Evening journal., 1908-03-25
SOME BIBLE HINTS.

grow only in certain climates or soils.
Inc Gospel shows its vitality every
Mhere among every people. One IA
ihlllar with missions has declared that
IN no other mission field is there such
an opportunity to win the leaders of
the people as is now open in the Phil
ippines
Read Matt, 13; 81. There is a time
Tor seed sowing, and there are espec-
iaiiy favorable times for missionary
work IN particular fields. The growing
acuVlty of the Roman Catholics. the
influence toward inhdelity and the alb
sorDlng interest in business and poll
Tics VIII make It harder to do the work
IN the Philippines a few years later.
Read Matt, 10: 80. There is a
growth wherever the word is sown but
1t has often taken years to show re-
suits Among the Philippines the har-
vest has been prompt and encouraging.
Read Matt, 13: 33. The truth makes
It's way through the mass of the peo-
pie frequently in unsuspected wavs.
lsometimes missionaries in the Philip
pines have for the first time heard of
a church when they have been asked
to come and dedicate a building erected
by the people in a town after one Of
their number has come back bringing
the Gospel message that he had heard
in some distant town.
Question Spurs
Where should our missionary zeal
begin, and where should It end? Acts.
IL: 8.
What is the great need Of the Philip
pines? Matt, 4: 16.
What is the effect of mission work
upon people Isa., 61: 1-s.
What do we owe these people we
have undertaken to develop? Rom, 1:
14-16.
What is the present condition Of the
Philippine mission field? John, 4: IS.
A Motto
He who takes his stand by Christ and
views the world Of men from this high
vantage ground shares Christ's vision;
and he who shares Christs vision
shares his work.-Bishop Brent, Of the
Philippines.
Thoughts on the Topic.
There is no part of the United States
In which the churches are growing at
a more rapid rate than in the Philip
pines. Thirty years ago, when Dr.
Kerr, OF the Presbyterian missions Of
Canton, visited Manila, there were two
things he was not allowed to take
'ashore-a Bible and a pistol Twenty
five years later, when the Americans
were in charge of affairs and had a
chance to look about, it was found that
the Bible was practically an unknown
book. There were eight millions of
people, nominally Christian, who were
not allowed 10 read Gods word If
the Scripture in the official language
OF the islands could have been placed
in their hands. only eight per cent.
could have read them. The promise of
religious liberty goes with the domin-
ion of the Stars and Stripes, even if
some other blessings do not.
The missionary forces in the Phil
ippines have been located from the
northern part of Luzon TO Southern
Mindanao, so that little If any energy
is lost which is present in the field II
Is estimated that fifty thousand Fill
pinos come under the influence Of the
Gospel every week
The most striking difference between
the past and the present in the Phil
ippines lies in the fact that the rule
.of the friars Is broken. The Philip
pines were nominally Christianized by
the efforts of thes friars. The rule of
the friar became complete as genera
.tions passed. Governors crossed the
paths Of archbishops at their peril The
friar In the village ruled the village.
III he were good man, as was some
times the case. the village was blessed.
If he We're a bad man, as alasl was
too often the case, the lot Of the people
was a hard one.
But all this is changed, and the
wheels Of Gods new order for the
Philippines viii not turn backward.
Liberty Of conscience is so great
boon that the poorer and more igno-
rant classes find it hard to believe that
they may freely enjoy it. Seven
churches two Bible societies and the
Army and Navy branch Of the Y. NJ.
@. A. are engaged in work there. The
four principal missions are well manned
and seriously graphing with their
work.
Such ripeness for evangelism has
never been seen in any Roman Catholic
field The deep hatred Of the friars,
the natural curiosity 10 hear for them
selves what Professionalism really IS,
and the real hunger for a spiritual life,
combine to make the people eager TO
hear the message. They are restless,
discontented. and ready to listen to
the story Of a satisfying religious life
begotten in the soul by the 6aly
Spirit.
The home life Of the domesticated
native is far better than that Of the
mountain tribes, who manifest little
desire or ability in building up home,
often sheltering themselves under the
rocks or constructing only a mere sun
shade, and where they do build place
OF abode, II is not nearly so elaborate
as that Of their domesticated neigh
bors. The dwellings outside Of the
cities are not so well built, and are
usually located along the roadways.
They are always elevated from to 10
feet above the ground. to provide for
the floods that are sure TO come during
the rainy season, 10 avoid attacks Of
fever. and to furnish an abode for the
proverbial household pony, dog, chick
en- and pig underneath.
While the Filipino Is as a general
thing uncleanly In and around his
home. they take daily baths and are
very careful TO keep their clothing
very we'll washed. The houses are
euiltof a kind Of grass called nipa