Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-03-25
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic Fer the Wess
Beginning March 20, 1908.
~ REv. 5. II. DOVE.

BY REV. S. Fl. DOYLE
Topic--IIome missions Progress in the
Philippines.-Aatt. xiii, 3-33.
The Scriptural references include the
parallels of the mustard seed and the
heaven. The idea suggested in each is
that from small beginnings the king.
dom of heaven grows and spreads I'M
til it becomes great and powerful. Tie
least of seeds becomes u great tree. a
little leaven leaveneth the entire lump
These parallels are particularly appli-
cable to the Kingdom in the Philip
pines. 1t is great field. and today is
''the day of small things but we are
not to despise 1t for that reason. I'm
der God the small becomes great Even
at the present time great progress has
been made in our Pacific islands edu-
eationally, governmentally and reli-
giously Churches and Sunday schools
in fair numbers have already been es-
tablished Tracts are being distributed
perhaps as In no other place n the
world. The people no longer under
the domination of priest craft are more
willing to hear what Protestants have
to say. But vice and immortality are
widespread Drunkenness has terri
BILE hold upon the people. and the sa-
loon should go. When we consider all
things we may well rejoice over what
God has done already in the Philip
pines. The seed of the word is taking
root, and the leaven of the kingdom is
widely spreading.
The following philippine Notes
from the Presbyterian Christian En-
deavor Manual are interesting and in
structive:
The saloon is the greatest enemy of
progress in the Philippines. as 1t is the
greatest foe to missions everywhere,
Break 1t down at home. and you viii do
the most for missions abroad.
Christian Endeavor came to the Philip
pines in that splendid society on Dewey's
flagship. the Olympia. 1t speedily spread
among the Fflipinos. and II Is destined 10
be an important agent In planting Prot
estant Christianity in those islands.
There are about It's islands in the
shout Il, 600 square n1iles-a glorious new
empire to win for Christ.
The population OF the islands Is about
100000, near.y all Of them Catholics.
though, fortunately. 100000 are indie
pendent Catholics. There are Z7o00o Mo
hammedans, 5000 Buddhists and Confu-
eaanists, go 600 Animists-a complicated
task for the missionaries.
All the largest denominations and sew
4afal Of the smaller ones hastened to the
Philippines at the close OF the war with
Spain and inaugurated q second war
with ignorance, superstitution and bar
bafism
About 1900 converts have been made by
our missionaries In the Philippines. More
than 100 little churches have been built.
each a center of light in much darkness.
The missionaries have distributed more
than 20, 900, 900 pages OF religious literature
through the islands and each page is 6
precious seed that may bring forth glori-
Gus fruit.
The native converts have begun to take
up the work Of evangelizing their breth-
= rem. Seminaries have been established &c
- train the native preachers and schools &c
train the native deaconesses and other
women workers
Nearly 10000 Of the Filiplnos speal
English fairly well. and this Is a greai
help toward the spread of the gospel,
There are employed in Filipino schools
600 American teachers and 6.eo0 Filipino
teachers. Nearly 10000 children attend
these schools-one of the most encourag.
ing signs for the future.
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps. Ii. 1-12: xxxiii. 1920: Dan. xii. 3
Zeph. iii. 1920; Acts /. 8: xiii, 10
Rom. IL, s; (, IA, 10; Rev. I. 40; xxi. II