p. 12 | In the Philippines by R. A. Caldwell

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 3, 1909

In the Philippines.

By R. A. Caldwell

DARKNESS that is gross, we are told by the prophet of old, is to cover the inhabitants of earth in the closing days of its history. This is often seen in the individual in civilized lands where depraved men yield to the lusts of the natural heart. They permit the god of this world to blind them by turning from the light of God's word, and to harden their heart by turning a deaf ear to the faithful messages which our Lord gives them.

Many times in heathen lands this is more a matter of circumstances than of choice. Men are blinded by superstition of the basest sort, and handicapped by a low mental capacity. Sometimes the natives in heathen lands have been taught the mere semblance of Christianity. They have been moved by outward forms and have been led to grasp these outward forms as tho the sum and substance of religion dwelt in them. For instance, in the recent scourge of cholera in the Philippines, many natives, in hope of escaping from the disease, adorned the entrance to their oftentimes unsanitary homes with a small wooden image. Some of them are professed Christians, and yet they are entirely ignorant of Christianity.

For over three centuries Roman Catholics have been teaching many of them, and six hundred places of worship have been erected, of good solid material—mute and cold witness to their past efforts. Still it must be admitted that the exhibition of the Christlike graces and virtues which should be the fruit of the faithful minister of the word, is not witnessed.

These might have been different if the great purpose of the preaching and teaching had been to install a love for the word of God in its purity. They could then have looked beyond the outward forms and have grasped the very life of God. For instance, one young man, not by any means of the lowest class, of about sixteen years of age, when personally questioned concerning the Bible, in return inquired as to what the Bible was. He was entirely ignorant of the great Book of books, and yet he seems to have been connected with the church and is present at the numerous church shows.

While the Bible has been in a way prohibited, yet literature of a very degrading type was given a free hand. In the providence of the Ruler of all, a different order of things is now in operation. Fifteen of the two score dialects have portions of the Bible, some the Bible complete, already translated, and these translations are being circulated at a very moderate cost by societies, headquarters of which are in England and America. These Bible societies are noble institutions, worthy of the support of the home lands.

There is a great work for us as a people, and we must follow these messengers of light and truth. We are using clubs of American papers; we must also use every other means by which we can reach the greatest number. It will take more than we have at present to reach the population of eight millions. It is a costly undertaking to provide literature for them in the various dialects, but this is our responsibility in the present situation. Who will come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty? Think of it, every letter in your Bible represents at least two Filipinos, ignorant of salvation as contained in God's word. It may be truly said that the field is white already to harvest, and as one writer expressed it with reference to the Philippines, "dead ripe." Are you a reaper? "Help us" is their cry.

R. A. CALDWELL.