The Manila Institute by C. E. Weaks

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 5, 1916

The Manila Institute

By C. E. Weaks

One of the most interesting institutes that it was ever my privilege to attend was held in Manila, Philippine Islands, during the first ten days of July. About twenty colporteurs from the Tagalog-speaking portion of the island of Luzon were present, besides the native Tagalog evangelists, who have nearly all been colporteurs in the past and are still enthusiastic supporters of this work. The instructors were Pastor L. V. Finster, the superintendent of our work on the islands; Brother W. E. Lanier, the field secretary, and the writer. The meetings were held in the basement of Brother Finster’s house, as we have no regular church building in the city of Manila. With the ceiling only a few inches above our heads, the July tropical heat was not very pleasant, but this did not detract from the interest. We began our meetings at nine o’clock sharp every morning, and continued them until five-thirty in the evening. A cook had been engaged to serve the midday meal right on the premises, so it was possible to get in a full day of hard work.

COLPORTEURS’ INSTITUTE AT MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

Never have I seen a class of colporteurs enter more eagerly into the spirit of this work. Several in attendance were those who had been in the field for some time and had assisted in making the splendid Philippine record of $12,000 for 1915. Some had been in the work but a short time, while others were new in the truth and were going out for their first experience in God’s service. In fact, a number were from the large company of one hundred and seventy that have recently accepted the truth in the city of San Pablo as the result of a seven months’ effort by one of our Filipino evangelists. One of these new converts had been a salesman for the Singer Sewing Machine Company; another is an artist with a studio in the city; another lacked just six months of completing a law course when the truth found him. Thus it will be seen that we are getting

men into this work who are accustomed to meeting men, and from such, when consecrated to God and to this work, we can expect success. From the reports now coming in from those who attended the institute, we believe that the ten days of study were days well spent, and that they will mean much to the advancement of the work in the islands.

For years it was thought by many that our native Filipino brethren would never be able to make a success of the colporteur work. Roman Catholicism still rules in the islands. The idea of native boys going to these people and selling them religious books seemed out of the question. But the colporteur work is ordained of God to act its part in carrying the message to every nation. It is not dependent upon outward conditions and special territories. Today we see the Filipino boys going out with such books as “Thoughts on Daniel,” “The Coming King,” and “The World’s Crisis,” and making records that would not be bad in the homelands. While I was in Manila, this report came in from one young man: “56 hours; value, $141 gold.” While this is the best record made thus far, the one-hundred-dollar mark has been reached several times. Think of this in a Roman Catholic field where the average man earns but from thirty to fifty cents a day!

While the colporteur work is progressing in the Philippines, thus far our efforts have been largely confined to the Tagalog field. Other great districts containing millions of unwarned souls are largely untouched, with the exception of what has been done in Spanish and English. A small work has been started in Cebuan, Panayano, and Ilocano, but it is only a start. Great areas lie undeveloped in these fields. Then there are the other large untouched portions that have not even been reached with our literature. What a fine field it is for an enthusiastic bookman! Here is a work started that is already as large as many of the home fields have. Nearly thirty canvassers are at work. Others will be started in as fast as they can be properly trained. Then there are the great unentered fields awaiting the coming of workers. The only books thus far that have been circulated in the vernaculars are “Thoughts on Daniel,” “The Coming King,” and “The World’s Crisis.” The man who has that field to develop may well consider himself fortunate.

Dr. Carlos Fattebert is working on a health book now. We all know what a wonderful field for a health book lies before us in Catholic lands. While I was there, we talked over the matter of a religious book to follow their present books in the Tagalog field, and we all felt that “Patriarchs and Prophets” in an abridged form would make a good one. These people have great respect for things ancient. Even the Mohammedans have high regard for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Before leaving the islands, it was my privilege to visit some of the churches in Luzon. The work in that island is going forward by leaps and bounds. Nearly three hundred have been baptized thus far this year. That would be a good yearly gain for a conference in the homeland. One hundred and seventy have come out as a result of a single effort by one of our native brethren at San Pablo, a city one hundred miles interior from Manila. It is interesting to note

that this large effort was started by a colporteur who went to the city to sell books. He had not worked long when an interest sprang up. Soon several families were keeping the Sabbath, and an evangelist was sent to follow up the interest. A dozen or more were baptized, and the interest continued to spread until the worker was sent who brought out the large company already mentioned. I was at this place two days, and stayed with the first family that accepted the message through reading the books sold by the colporteur.

Now the evangelist who raised up the large company has gone to other places, while the colporteur who started the work in San Pablo has been put into the ministry and is carrying forward the effort. Prospects are that others will take their stand.

Truly the Lord is blessing the work in the Philippines, and we must hasten on more laborers to gather the fast ripening grain. The present force are working beyond their strength, but how can they hold back with such a large harvest to be gathered? C. E. WEAKS.