CHAPTER XXVII IN AGUINALDO'S PROVINCE A Sunday Sail in Manila Bay-Greetings from "WOULD you like to spend a Sunday in Cavite Province, attending services near the home of Aguinaldo?" said the Rev. James B. Rodgers one Saturday afternoon. The invitation was gladly accepted, and the two clergymen started out at 6.30 A.M. to catch the boat for Cavite. It rained when we started. It was a Manila rain; not a shower, nor yet a downpour; rather an opening of the clouds, water descending in bucketfuls upon the hapless travelers. In America rain storms, even violent ones, are mild compared with those in the Philippines. Sometimes a native congregation is unable to attend church because the people have no boats and cannot leave their homes on account of the water, which often comes up half way to the living rooms, several feet above the ground. The city is so low that it is impossible for this water to run off at high tide, and in the rainy season one often sees boats used in the streets where an hour before the stones were blistering hot. "Shall we go back?" said Mr. Rodgers, as we reached the boat. you AT SEA IN A BANCA "Do what would do if you were alone." "Then we will go on." 283 The ride across Manila Bay to Cavite occupied about an hour. We were not on one of the smallest steamers, but it was small enough for the sea that was running at the time. One can sit in a chair if he pays for the privilege; otherwise he stands or leans or squats, according to his nationality. The steamer route crosses that part of the bay where the Spanish fleet was sunk, and one or two of the wrecks were still in evidence. One ship had been raised recently and looked sadly in need of a trip to the dry dock. When we reached Cavite, we were still an hour from the place where we were to attend the meeting, and a transfer was made to a banca with a sail. The banca is not built especially for sailing purposes; it resembles a hollow log with one side cut off. In order to prevent overturning in the sea, bamboo outriggers are attached, and with the sail spread we sped across the inner bay. The outrigger not being deemed sufficiently heavy to keep the clergymen afloat, two of the men ran out on it, preventing a catastrophe. In another hour we were at Cavite Yiejo, where we found a congregation of more than two hundred Tagalogs awaiting us. The native preacher, Mr. Estrella, was in charge, but nothing had been done until Mr. Rodgers arrived. A stringed band and the members of the congregation were gathered about the pulpit; the leader of the band was leading the singing. Mr. Rodgers speaks Spanish with fluency and uses Tagalog in conversation, but does not preach in that language. After the devotional services he gave an ad dress in Spanish, which the majority of the congregation understood; then followed a sermon by the native preacher in Tagalog. As Mr. Estrella closed his address he made some reference to America, and the missionary said to me: "He is asking them if they want a greeting from you." As two hundred voices made a response that seemed to be affirmative, and the native preacher bowed to the visitor, he arose and gave them a greeting in the name of the Christian churches of America. The remarks were translated into Spanish by Mr. Rodgers, and translated again into Tagalog by Mr. Estrella. As some of the congregation understood English, and most of them Spanish, and all of them Tagalog, the address was to many of them a thrice-told tale. Following the sermon two marriages were solemnized, without a fee. "Why was one of the men in tears during the service?" Mr. Rodgers was asked. "He was doubtless thinking of his first wife, who has not been dead very long." After the service, candidates for admission to the church were examined by the missionary and the native preacher, and then the congregation went to the home of the bride whose husband did not cry while pledging his troth. Two or three score of people, including the musicians, were present, and as rapidly as possible the tables set in the yard were filled with guests. Everybody was welcome. The supply of rice giving out as the meal was in progress, a fresh kettleful was boiled a few feet away from the table. In variety and amount the dinner would do credit to any wedding breakfast. Several of AN ECONOMICAL CHAPEL 285 the dishes were unfamiliar to one of the visitors, but were greatly enjoyed by the other guests. From these festivities the preachers went to the house of another church member, where places for a siesta had been made. We were ushered into the best room in the house, where the floor was spread with blankets, sheets and pillows, and were bidden to rest until the afternoon service. The invitation was gratefully accepted, and a nap proved a great blessing, as it was after midnight before we reached our beds. At the afternoon service fourteen men and nine women were received into church membership. The communion was conducted by Mr. Rodgers, assisted by the native preacher and the visitor. Then came a ride of several miles to Bacoor. The most prominent building passed on the journey was the home of the Aguinaldo family, where the great agitator was born and where his mother still lives. At Bacoor, on Manila Bay, we found a tasty chapel made of bamboo poles, with a nipa roof. Around the side were bamboo fish weirs in place of walls. The American flag was prominent over the pulpit and in front of the chapel. Tasteful decorations had been prepared, and the sign in front announced a cordial invitation to the service. On either side of the pulpit was a banana tree, apparently growing in the earth, although it may have been placed there for the occasion. As at Cavite, there was no covering for the floor and benches were used instead of chairs. Both chapels were built by the people without aid from the Mission Board, and each congregation is very happy over its work. Two women members of the congregation at Bacoor had walked five or six miles to secure the presence of the band from the Cavite congregation, and several members of the morning audience were also present in the evening. After the ministration of the Lord's Supper, the chapel was dedicated and an earnest address was given by Mr. Rodgers, urging the people to be zealous in their Christian living and not over-zealous toward those who opposed them. The Bacoor people had a trying experience which turned out to their good. The Presidente of the town, on the evening of July 4th, had the entire congregation arrested and about twenty of them thrown into prison after a brief examination. When the attention of Governor Taft was called to the matter by Mr. Rodgers, he ordered the prisoners discharged at once, and sent an attorney to investigate the matter. The Catholic Society immediately came out with resolutions protesting against the arrest of the Protestants and applauding the action of the Governor in securing their release. Manila would not have known that Protestantism had gained a foothold in Bacoor, had it not been for the over-zealous efforts of the Presidente, and Presbyterians throughout the provinces might gratefully recognize his involuntary assistance. Twenty-seven adults were examined and baptized on confession of faith, making, with those received in the morning, fifty members added in a single day to the Presbyterian Church by this devoted missionary and his assistant. As it began to rain at the close of the service, which was two hours in length, another hour was spent in singing, and then at ten o'clock the preachers sought a place to stay during the night. It was two hours before ar |