Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-21
NEEDS OF FILIPINO
SECRETARY iTAFTs ADDRESS BE-
RoRE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY.
Seventy Ninth Anniversary Celebrated
b@li
Report Of the Secretary Of
the Society.

cut avenue, was the scene of representa-
tive Christian gathering yesternoon the oc-
casion being the celebration Of the seventy
ninth anniversary of the American Tract
Society. Mr.. Justice Brewer presided and
Judge William II. Taft. Secretary of War.
was the principal speaker. He told Of the
needs Of the Filipino. insofar as the dis
semination of Christian literature and
Christian works are concerned.
The anniversary meeting was held at the
conclusion of the regular Sunday afternoon
service, which was conducted by the pastor.
Rev. Teunis S. Hamlin. In opening the
exercises Justice Brewer apologized for not
being able on account of a throat trouble to
make more extended remarks on the work
In which he took such great and lasting in
terest.
This is recreant age" he said. Every
whim, be 1t sane or insane. Is scattered
throughout the world by means of the
daily press and centers In the thought of US
all.
1t may be truthfully said that charitable
work has become fad. and more charity
work IS planned than there are leaves in
the forest. However valuable they may
nave been they are relinquished like sun
beam. This advice would give: Hold fast
to that which is good 1t Is far better to
place your assistance with the one which
has stood the test of years than with those
born today and likely to die tomorrow. AS
to the work of the tract society itself you
Will gain more information by listening to
DR.. Judson Swift secretary of the society.
VINO will give you facts and figures that
think will interest you"
DR.. swift's Report.
DR.. Swift said that the society is now
printing pamphlets periodicals and papers
In 1873 languages and dialects, of which 50
were added last year During the year
2'So,9D publications had been sent out,
ana during the life of the society 10000
Voo. The great value of the work the sec
rotary said. is to furnish literature to those
converted to Christianity in foreign coun-
trles ana who would otherwise relapse into
the heather literature of the native land,
ana IN converting people in this land. The
great need of Japan today. he said, is
Cnristian literature. The publications find
ready neid Tor good in circulating among
Utah. - 80
Continuing DR.. Swift said:
mere mas never been such demand for
pure christian literature as today and the
church needs to awaken If we are going to
keep marching on for God and our national
good We must pile out good literature and
CROWD out the sensational in literature and
Secretary Taft's Address.
Al the conclusion of the report of DR..
Swift Mr.. Justice Brewer introduced Sec
rotary Taft as 'the man who has given to
the Filipino an example of the highest tyne
of Christianity 80,
Judge Taft prefaced his remarks by say=
lrg ne had not expected to make more than
passing talk, but he felt that he could NOT
let the occasion go by without telling some
thing OF the children of America over i'm the
orient, Then he said, in part:
l. mas oeen said that a nation in begin
ming war does not know how far from the
pace where the first blow is struck the
troops and forces may be found when the
war closes That was our position at the
tline OF the Spanish v1r. The Philippines
came within ourifod My association with
these Islands has carried me into MANY
places but / did not suppose until last
week that would carry me into a Pres
oytefian pulpit. II your secretary has
manifested as much energy in pushing the
work of the society in the Philippines as
ne dld IN getting me to come here / am
sure he Is succeeding
L feel that 1t is presumptuous for me to
come here But under the guiding wing of
Justice Brewer, from whom have learned
so much jurisprudence and with whose de-
cisions nearly always agree. I am here
L come because Of the intense interest in
the people living 10000 miles AWAY whom
time and chance threw under the guidance
or the American people feel that should
be lacking In duty il I did not tell you
what l can Of this people 1 should not
come here to speak of them II I did not
know the American people are not de-
nomina tional. It has been most gratifying
to find the intense interest everywhere /
have been in the religion Of the Philippines.
and that religion that is most influential
there should be aided to make them bet
ter.
Unique Position.
"The Filipinos occupy unique position
They are Of the Malay race and live In
the orient. They are the only Malay peo-
pie that Christians. That is what
makes the problem 50 much easier for us
than that of England in India We have
100000 Of Christians whose ideals. how
ever dim they may be. are European: whose
ambitions, however vague and sometimes
ignorant. are European.
"Friars of four or five orders have given
them these ideals and these ambitions and
whatever l may lave said against these
friars. / should be lacking In Justice il
did not express the gratitude a world owes
the friars for Outstanding these 1900 eco
of people. The trouble is for the last
century the friars have been SO mixed I'D
in politics that they have become distaste-
full. So the duty of the government has
been to have the church substitute priests
for the friars, and, although the Roman
Catholic Church today will agree with me
that they are not what We should like,
they are much better than the friars
"a great Improvement will take place
when American priests have taken charge