The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-11-30
Bishop Brent Spoke Interest
lng|y on 1.-The Philippines.
He TAKES ENCOURAGING VIEW
Capacity Of FlIIplaos for Autonomy 0euetsd.
A Few Years SNIl Needed 70 TriIa
Them 10 tho Task.

The churchmens club held its S5th reg
ular meeting and dinner at the Eloise last
evening. The principal speaker was Rt.
Rev. Charles II. Brent d. D.. bishop or
the Philippines. who delivered an elo-
auent and intensely interesting addresson
the lands and people I'm and among
whom he is at work.
The Churchmen's club had as guests
the officers and members OF the America n
Church Missionary society which holds
its annual meeting today I'm this city and
AZ o'clock the members and guests took
seats at nve handsomely decorated tables
IN the Eloise dining hall.
President John Post Reynolds called up
on Rev. Arthur NJ Auoock TO ask grace,
and then for an hour the club and guests
enjoyed an excellent dinner Music was
provided at intervals by C1arke's orches-
ira.
At the speakers table were seated be-
sides President Reynolds RI. Rev
Charles III. Brent. p. D., Rt Rev. W. n
Mcvicksr. u. n, Bishop-elect A. w
knight. President William Jay Schiefre-
lin. Eugene NJ. Camp. Hon. John II. Sti-
ness. Rev. q. r. webb. Col r. H. L. God
dsrd. r. II. I. Goddard. Jr. Charles T.
porrsnee. Louis T. Foster Charles c.
Mumford. James Lewis Peircc, Rev. A.
". Aucock. George c. Nightingale. Hon.
W. T. C. wardwell. Robert b. Little and
Or. Horace @. Miller.
Bishop Brent was introduced by Presi-
dSnt Reynolds as lone OF the two people
in the United States who know more
about the Philippines than anyone else.
the other man being Secretary OF War
Taft"
BISHOP BRENT.
Bishop Brent said in part: The subject
The Philippines In one which has occu-
pied my heart my head and my hands
for several years. Still speak with difYi-
dence because Of the knowledge that you
have heard i'm your city Secretary Taft.
who has presented the subject In a mas
terly way TO you / feel that cannot
supplement- his sayings. but I do feel that
] can criticise some OF them.
II am glad TO be speaking on this sub
feet today rather than when the election
cloud was hanging on the horizon, be-
csyse the topic has a political significance.
We must take the problem in its whole
dimensions. II is OF no use to weep over
what might have been done; we have the
islands and we must now deal with the
facts.
ARE THERE TO STAY.
We Americans are men OF action.
IL III befts us today TO say oh. I wish
the Philippine islands were not on our
hands. for such words are not worthy
CT men OF bCtlOn. we cannot Snlft our
responsibility now. and this great coun-
try does not want TO SHIFT the respon-
htility. we can hope 10 look into the
future with the certainty that when the
problem In solved II will be n solution
~ the credit Of our great country and for
tho benefit Of the Philippines.
John Morley recently expressed the
whole question in most comprehensive
woids when ne said: America has In
-.
a possibility 1t is an extraordinary
problem. and I don't think II Ia due to
political self-cons, iohsness II 1 say "a is
problem without parallel In the history
OF nations"
A BIT OF HISTORY.
The bishop thon took UP graphically
the earliest history Of Csuca sian civiliza
tion in the Philippine archipelago. The
colonization by the Spa niards with the
attendant introduction OF the Roman
church into the islands was sketched en-
tertaningly ~ the speaker who con
tinued by rointing out the fatal weak
ness OF alliance between church and
state
NEED OF HARMONY.
He expressed the wish that IL was pos
rible that for four years no great fer
-ment could occur In the United States as
the Filipino hrebrsnds Immediately seize
upon any dscord I'm America and use IL
10 stir the natives. How can we expect
those people, ignorant and unread, to get
any Intelligent conception Of democracy
In moment and to be anything but sus-
picious IL the country TO which they ars
looking IL OF divided opinion" he contin-
ued. 1T may be- although I doubt II.
that within few years the F1lipinos
may show themselves ready and worthy
Of Independence. II will do no harm to
walt few years and see. will it7''
EDUCATIONAL WORK.
Bishop Brent dwelt at some lengeh upon
the work OF education now being carried
out on the islands. and he criticised the
commission for not doing more toward
improving the roads. In speaking of the
technical spiritual work In the PHILIPPINES
Bishop Brent said he could not look upon
the work being conducted by the Roman
Catholic church there without being deep
ly impressed by the self-eacrlice OF the
workers
1T r. the only church true 10 the mis-
sionary ideals" he said, "and we must
Give n credit for what IL has achieved
We may disagree with it's theology, dis
like It's methods. but we must remember
thatthat is the church that In its missions
gives up all for the work. We Protestants
must remember. too. that there were no
Protestant missionaries before the 18th
century. and say that no mission today
can compare with the Roman Catholic. I
believe this Is n mere matter OF Justice
and not always recognized by u.s.
IN CONCLUSION.
In conclusion. the speaker .aid that the
Philippine work was more than local. II
needs the will sympathy and active sup
port OF everybody IN America. 1T IL
true" no said. that II Is n far cry to the
solution OF the problem, u Is only by your
unity OF action that eventually the east
and west will be brought 10 stand in the
relations intended by God.
Rev. Albion w knight bishop-elect OF
Cuba, was next introduced and spoke al
some length of the ohurch's DELAY IN IN.
sttutins It's missionary work in Cuba.
WORK IN CUBA
". ssjd that while the United States