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

LAYMEN WHO HAVE MET THE TEST 283

superior court, he decided that the plaintiff was the real owner
and ordered the chapel removed within five days. Before
word could be brought from Manila, owing to a typhoon, the
sheriff destroyed the chapel, and confiscated its contents and
materials. Of course the justice of the peace was quickly
removed by the government, but it is yet doubtful if we can
get any damages. After this experience we advised our people
to form a colony and move to a place where they could own
their own homes. They were greatly discouraged and our
appeals to them had little effect until reference was made to
the Israelites leaving Egypt and journeying to Canaan. They
seemed to think the oppression was somewhat parallel, and
even though they might not find a place flowing with honey
and milk, yet they determined to try it.
"Simeon Bias, that man of God, advanced them two hundred pesos, and he gave them one hundred pesos with which
to buy fifteen acres. The land is held by the trustees of the
Methodist Church. The people are to build the chapel and
pay a nominal rent each year to the church to be used for
pastoral support. This is the first Puritan settlement in the
Philippine Islands. Every settler must own his own Bible
and obey the rules of the company, which forbids all forms
of gambling, etc. I cannot help but admire the faith and
zeal of a people who at the call of conscience are driven on
untrodden ways." 7 A score of other migrations of Protestants have resulted from religious oppression.
When Rev. and Mrs. Frederick Jansen opened the Cebu
Station, they found the ancient Spanish priests in almost absolute control. All the owners of large buildings were forbidden
by the friars to rent a hall in which Protestant services
might be held, and the Jansens had to hold their meetings
in the basement of their own house. At one time only three
faithful families survived the constant persecution to which
the congregation was subjected, and these families took refuge
every night in the home of the missionary. Rev. and Mrs.
Jansen fared little better, for they were stoned wherever
they went. Some of the converts found it impossible to buy
'M. E. Report I908.