p. 27 | The Philippine Mission

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 16, 1910

The Philippine Mission

THIS mission was transferred from the Australasian Union Conference to the Asiatic Division at the last General Conference. Elder L. V. Finster, our one minister among the eight millions of the Philippine group, has been busy getting out some tracts in the Tagalog, through a good translator, who has accepted the truth. He reports also a five-thousand edition of “Thoughts on Daniel” in the press, in the Tagalog; also some tracts in the Ilocano language. He says:— Most of our time has been spent in this work and in the study of the language. Nevertheless, we have spent some time in cottage meetings and Bible work. We now have a Sabbath-school of twenty-five members, of native people, at Santa Ana. The Lord has greatly blessed Brother R. A. Caldwell in placing about fifteen hundred “Patriarchs and Prophets” in and about Manila, also eight hundred of “Coming King,” all in Spanish. Nearly all of these have gone into the hands of the Filipinos. We are earnestly praying for laborers for other parts of our field. We have tried to put in a little time each day among the people, distributing tracts, papers, and Bible portions. These people are supposed to have been Christians for three hundred years, but only within a few years has it been possible to circulate the Bible among them.

A MORNING TRIP

Accompany me on one of my early morning village trips, before the burning

heat of the day. As we approach a native house, we give the salutation, “Magandang Umaga po” (Good morning). Soon three or four native women and men will appear, with as many children. We ascend the ladder to the door (nearly all native houses are built five to seven feet above the ground, on bamboo poles), and offer for sale some of the Gospels, the price being one cent. After naming the Gospels, we may be asked, “Songs?” “No,” I say, “it is the life of Christ.” “Have you the life of St. Rosario?” they may ask, or name some other of the multitude of saints.

Another may say, “Ah, Protestante! No, we don’t want any.” But generally some younger member will want to buy one of the Gospels, just to see what a dreadful thing it is.

We go to the next house and show the Gospels. “Anong ito?” (What is this?) they ask. As I tell them, it may be that some Tagalog novel or poem will be brought out, to see if it is not the same. All about in their homes are pictures or images of the saints, perhaps with lights burning before them, and dense darkness in the minds of the people. Again, we may meet bright faces, and learn that here is a Protestant home, and they already have the New Testament. Then I show our tracts and pamphlets, as they can appreciate these. The young men and women usually address me in English.