The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-28
FIXING TO STAY.
Episcopal Church Is Preparing
to Establish a Diocese
in the Philippine Islands With
Resident Bishop.
N. Y. CHURCH CLUB
With Gen. Greene and Capt Ma
han at the Head
Takes the Lead in the Import
ant Movement.
I. Y. CHURCH CLUB

New York, March 2s.-Acting upon the
initiative Of Cen. Francis Ninton Greene
capt. Alfred T. Mahan. U. s n ire
tired. George 1lacCulloch Miller, and
others. the Church club. Of New ork
decided last night 10 take immediate
stems to establish diocese OF the Pro-
testant Episcopal church CT America IN
the Philippine islands, with a resident
bishop and duly appointed ministers
The general sentiment was expressed
that i'll should not be the purpose Of this
church to seek any PROSECUTING IN the
islands 1t was not the idea that the
new diocese should be missionary
parish bus a regularly established branch
III the church that should within a very
short time become self-supporting-
The president of the Church CLUB,
George AfacCullOch Miller. viii appoint a
committee which viii draw up plan
for the establishment Of the new do
cesa. and the other church clubs of the
United States Will be asked TO cooper
ate in the matter. This will be the first
diocese of the Protestant Episcopal
church OF America. to be established with
out the confines of the United States
proper
Discussing the proposition last night,
General Greene said.
AS regards the Philippine islands.
there is no doubt now OF the truth OF
the statement that our first obi legation
IS to remain in those Islands and gov
ern them To give them up to any other
nation would be disgraceful cOWardlce.
To turn them over to themselves would
mean anarchy and lawiessness-
1T can be fairly said that we hope
to Introduce in the Philippines. Porto
Rico and the other countries that have
come under our control a better gov
eminent than they have ever known De-
fore We want to teach them to enjoy
freedom while respecting the rights of
others lit is our duty 10 establish the
Protestant Episcopal church in Manila,
san Juan and other cities We should
establish a diocese, with a bishop and
duly appointed ministers. The popula-
tiOn there now-the American pOpula-
tion-is made up of soldiers and civil
officers. Such Of these as want to wor-
ship now have no chance TO do so in
the way in which they are accustomed
The thousands of American women
and children In the Philippines in order
to worship must attend the camp services
conducted by the chapiains. I have seen
as many as 800 soldiers at one of these
services on a day when the rain was
1T would do the natives good to see
g branch OF the Protestant Episcopal
church established in Manila. 1t would
do more than anything else TO estaDllsh
and spread American ideas there"
Captain Mahan said that the chief fac
tor lacking in the new island possessions
OF the United States was an enlightened
public opinion He continued in part as
follows.
LAS regards political conditions. we
can we'll afford to leave them TO the
government which under the searching
light Of intelligent public opinion, viii do
the best that can be done for the Fill
pinos But as regards Christianity. we
find that there unfortunately exist rival
ries and divisions OF creed. I do not look
for any formal parcelling out Of the ISL
ards among the denominations for pur-
poses of missionary work as has been
suggested ! believe that in matters of
opinion the fttest survive
1T is the duty OF our church to send
out its missionaries and to establish the
church in the Philippines upon a sound
basis We should have no announced
purpose Of making converts from other
forms OF Christianity, but il people want
TO come to US we should be there to re-
cetve them.
All the church bodies should go ahead.
Nothing will cOnduce so much to the
political health Of these dependencies
as the free exercise Of public opinion,
with all churches, through their mission
aries having an ample chance"