The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-28
METHODISTS In MANILA
VALUABLE CHURCH PROPERTY Sc
CURED IN CENTER OF CITY.
Mai. Elijah w. Halford, Formerly of
indianapolis. an Energetic Agent
i'm the Transaction.

The public is kept well informed concern
ing affairs in the Philippines on army
movements and army achievements, while
many matters OF civil and religious bear
ing get comparatively little attention. ow-
ing. Of course. to the high cable tolls and
the length of time required for mail trans
portation. Nevertheless these interests are
following the flag with all the success that
the most hopeful could desire story on
this line which will interest many Journal
readers relates TO an enterprise partici-
pated in by Major Elijah w. Halford. once
we'll known and not yet forgotten in In
dianapolis. The major. as will be remem-
bered. was an ardent Methodist at home
and worked at it, with much zeal. He is
apparently no less a Methodist in Manila,
where he has been stationed for some time.
and no less active or successful. But his
work in that line is not all UNCONVENTIONAL.
The American Bible Society and other re-
ligious movements have found in him a
stanch and valuable friend and worker,
according to all accounts 1t was largely
through his efforts that the first Protestant
church in the island was built last summer
for the Methodist Missionary Society. When
the members got ready to build they were
confronted by the fact that the Spanish law.
which is yet in force in the island, except
when superseded by special American legis-
latiOn. would not allow Protestants TO own
land for church purposes. Major Halford
was equal 10 the occasion. He called on
Governor Taft and stated the case. The
Governor took i'm the situation al once, and,
calling his stenOgrapher. proceeded to die
tate a bill repeating all Old Spanish laws on
the subject and enacting the American law
that provides for the ownership of church
property by Protestant as we'll as Catholic
churches. with an emergency clause in IL.
1t took the Governor just fifteen minutes
to do this The commission was called
together the next day and the bill was duly
passed and approved. The act took effect
AT once and the Methodist Missionary So
ciety built a small church and took imme-
date possession 1t was centrally located
on 4 part OF large plot OF ground, but
was all the society could pay for at the
time How they came into possession of
the remainder of the block few days ago
Is reported in one Of the Christian Advo-
Gates Bishop Warne the missionary Meth
odist bishop of India MALAYSIA and the
Philippines. was on an official visit to Ma
Mia and was to preach in the little mis-
sion church. The preliminary services had
been gone through with, when Major Hal
ford arose 10 introduce him to the audience.
and his remarks here quoted tell the story.
He said:
Il have the biggest piece of news to tell
you that / ever had at least i'm a ma
terial sense. IL is the transfer OF this en-
tire property from the corner of Gale San
Luis 10 the estuary which crosses Nozelda
just beyond the third house towards the
walled city. II has been transferred TO the
representatives of the Methodist Episcopal
Mission. We have ii bought. What a Won
derful thing that is, Every now and then
j hear some one say The age of miracles is
past. L want to tell you that they are oc-
curing every day. Almost like thunder
bolt out OF a clear sky we were enabled to
get this church lot Almost without know
ing IL we got this little building up: the
first Protestant church erected on Protest
ant land in the Philippine islands We
Methodists are here TO stay. 1t was a hope
at that time that We might get the property
next adjoining. We were kept back for
some reason. The other day some one came
and said he wanted 10 look over our house
with a purpose OF buying. We found that
the whole block OF property was advertised
for sale at auction. | went at once TO see
the presiding elder. Mr.. Mclaughlin He
said the bishop would be here next day
He arrived Monday. He gave not only his
consent. but his orders. We got an option
on the property. Many obstacles were in
the way. We had not a cent. / attended
Cell banquet that night / saw a man
there who. l thought, was the man God
had sent us to help in this work The
matter was preached TO him, and at II
O'Clock the next morning We had a tele-
phone message saying he would do what
we asked. A meeting was arranged that
evening al $50 A number of us sat uu
until midnight attempting to decipher the
'bastasta estrtvandie that goes to make mn
Spanish real-estate transfer. and found
out enough about its lengthy provisions "a
be ready 10 sign it on Wednesday at Q A
m. the signatures were affixed lust one
hour before the advertised auction Al
that time the mission secured complete con-
troll or the most advantageous block OF
property in Manila We are surrounded or
two sides by broad avenues on the other
side by the estuary, beyond which lies the
government tract, popularity known as
Camp Wallace. We can never be kent
away from light and air by the encroach-
ments or adjoining property holders. and
yet We are In the very heart Of the CITY
God has given Us large things 10 do and
we cannot be small
According 10 the report all the conere.
cation. except the few who had manfpu-
lated this transfer. were taken BY SUNRISE
for IL had not been much talked of Tn.
benevolent man who had made il possible
was in the audience, about the happiest
man present. The bishop followed with ar
excellent sermon. after which he admin.
fstered the ordinance OF baptism 10 FIVE
Cinnamon who are members al the China
mission. Many such instances OF develon.
ments which indicate the rapid introduc.
ton OF American ideas and methods into
the commercial and religious world could
be given which seldom appear in American
papers, says one who reads many publica.
lions. The same person adds: 1T would
be good thing for few thousand OF those
who are opposing our progress here &c
camp hereabouts for a few months They
would 90 home wiser If not better men,"