The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-07-15
ABOUT IGORROTES
Interesting Account of Con- servative Race of Philip
 pine Islands.
AT CHRIsT's CHURCH
Rev. Walter Clark Closes Topic With Appeal for
 More Workers.

At Christ church yesterday morning Rev. Walter c. Clark. who for several years past has been one of the mis- sionaries of the Protestant Episcopal church to the Philippine islands, gave an interesting description of the work of the church in the insular posses sions. He told of the opening of the Episcopalian missions in the islands about six years ago. The natives, he said, about the lowlands were Christian | in mind at least, if not always so in heart and living. The centuries Of Spanish dominion had left the islands in an understanding of the principles of religion and of modern civilization.
 The missionaries had come, he said, in period O. shake-up and disturb ance and 1t was not a time to attempt any great changes. The time Is now approaching when it is hoped that more active work can be undertaken At first, attention was paid mainly to the Americans who were in the islands, both those connected with the military and the civil branches of government service. And they needed taking care of, said he. Most of them had thrown off their religion and church-going when they came to the islands and many had likewise thrown off their re- spectability The nucleus of the churches was the Americans who were brought back to the church.
 The natives were slow to come in, but gradually some were attracted. In Manila club was formed for young men, which, while here it would be looked on as a secondary consideration, was there a great power for good.
 Continuing, he explained how the missionaries had decided to go inland to the country of the Igorrotes, who dwelt high up in the mountains. These people, he described as being the most primitive and conservative of all on the islands and evidently the descendants of an earlier migration from the Malay archipelago. He described them as very tentative of their old traditions, averse to the innovations of civiliza- tion, short but sturdy, strong built race of men. The children beyond the Iage of babyhood are brought up In com munistic style by the village and only the adults and babies live at home, They are not canabalistic race, DOT particularly ferocious, but are given to feads. Their religion is form of spirit worship. They believe that whenever a man dies his spirit becomes a malignant one, lowering about to dc evil unless placated.
 Rev. MT. Clark described how the Igorrotes grow rice, their chief staple of food. The steep mountain sides are beautifully terraced and sown with the rice and despite the steep declivities the terraces are so built that the es. sential of good rice growing, inunda- tion during growth is fulfilled.
 The work has consisted largely oj fncu6ating civilization and Christian. ity into the minds of the boys. The Igorrotes were not visited by the Spanish missionaries and did not have the ground work of the Christian re. ligion found in the other Filipinos Af. ter the work with the young boys the girls are to be brought up to the same ideals.
 Rev. MT. Clark expressed need fol more workers in the big field in thu islands. Too few missionaries are there at present to fill the need and mee the responsibility of the church,
 Rev. Dr. Morgan was absent from the service yesterday, Rev. MT. Bur. gess conducting 1t.