The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-17
IN FROZEN NORTH
Missionaries Alone Standing Between Alaskans and
Riffraff That Constitute Camp Followers.
What is Being Done in Tropics

I a. -
THE missionary interests were again
considered by the General Convention
In joint session In st. paul's Churcl,
yesterday afternoon, the general sub.
! jcct being tho churchs work In the
Arctic and In the tropics. Represents
.I,tlves were present from Alaska. Porto
Rico and Honolulu. The topics treated
covered a wide range, and proved OF
| intense interest, both to the convention
and to n large gallery of visitors The
| courteses OF the floor were extended to
the members OF the Woman's Auxiliary.
After devotional exercises, led by the
presiding bishop, an address was made
| by the Very Rev. Hudson Stuck, %. d.,
Arcltdcacon OF Alaska. Arcideacon
Stuck was introduced as the representa-
tive OF Bishop Rowe at this conven-
ten. and told OF the work In that vast
territory. covering 100000 square miles.
Wealth OF Alnslen.
The speaker divided the country into
three sections-geographica climat-
ically and economically--and took up
the three divisions describing In detail
the location OF American church mis-
stons and the present missionary condi-
tions in each section.
Mineral resources and the future
DEVELOPMENT Of the country were con-
sidered. The wealth of gold, copper
and coal. as we'll az the coast fisheries.
assure the future OF this great area.
In which the American Church has no
rivalry and no competition IN It's mis-
sionary work. The Yukon River. with
its 1900 miles OF navigable water, was
described as the key to the situation.
ana nlea was made for q mission
steamer to navigate this river and its
tributaries.
1t Is sometimes said that in compar-
ison with the millions OF China. the
work in sparcc Alaska is OF no I'M
portance. declared the archdeacon. out
these white men Of Alaska are your
sons and your brothers. When l tnlnK
of tho depredations that nave p sea
committed on these poor natives anu
realize that our missionaries are the
only men who stand between them and
the riffraff that constitute the camp
followers OF the great army OF miners.
] realize the Importance. OF our work
in Alaska IT Is an extensive. an enor-
nous field, and a poorly equipped fleld,
and one that calls for men IN every
sense OF that word"
In the Tropics.
The presiding bishop introduced the
Rt. Rev. James H. Van Buren,. D. d..
Bishop OF Porto Rico, who changed
the attention OF the audience from
the far frozen North to the tropical
South. Bishop Van Buren, made
emilpatriotic and historical address.
saying: I'VE are now bringing 10
Porto Rico the two best things IN
the world. the things for which our
flag stands, and for which our church
stands. I'VE are giving them civil
and religious liberty he continued.
.and when the prayer book follows
the flag, possession of the island Will
prove blessing rather than curse
49, ytN<xt
The Bishop OF Porto Rico explained
the difficulties OF the work. especially
in regard to the use of the Spanish
language. telling how hard 1t was to
explain to the natives in detail the
explain to the natives in detail the
differences between the American and
the Roman Church. owing to the pc
culiarities OF Spanish idiom and the
Ignorance of the people. The bishop
told of the need for further educa-
tional facilities in the island. and Of
Tie need for hospitals.
1.-THE work OF the Presbyterians and
OF the Army and Navy Hospitals are a
liberal example OF what can be done
in this land. he said. Enthusiasm
should be harnessed Test 1t run away
with us. II wa could have our en-
thusiasm hnrnessed to our pocket
books, the work in our mission fields
would move along with greater ceier-
lily. The Methodists have 100 preach
ing places in Porto Rico to our eight.
and the Presbyterians are doing even
more. / honor them for 1t and value
their work. We are brothers and sis
tiers under common flag. but look
for the day when the church W.. see
Its opportunity in this American pos
session, and take advantage OF y. He
who has just spoken goes back to-
Alaska. ] go to the tropics at the
close OF this convention. In both
places we will spread the praise of the
hospitality of Richmond. and carry to
our people from this convention the
assurance that we will bring to them
the best gifts that our flag and our
Prayer Book have brought to u.s.
In Sandwich Islands.
After the singing of the missionary
hymn OF. the church. Publish Glad
Tidings." the Rt. Rev. Henry b. Res
tarick D. D.. Bishop of Honolulu. was
introduced. Bishop Restarick opened
with an historical statement OF church
work In the Sandwich Islands. telling
OF the part taken in the abolition OF
idolatory by some shipwrecked ma
riners who were churchmen. SO that in
1920, when missionaries arrived there
idols had been burnt and their service
abolished.
In 1862 the islands We're nominally
Christian territory" he said. Since
that time they have become heathen-
lied again by the introduction Of
Chinese, Japanese and Koseans. as
we'll as Mexicans and Porto Ricans.
1.-THE islands are territory Of the
United States. with a Legislature OF
their own and REPRESENTATIVE in Con-
gress. They are regarded as q neces-
sity for military purposes and by
some are said to DO the most import
ant acquisition since the Louisiana
lPurchase."
Bishop Restarick then told of the
\ educational work in the islands, and