A Year's Progress in the Philippines by J. E. FULTON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 20, 1916

A Year's Progress in the Philippines

By J. E. FULTON

J. E. FULTON

A LITTLE more than a year ago the writer, in company with Pastors Daniells, Porter, and Salisbury, visited the Philippines, and we, together with the local workers, laid plans for the work in this interesting field. At that time a printing office and its equipment and a training school seemed essential. Recently it was the writer's privilege to make another brief visit there, and see the progress made.

About five acres of excellent land in a good location near Manila has been purchased at a cost of $6,500, and the printing office, at a cost of $2,000, is practically finished, and is now occupied. This building is seventy-five feet long, and forty-three feet wide at the front end, where the editors' and manager's offices are located, and thirty-three feet wide in rear for the main factory. The building has good side lights and skylights, and is well ventilated.

The head printer's cottage, costing $1,500, is completed, and occupied by Brother R. Wallace and his family, of Australia, who have now been several months in charge of the publishing work. They are getting on well, and enjoy their work.

It is proposed to erect the schoolhouse near the buildings already finished. This is greatly needed, for there are many young people who have accepted the truth, and they ought to be trained.

Considering the urgency of their regular work from day to day, we think our laborers in the Philippines who have superintended these enterprises during the past year have done more than could be expected. The buildings are neat and convenient, and reflect credit on our work.

Other Marks of Progress

During 1915 there were 237 baptized, and Pastor Finster reports about 135 for the first quarter of 1916. The greater number of these are from San Pablo, a town fifty miles from Manila, where one of our native evangelists is having good success, as many as one thousand people attending the meetings.

The book sales during 1915 amounted to $12,300; the books being all printed on a little job press. What God has done through his servants in the book work is certainly encouraging.

Brother Robert Caldwell, our veteran canvasser of the Far East, is back from his furlough in Australia, fresh for his work again. He is having excellent success.

Needs of the Work

With a work so promising and doors opening in all parts of the islands, more help is urgently needed, and can be used to good advantage. Nowhere can more encouraging results be obtained. Does it not seem criminal to leave large islands, with millions of inhabitants groping toward the light, and no one to lead them on the way? With results so encouraging as are obtained in the Philippines, and the urgency of the situation so great, shall not our liberality to the cause of missions be stimulated as never before?