The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-06-19
MISSIONS IN
GUAM ISLAND
Opening the Work of Evangel-
ical Churehes-A Good
Field.

The arrival of Rev. and Mrs. F n.
Price and Miss CHANNEL at Guam on De
cember l has already been chronicled,
and we are able now to give a few addi-
tlonal facts as TO the beginning of Chris
tian work at that island Guam, it will
be remembered, is the southernmost of
the Ladrone Islands, and lies about thir-
teen degrees north OF the equator. The
circumference of the island is about one
hundred miles, and the chief town,
Agana, the west coast, is said to have
a population Of about 5000. At the time
of the arrival of the missionary party,
the island was suffering terribly from
the typheon which swept through that
part of the Pacific Ocean in November
last Trees were uprooted, the houses
torn down, and desolation was seeh
everywhere. This condition of affairs
made it very difficult for our missiona-
ries to secure proper lodgment. The
American officers and soldiers constitut-
ing the garrison of the place had taken
possession of all desirable buildings, but
Mr.. Price succeeded in renting a house
having three rooms and a kitchen. To
be sure, there was hole in the tile roof
Of some seven feet wide, caused by the
typhoon, which was not mended until
some time after IL was occupied by our
friends. The mended roof is shown in
the above cut of Mr.. Prices house. The
entrance is in the rear through a door
opening on the back yard
After having been cleansed with much
labor, the place, though small. viii fur
nish a temporary residence until q per-
marent house can be built. The photo
graphs sent by Miss CHANNEL show us
the character of the dwellings near them.
The native houses are set upon posts
and are without cellars. They stand
near together, the streets being narrow
and full of children and women, pigs,
dogs and chickens. The people are OF
two classes, some OF them intelligent.
using the Spanish language, while the
common people use patois or the ma
tive language called chamorro, with some
Spanish words internnixed. Religiously
the people have known only Spanish
friars, whose repute has been most I'M
sayory. and, as would be expected, the
morals of the community are very low.
But already services have been begun
even in the contracted quarters Of Mr..
Prices house, and Miss Channel has
Sunday school of dozen children With
the few English words that the children
know. and with what she herself knows
Of Spa nish, Miss CHANNEL IS able to
make a beginning. The Governor and
his family are in attendance at the Sun
day services Miss Channel reports that
the DAYS are hot, but the nights cool, so
that the climate is by no means unoear-
able. 1t has become very clear already
that the best location for missionary
premises and for the schools, which VIII
be a prominent feature IN the missionary
work, Is not in Agana itself, but outside
of the town, and so a site has been Sc
cured on a point OF land a mile and
half from what IS called the palace.
or government building. 1t is on the road
between the town and the hareor, and
furnishes room enough for all the build
fngs needed, giving them a pleasant and
heaIthful location. A stream OF sweet
water is not far distant, which is great
boon.
Mrs. Price writes that they have al
ready learned to love the people, because
they seem so genial and kindly. The