General Sherman), "that the Cubans were
Catholics without a religion" meaning
thereby that while they were nominally
affiliated with the Catholic church, they
were not loyal to her interests and author
lty. With this in mind, of course, the
Protestant religion was welcomed by the
Cubans, but in many instances it was ig-
norantly welcomed as simply a means for
battling against the old Roman Catholic
domination. There is a great turning of
the Roman Catholics towards the Protest
ant churches which are being formed there.
Thousands might be received If no ques-
tions were asked as to conversion or other
tenents of the Christian religion. The la
mentable fact remains, however, that the
Cubans as a class know almost nothing,
literally, of the gospel or the Bible, and
the mission work must be conducted with
that constantly in mind but missionaries
ind that many hearts are open TO the re-
ception of the truths of the gospel, and the
Cubans are coming to the Protestant form
of faith in great numbers.
DR.. Moseley plead especially for funds
with which to build meeting houses in the
cities or larger towns or centres in Cuba.
He said that 1t was very difficult to get
decent place to start the work in any city,
and this being the case they found it
equally difficult TO get hearing from the
permanent and substantial residents.
Forced as they were in many instances, TO
locate on some back street, in a hall with
unpleasant surroundings, only the degraded
and especially the transient class of people
ever found them.
He illustrated the reverse of this by
mentioning the erection of a neat little
chapel in the city of Santiago, and the fact
that ever since erecting this chapel, they
had been able to make great strides among
the better class of people, and the church
already formed was fast approaching the
stage of self support. They encourage this
very strongly in the work that is being be-
gun there, and as fast as possible it will be
attained. He said it was imperative, If
permanence was to be given to the work,
that these small chapels or meeting places
should be furnished by the people of the
United States.
He spoke of some of the difficulties
which the missionaries are meeting there,
one especial trial being the influx of I'M
worthy American citizens who came there
from motives of greed, or worse, and were
bringing reproach upon their mother coun-
try. In the mind of the Cubans, the Unit
ed States and Professionalism are one, and
all the sins of the present immigrants in
Cuba are laid to the charge of the Protest
ant religion.
DR.. Moseley is very forceful and en-
tertaining speaker, and his address could
not fail to convince the most skeptical of
the wisdom of carrying on the work.
At the conclusion of DR.. Moseley's ad-
dress, Dr. Edward Ellery, Phi. D., princip-
al OF Vermont Academy, spoke briefly on
the work of the Academy past, present and
future, and quoted the remark of promi-
nent New England college president, that
the students fitted at Vermont Academy
were the best equipped for college of any
school in the state of Vermont.
During the evening session, students
from Vermont Academy were heard, both
in solo and quartet, with much pleasure.