p. 11 | Philippine Islands by L. V. Finster

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Aug 17, 1911

Philippine Islands

By L. V. Finster

L. V. FINSTER

Our Sabbath-keepers in the Philippines are all in Manila and its vicinity. Our books have reached but a small part of the islands; all the southern islands have not been touched. Panay, Cebu, Negros, Bohol, and some of the others are very densely populated, and are the most wealthy. Many different languages are spoken on these islands.

In Luzon we have some six or eight different languages.

The Lord has blessed the work here during the last year. We have now a church of thirty-seven members, and many others are interested. At present I am holding a Bible school for training evangelists; we hope to send out three or four at the close of this month. The field is more than ripe, but where are the reapers?

Some months ago I was holding an open-air meeting in a Catholic town. During this service a rain came on; and as the people did not wish the meeting to be broken up, they invited me to the billiard-hall and offered me the billiard-table for a pulpit. At the close of the service two men told me that they were going to obey the Lord and keep his commandments. They have stood firm to their convictions, and from this small beginning I had the privilege, a week ago, of baptizing seven dear souls. There are many others interested.

At the suburb of Paco, some four months ago, a native pastor heard of our meeting, and came out of curiosity to hear what awful things we were preaching. The native pastors had heard only what our enemies said about us. Before the meeting he told the people that he could easily show where we were wrong. At the close of the meeting he asked some questions about the Sabbath. I told him that I had been holding meetings there four or five months, but that I had not yet taken up the subject of the Sabbath. He was surprised, as he had thought that was all we preached about. I told him that I would consider the subject the following week, and his questions would be answered. I asked him to be present, and at the appointed time he came, bringing a companion with him. After the meeting he said he had been greatly misinformed concerning that subject, and that he could see plainly that the Sabbath is right and ought to be kept. He then asked that he might have some private studies with me. He first brought one or two friends, but the number soon increased, until we had from twelve to fifteen each afternoon. He bought a copy of “Thoughts on Daniel,” in Tagalog, and read it through twice the first week. He accepted all points of the truth, and then went to his farm in the country. I felt that with his previous experience in gospel work he would make a good worker, so persuaded him to return. He has been in our Bible school the past month, and is one of the number we expect to send out to preach. The above meetings were held at the home of a native pastor of another church; now he and his relatives are firm believers, and he also expects to devote his time to the promulgation of the truth.

Some say that the native people will not stand under trials. This may be true in many cases, as it is at home, but we have met many persons that prove the contrary. One of the boys helping me is an expert typist. Last week one of his friends told him that he had a position on one of the transports. The boy went to see the captain, who gave him tests, and said he would employ him. The young man told him that he would make only one request, and that was that he might have one day each week for Sabbath rest. The captain told him that this could not be given, as all were expected to work seven days a week if needed. He refused the work, which meant to him the losing of a position that would bring him three to four times the wages he had ever before received.

Two weeks ago we held our first service to partake of the Lord’s supper. This was a very interesting meeting, as it was so different to most of our people from the old custom of thinking that they were eating the real body of Christ, and that he was being sacrificed again. It brought tears to many as they realized that Christ was sacrificed once for all, and that they could claim all the merit he brought to the world. Our native brethren have tender hearts, and when they see the truth, they rejoice in it the same as we do.

With all the claims that Rome makes of being the only source of true knowledge and learning, and of being able to instruct nations and kings, yet where she has had full sway, we find the people in the deepest darkness and superstition. One week ago they had what they call Holy Week. During this time all the principal events of the Saviour’s life were acted over again. They have the night rabble taking Jesus, his trial and crucifixion, his burial, etc. A huge black image of Jesus is taken from place to place, and the people scramble to have the privilege of kissing its feet; if not able to do this, they will touch it with their handkerchiefs, which are then supposed to have wonderful power to heal the sick. It makes the heart ache to see the poor people thus bowing down to wood and stone, to images they themselves have made, in the name of Christianity. During this week also the people in certain places whip themselves with ropes and cords until the blood runs from their backs. And why?—O, to atone for their sins! The poor people have never heard the good news that Jesus paid the penalty for sin. The Bible has been forbidden, and thus they grope on in darkness. Messengers for the Lord must herald this truth as given in the Word, that the light may shine in these dark places.