Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-11

His great faith in missions was again
declared by President Taft before, great
audience OF clergy and laity. represent
ing the Protestant denominations Of the
National Capital, assembled at the first
session of the laymens missionary con-
vention held in Continental Memorial
Hal, this morning
In the list of those occupying seats
on the platform were the Rt Rev. Al
fred Harding. Bishop of Washington;
Rev. DIR. Wallace Radcliffe, pastor of the
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church;
James Bryce. British ambassador to
Washington; Rev. DIR. c. Ernest Smith,
rector of st. Thomas Episcopal Church,
and Commissioner Henry b. F. Macfar-
land.
Clifford Pinchot. chief forester Of the
United States. presided over the session.
In a short address he declared that while
We are looking toward the conservation of
ouT natural resources We should also be
looking toward the conservation of our
spiritual resources.
As he finished his remarks President
Taft appeared on the stage. accompanied
by Col. Spencer Cosby. superintendent of
public buildings and grounds and one Of
the Whhe House aids, in dress uniform.
As the President took the center of the
platform he was accorded a round of ap-
plause which lasted for over minu e.
1t seemed 10 gain additional vehemence
when he grasped the hand first of Mr..
Plnchot and then Of Commissioner Mac
iarland.
President Praises Friars' Worh.
During his address he spoke at some
length on the work of the friars I'm the
Philippines and declared that the efforts
of the Augustinans were praiseworthy
The Philippine Islands themselves" he
said, ARE an example of what ancient
foreign missions could do. They are the
only people. the only race In the orient
that are Christians. and they were made
80 3tO years ago by the earnest effort
OF Augustinian and Franciscan friars
They led them on, taught them the agri-
cultural arts and induced them TO lead a
peaceful and religious life.
They did not believe in too much edu-
cation. and they did not believe In bring
ing them into close union with the E,u-
ropean nations. They thought there was
a good deal that they might learn there
that would hurt them. and they preferred
10 keep them-l do not mean all OF them
but all but a selected few-in a state of
tutelase-ChTistian peoples
But that which they wrought has been
10 our Sreat advantage in working out
the problem that we are set to there
The problem Of teaching them self-goyern-
ment They are Christian people and
they look 70 Europe and America for
their ideals, and they recognize tbose
ideals. And that makes il possible to in
lhsl4 In them the principles OF civil lib
erty and the freedom OF our institutions
Our Work Of Benefit.
Now there came about I'm the islands
what Is perfectly natural-what the
prevalence of one denomination led to.
and the division between the Spanish
and the native priesthood led to. and n
good deal OF decentralization i'm rho
church led to its taking on n very
strong political character.
THE condition has greatly improved
since We went in there I'm that regard
because. OF course, we carried with us
entire freedom OF religion. And that
has led To the sending in of mission
aries of other than the Roman Catho-
lie denomination and has brought about
n spirit OF emulation and competition
that makes for the good of the entire
islands and for all the churches
But the operation of the foreign
missions there, the effect upon the peo-
PIE. the influence which the church ex-
erts and which IL constantly tries to
exert, and without which the govern
ment could carry on few of it's reforms,
all impress themselves upon a man
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