The people of the Philippines, their religious progress and preparation for spiritual leadership in the Far East,

THE IGLESIA FILIPINA INDEPENDIENTE 157
it will be for the Islands. Others believe that the values in
it ought to be conserved, and that a crusade can be launched
for a spiritual and moral regeneration within the church body.
If a sort of inner circle could be established, consisting of those
who were striving for higher standards of character and religion, this inner circle might widen until it would at last save
the entire organization. Unless something of this sort should
happen, the young generation, with its rising ethical standards,
would repudiate the Independent church and it would inevitably perish. It matters not how scientific the theological
views of the church may be, these will not save it unless it
resolves to step up out of its old Spanish moral laxity and
insists upon purer ethical standards for clergy and laity.
Multitudes of Aglipayanos are good Christians, but there are
many others who are living vicious lives with no open word
of protest from their church. Creeds, no matter how excellent, without life, are vain.