The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-16
GARDEN OF The ORIENT
THIS Is DIR. PENTECOST'S CHARAC-
TERIZATION OF THE PHILIPPINES.
He Thinks They Need Freer Trade,
but Says They Are Superior to
Japan-ReIigiOus
special to the indianapolis Journal

Special to the indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK, Aug. 15.-The Rev. DIR. G.
F.. Pentecost, the evangelist,
whom the Presbyterian Board of Foreign
Missions sent around. the world as special
preacher to English-speaking congrega-
tons, returns delighted with the Philip
pines and declaring them to be the very
garden of the East. far superior to the
famed Japan. He thinks they need freer
trade, to be secured by the United States
taking import duties off sugar, tobacco
and hemp, and a settlement of labor
troubles, just now more perplexing than
in this country. The islands are in the
hands of a gigantic labor union, made up
of people who will neither work themselves
nor let others do SO. If, thinks DR.. Pente-
cost, 100000 Cinnamon could be imported
into them the Philippines would blossom
as the rose and become a great industrial
state. He praises Governor Taft and the
United States commission, but claims to
nave changed the civil Governor In his at
titude toward Professionalism. He found
him reckoning the papal delegate, Arch
bishop Guidi, as a semi-official person, and
not attending Protestant services, fearing
Roman Catholics might be offended. He
left him convinced that Roman Catholics
stand before the law, as do all others, and
attending public worship because of the
influence he may exert in so doing. More
over the civil Governor sent, of his own
motion. $3.50 toward the fund for the erec-
ton of the new Presbyterian Church in
Manila.
Concerning religious prospects in the Phil
ippines. DIR. Pentecost is tremendously i'm
pressed with the movement at the head of
which is Archbishop" Aglipay. He says
the archbishop is himself an iconoclast, and
never likely to succeed personally, but that
he heads a movement that is far stronger
and destined. in his Judgment, to split the
Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines
into two equal parts, if it does not com
mand the larger part. He says Protestant
bodies in America having work in the Phil
ippines ought to build in Manila, Iloilo and
other principal cities splendid churches of
the American pattern, not waiting for the
natives to do so. and send out as pastors
of them their best preachers and organ
izers. He believes the Philippines to pre-
sent the most urgent religious problem be-
fore the American people. Presbyterian
came near being able to induce the Rev. DIR.
r. F. Coyle. of Denver. to go, and would
have succeeded had II not been for family
considerations on the part of the present
General Assembly moderator. Other bodies
ought, he thinks, TO send men out of the
grade of Bishop Brent, whom he praises
highly.
The Rev. DR.. Pentecost returns greatly
impressed also with the Chinese character.
Once rid China of Manchurian misrule and
it will lead all in the East. He considers
the Chinese a far higher type than the
Japanese, whom he thinks much over
rated. All Korea he looks to see turn
Christian at no distant day and says that
throughout the East the missionary is a
far greater power with rulers and with the
educational classes than he is credited with
being. In the Boxer regions of China the
destroyed institutions have been replaced
by being rebuilt better than before and
Christian prospects are booming. Methodist,
Presbyterian. Episcopal and other educa-
tional institutions there he found TO be
crowded with students. The Chinese have,
in his judgment, the best basis of char
acter of any people in the East. The grav-
est problem in the East he finds TO be. how
ever. American and European young men.
of the commercial class, who go there
leaving their Christianity behind. The de-
scription he gives of the sins of these Eng
Iish speaking colonies in the East is some
thing trightful. There are few depths they
do not reach. Sunday is turned into a day
of riot and week days are better only be-
cause business demands fill the time. The
scandal OF the Anglo-Saxon in the East.
and especially of the Americans recently
arrived there. is most damnins. as painted
by DR.. Pentecost. showing a condition that
needs immediate attention.
GodIikc.
A creed is a rod.
And a crown Is of night.
But this thing IL God
To be a man wi.h thy might.
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