The menace., 1916-01-08

~ ~ aAASA AaNAa AArlN VII o nc
rosau, chanted htAny. scrmons,
prayers and praise, finishing an
DAYS with q farewell 20 the Virgin.
On the twelfth there will b. general
communion. Az 10 o'elock mas.
vill b. aid which i paid for by q
devoiee. Note. Besides the plen-
ary indulgence which will BE- gained
BY visiting the church during the
days Of the noyena, partial indulg-
encc will also b. gained by assisting
al other religious ceremonies during
the novena."
Just rad that! Where does
God. where does Christ come in ?
You could a. well put that an
nounccment on the wall Of a pagan
temple in ancient Rome where fes-
tivals were given in honor Of some
god.
For nine DAYS the whole church
within and without was illuminated
BY electric lights Night and day
Romanists flock in and out Of the
church. They pay their respects 10
the mother Of God who is repre-
sented to human eyes as a gorgeous
" dressed doll.
Around the church were booths
in which games Of chance we're car
ricd on on a big scale. The path
20 the church was lined with beg
gars saying their prayers to attract
the attention Of the devotees who
were going into the church. Men.
women and children were selling
wax candles from two TO ten centa-
yos each. Inside the church YOU
saw the worshippers placing candles
before various statues Of the saints.
Before nearly every image was a
mass boy cXtinguishing the candles.
Great heaps Of cNtinguished candles
were seen in different parts Of the
church.
\ monk was standing in the pull
pit and firing away. Frccmasonry
was a hellish concern. The hereti-
cal Protcstants were leading the
poor people into error. There was
one mother who could help them,
to her oil true Filipino Catholics
should pray. All must gather
around her banner. Then you
would hear a grand tribute TO the
glorious, most religious and highly
educated Spain, whose natural
daughter the Philippines are. The
merciful virgin would protect her
children who stand firm in the
faith. There was another loud vail
of lamentation with the face turned
toward the glittering doll. After
this You would hear a long TRADE
on the duties Of the Roman Cath
olics in following in the procession,
which was TO be an act Of faith on
which God would bestow his special
blessing. There was another long
scream in honor Of the immaculate
virgin. The audience kneeling, the
litany followed. nearly tainted
when | heard all these different
names, Mother Of our Creator. Vir-
gin Of Virgins, Cause Of our Joy,
Mystical Rose, House Of Gold, Gate
of Heaven and so on. Throughout
this performance the so-called most
holy sacrament, that is the wafer
which they say is Christ himself,
was exhibited. Then the choir sings
some songs accompanied by an or
chcstra. The priest marches for
ward from the sacristy followed by
his attendants with candles, incense
and holy water. The holy water he
sprinkled on the congregation.
Then followed the incensing of the
altar and the yelling of the sacra-
ment.
The procession a few days after
wards like everything else was paid
for by some devotees. While the
writer was attending service in a
Christian chapel, the procession
passed by. The wooden dolls and
candles were accompanied by half "a
dozen bands. The procession
stopped in front Of the evangelical
chapel and the bands made as much
noise as possible. 1t is said this
same thing was done in other years.
The true spirit of the Roman church
was here manifested.
The Filipinos, however, are grow
ing weary of this sort of thing.
Many Filipinos are seeking for a
pure scriptural religion minus all
the sophistry, superstition and van
ity Of which they see so much.
Many are finding him whom they
seek. They believe in Christ, and
they love and serve him.