The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-06

by Rev Elkanah Hulley, principal Of
keystone academy. from the four
teenth chapter of the Acts of the Apos-
ties. Prayer was offered by Rev. DR..
Clark, who has been a missionary in
India for the Presbyterian board of
missions. The church choir sang an
appropriate anthem.
Dr.. Dobbins introduced.
In Introducing DR.. Dobbins. DR..
Pierce said that no minister was more
welcome TO Scranton than he. Dr..
Dobbins' talk was more in the line of
an Introduction for the other speakers
than an address on the work of the
missionaries. He said they We're in the
midst of Il great campaign of mission
AIRY work, and their efforts in Pitts
burg and vicinity recently had awaken
ed a deep interest. which will surely
shoWitself in the years to come.
He told of Rev. Briggs work in the
Philippine islands. where wonderful re-
suits had been obtained and how Rev.
Upcraft had gone to China nineteen
years ago and prosecuted the work
under trying circumstances These
aries, but merely serious men in Christ.
The latter had been three times beaten
by the natives and seven attemps were
made to kill him.
1t is great privilege to meet these
men. He suggested they be greeted
with the Chautauqua salute, and it
was given with the singing of 'Blest
BE the Tie That Binds our Hearts in
Christian Love-
MI. Briggs Talk.
Mr.. Briggs said he had not been
home very long, but found it more
popular to be a missionary on this side
of the world than on the other. II am
proud of America" he said "but sur
prised to learn the feeling Americans
entertain regarding the American in
vasion of the islands. The people here
don't know anything about the condi-
tions existing there, and I wish they
could go there and see for themselves
how much has been accomplished.
when wise men open their eyes and
see that they have not been hurt there.
and that America has been injured by
the invasion, they learn it is a good
thing for America and for the Filipinos.
The invasion of the Protestant mission
aries in that field is also good thing
for the Catholic church, and we are
glad to cooperate with the Catholics
there for the advancement of civilza-
ton, but the Catholic church there is in
pretty bad straits
The impression prevails that for de-
cades Almighty God has been prepar-
ing the Philippine islands for our COM
ing, and it will all be for the best and
for the advancement of His Kingdom in
the world. For several centuries the
Filipinos have been regarded as Chris
tians and the missionaries supposed
they Were' going there to preach to
Catholics but to their surprise found
many Protestants ready to receive and
welcome them
when The islands were opened the
various missionary boards apportoned
the islands so that there should be no
overlapping of territory In the south
ern part where the people have great
market places, religious meetings are
held ON Thursdays and Sundays, and
the people come from a distance to re-
ceive Gods word The people are anxi-
Gus to receive and believe the word of
God.
The Walk All Day.
The peasant people walk all day
Wednesday to reach the mission sta,
tion by night, carrying with them
handful of rice as their meal, and spend
the night in the mission house. on
Thursday they attend the services and
do their trading, and return to their
homes on Friday. They come again ON
Saturday and return on Monday. So
many people attend these services that
1t was necessary TO arrange for resi-
dents of different towns to attend SER
vices ON different days.
when they spend the night at the
mission house the house is divided, one
half for the men, and half for the wo-
men, The occupants keep up a con-
tinuous chatter all through the night,
and do not sleep very much. but con-
tinue smoking during the night The
missionary work among them is slow,
but satisfactory The Baptist church,
however is established there to stay.
THE missionaries meet with opposi-
tion and persecution, and the scourge
of cholera raging there now has driven
many people away, but they have found
that the gospel is the power of God to
every one that believes and has faith