The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-03-29
DIOCESE IN PHILIPPINES

NEW YORK. March gS,-Actlng ur-
on the Initiative Of General Francis V,
Greenr Captain Alfred I. Mahan, L, ),
N (retired). George MacCulloch Mil
Ter ana others the Church Club of New
York decided last night to take I'M
mediate steps to establish diocese ot
the Protestant Episcopal Church. OF
America in the Philippine Islands with
q resilient bishop and duly appointed
ministers.
The general sentiment was expressed
that It should not he the purpose ot
this church 10 seek any prcsclytiZIng in
the Islands. 1, WAS not the idea that
the new diocese should be missionary
parish but n regularly established.
branch Of the church that should With
in a very short time become SELF sup.
porting.
The president Of the Church Club,
George MacCull,ch Miller, will appoint
a committee which will draw up plan
for the establishment, of the new diocese
and the other church clubs Of the Unit
el States will be asked TO cooperate
in the matter. This will be the first
diocese OF the Protestant Episcopal
Church Of America to be established
without the confines ot the United
States proper. Discussing the PROPOSE
ton last night. General Greene said:
"As regards he Philippine islands,
there Is no doub, now Of the truth
OF tn statement that our first obliga
ton is 10 remain in those islands and
govern them. To give them up 10 any
other nation would be disgraceful cow
ardice. To turn them over to them
selves would mean anarchy and lawless-
ness
1T can be fairly said that We hope
to introduce in the Philippines. Porto
Rico AMI the other countries that have
come under our control, better gov
ernment than they have ever known
before. We want to teach them to en-
10y freedom while respecting the rights
OF others. We should establish do
ces. with a bishop and duly appointed
ministers. The population there now
the American pOpulatIon-is made up u
soldiers and civil officers. Such Of these
as want to worship now have no chance
TO do 50 in the way in which they
are accustomed.
The thousands Of Am srlcan women
and children in the Philippines In order
to worship must attend the camp ser
vices conducted by the chlplains.
have seen as many as coo soldiers at
one Of these services on a day when
the rain was pouring down.
1T would do the natives good to see
a branch OF the Protestant Episcopal
Church established in Manila. 1t would
do more than enything else to estab-
llsh and spread American ideas there"
Captain Mahan said that the chief
factor lacking in the new island pos
sessions Of the United States was an
public opinion. He conclud-
ed in part as follows:
As regards political conditions We
can well afford to leave them to the
which under the searching
light Of intelligent public opinion will
DO the best that can be done for the
Fillplnos. But as regards Christianity
We find that .here unfortunately exist
rivaries and divisions Of creeds I
do not look for any formal parcelling
out Of the islands among the denomn-
atiOns for purposes Of missionary work,
as has been suggested. believe that
in matters Of opinion the flttest survive.
1t Is the duty Of our church to send
out its missionaries and to establish
the church in the Philippines upon d
sound basis We should have no an
nounced purpose Of making converts
from other forms Of Christianity, but
# people want to come to US We should
b. there to receive them.
"Al the church bodies should go
ahead Nothing will conduce as much |
10 the political health Of these lepen-
1ercies az the free exercise Of public |
opinion with all churches, through their
having an ample chance"