The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-21

| The first meeting OF the season OF the
Rhode Island Baptist Social union was
! held In the Trocadero, last evening with
/ an attendance or between 100 and 1+0 la
dies and gentlemen. members Of the
! union and guests.
The members began to arrive upon the
( scene at s o'clock and from that hour,
until Z. a reception was held in the par
! lors OF the Trocadero after which an
! elaborate banquet was served by T1lling-
| hast In the ball room OF the Trocadero.
| The guest of honor and speaker of the
1 evening. Rev. Thomas s. Barbour. ID. D..
was seated at the head table at the left
! OF President Pepper of the union while
President Faunce was at the right OF the
presiding officer. The Divine blessing was
| pronounced by Rev. John Finch OF the
South Baptist church. after which the
company proceeded TO the enjoyment or
the good things which had been spread
for their enjoyment.
At the close of the banquet President
Pepper called the gathering to order
when a brief business meeting ensued.
In this connection, reports by the secre-
-tarY. Mr.. Walter L. Clarke, and treasurer
Mr.. Arson T. Rice were presented. The
treasurer's report showed the following
financial condition of the union. Receipts
during the year. s95l.02; expenses. $sll.7O;
balance on hand, S3s.32.
At the close of the business session
President Pepper introduced the speaker
OF the evening who dwelt, at great length,
on the subject Our Problem in the Phil
ippines."
Mr.. Barbour is corresponding secretary
of the American Baptist Missionary
union and his story was the result or
his personal impressions and observa-
tons in the Philippines.
REV. MR. BARBoURs ADDRESS.
He said. In part. II have to tell you to-
right a simple story, a story OF impress
sions gained upon a missionary journey
which / recently took TO our Island de-
pendencies
"Our problem In the Philippines is
political problem and religious problem
and the two blend together and touch at
many points. First. as to the political
problem. we are all agreed as 10 the pur-
pose for which we are In the islands. our
purpose must be in accord with the SEN
timents expressed by Gen. Gordon, 10
accept government only when we can
help We are in the Philippines TO help
lift fallen brother
How shall we lift our fallen brother;
what benefits shall we confer upon him
and how confer them? The one signih-
cant fact influencing our work Is the
division OF the peoples In the Islands,
but these divisions are not Of the utmost
importance ilflf ANs Hp"NNNAr eiiNN'AN'
division existing among the people OF
the islands OF much importance-a divi-
sion between the upper class OF people
numbering 200. 600. and the lower classes,
numbering more than 100000
THE REAL FILIPINos.
'The latter are the real Filipinos and
t is TO the latter class that We may
devote our attention principally.
The missionaries there have deeply
touched the hearts OF the common people.
while few of the higher class have been
influenced
Continuing DR. Barbour dwelt most in
terestingly upon the intense antagonism
between the upper or wcll-to-do classes
and the common people.
n This antagonism," he said. is very
deep-seated and intense and | think this
fact should be recognized as well In our
political policy as In our religious deal
lngs witt them.
What are these common people2 1t
has been said that they are intensely
ignorant Such n characterization Is
utterly Incorrect. however. They are not
80 much ignorant as unlearned. II u the
ignorance OF childhood: they have had no
: : chance TO become Informed.
From my acquaintance with them
{ ! think they have az much capacity 20 learn
> as has the average resident OF our smaller
country towns. They can all read. for
! ! that IL something tncN Wltsteu from tht
sransh They are fond of reading and
receive. most eagerly. all literature giver
L. / them.
THE UPPER CLASSES.
And what OF the upper classes? Gen
A Chanee spoke Of these with forebadinl
e and said that i'm putting these men I'm Of
acc We have put our enemies IN power
/ have been told by many people Will
whom / conversed that there is not al
= honest native official In power In th
islands
These people have been trained o
< spain They learned their lesson of dls
g honesty in the long years OF suolecti3l
n TO spain They are not IN sympath.
A With the purpose OF American rue. an
!. tnev have not the slightest Intention O
= performing their duties In the interests o
q Il believe We have duty In the Phil
q fppines and that r. 90 protect the de
q fenceiess 10 secure life, liberty and tn
n pursuit. Of happiness TO the common peo
:, | pie To this end there should be mutua
| acquaintance between our representative
and the common people.
u The dangerous feature OF the atlauo