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

CHAPTER XXIV

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
Perhaps half of the churches of the Philippines began as
Sunday school classes. Young men and women, sometimes
by request, more often of their own initiative, have started
Sunday school classes in their own homes and then have
called in pastors or missionaries from neighboring towns to
consummate the organization of churches. Students from
mission schools upon returning to their home towns at the
close of the school term have been active in breaking the ice
and building the foundation for future churches. Silliman
students in particular have to their credit new Sunday schools
too numerous to mention. A missionary reports that in West
Pangasinan, out of 250 boys in the high school there were
one hundred enrolled in Bible class.... Pastors report that
through the influence of these returning students, they have
been able to open work in what were formerly impregnable
towns." The work of these unwept, unhonored, and unsung
pioneers is far finer and vaster than can ever be appreciated.
One wishes to pay tribute to them in this general way. Often
they were despised and persecuted by the people among whom
they worked, and the only reward which ever came to them
was the assurance that God understands.
In February I9II Dr. Frank L. Brown visited the Philippines in the interests of the World's Sunday School Association and organized the Philippine Islands Sunday School Union,
in Manila. All Protestant Sunday schools where evangelical
instruction is imparted are ipso facto members of this Union,
and the same is true of missionaries and ministers. Each
Sunday school of fifty members or over is entitled to one
delegate, who, together with pastors, missionaries, Sunday
school superintendents, and honorary and sustaining members,
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