The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1902-05-28
Mr.. CELLS MISSIONARY TOUR AROUND
THE WORLD.
SEVENTH LETTER,
The Great Revival In the Philippines.
WILLIAM EDGAR GEIL.


For over 800 years the Friars have
been in these islands and have so
ruled that not one Protestant Church
ever existed in the Archipelago until
recently the small M. Il. building was
erected, and worship is oftentimes con-
Quoted by Major Halford, formerly
private secretary to President Harri-
son, and very earnest and able man
of God. | am sending photograph
of this first Protestant building in its
history to be published in Christian
Work, The Examiner and The Jour
nal and Messenger. The House of
Prayer will seat 150, has oyster shell
windows, but stands on desirable
lot. This was great shock to the
bloody friars there is no doubt but
that they melted men to riot and then
had them executed, an old trick ont
herel. The friar question is the burn
ing issue now and whether we are 60
ing TO be able to govern this tract
properly with them here is grave
question. The greatest of the Philip
pine people, DR.. Rial, who was shot
on the Luneta (the beautiful sea drive
on Manila Bay where the military
band plays evenings, and near which
stands our big tent was charged with
treason and murdered to satisfy the
fathers.
The religion of this set of islands
is of the brand of the middle ages,
very much such as Luther fought.
There are 600 substantial Roman or
rather Spanish Catholic churches in
the Philippines, 200 more of bamboo,
and some 5000 chapels where worship
is celebrated once year on feast
day. There is mighty little christian
ity to be found, and the need for mis-
sionary work is pressing. These
things being so, the change from the
middle ages to the present with the
big Gospel Tent ON the Luneta, the
Gospel preached to thousands and
hundreds being converted, m 81
amaze and set the whole place talking
We are now while | write in tho midst
of the first Union Evangelical cam
paign for white people in the history
of these islands. Church history il
now in course of manufacture, ant
thank God for the kind of work tina
is being turned out.
The Y. M. G. A., which has done tn,
greatest work here, the Protestan
Missions, and many not connecte,
with any church organization, ar
helping. The tent is composed O
large strips of canvas made on BAN
boo beams. with smaller tent nj
tached for inquiry meetings. TIL
Seekers " tent is full every evening
You will rejoice with me at the new
of this great revival in the Philippine
and will you please have some repor
of it published in your local paper
for the glory of God?
There has been deep conviction
men, strong men, often weeping bit
terly over their sins. One man had {
tooth doctored and took gas ant
| dreamed he died and passed his god
ly mother, but could not stop till he
reached the place for lost souls. A
deep gloom fell on him, he came to
the service but arrived too late for the
mass meeting. five minutes, and leay-
ing left soundly converted. The re-
vival is doing q blessed work in that
thousands of soldiers on their way
home, come here and occupy Camp
Wallace before sailing for San Fran
cisco and in this manner are returned
to their residences spiritually re-
freshed and many just converted.
This may be expected to have u good
influence on the church at homo and
let US, pray, arouse it to do more for
the salvation Of souls.
The M. r.. Mission has about 1900
members, maybe more. / attended a
morning service there and the house
was packed. In another part several
hundred attend large Presbyterian
service in theater. hear that there
are 1000 natives who are asking to be
taken into the Baptist Church. This
news comes from what should be re-
liable source. / have not been able
yet to look personally into the Baptist
work, but it is evidently very prosper
Gus. The Presbyterian college is do
ing good work. What is needed is
a large number OF men who can easily
learn language, to come out and
preach. One hundred more mission
aries are needed at once. Then also
large church buildings should bt
erected at once. The people will turf
to God by the tens of thousands AT
soon as there are prospects o.
churches. The Philippine people
want church and while heartily sicl
of the friars, they will hang on t.
them rather than have no church
The friars are making efforts, united
and vigorous, to destroy the public
school system which the Government
is introducing, and the most serious
problems concerning these islands are
yet to be solved.
] have not attended single native
service but what it has been packed
with people and full standing around
outside listening to the preaching Of
the Gospel. The Bible societies find
the natives ready to buy Bibles.
MANILA, 2. L., March @, 1902.
REDUCED RATES TO SAN FRANCISCO