ur* 
 
 COOPERATION 
 IN CUBA 
 
 ISSUED BY 
 
 The Committee on Cuba Survey 
 OF THE 
 
 Committee on Cooperation 
 in Latin America 
 
 25 Madison Avenue 
 New York City 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2017 with funding from 
 Columbia University Libraries 
 
 https://archive.org/details/cooperationincubOOcomi 
 
Cooperation in Cuba 
 
 The Committee Meeting 
 
 The Committee of Conference in 
 Cuba held its third annual session in 
 Havana, x\pril 2-3, 1918. The Commit- 
 tee was organized by the Regional Con- 
 ference immediately following the Pan- 
 ama Congress of February, 1916. 
 
 Two of the denominations supporting 
 missions in Cuba do not officially co- 
 operate but the head of one of the mis- 
 sions accepts co-opted membership, it 
 being understood that he does not thus 
 misrepresent or commit against its judg- 
 ment his Board or his denomination 
 which decline officially to cooperate. 
 
 Merger of Missions 
 
 It will doubtless be agreed that the 
 most noteworthy recent event in Cuban 
 missionary history is the merger of the 
 three missions supported heretofore by 
 the Disciples, Presbyterian U. S. and 
 Presbyterian U. S. A. There remain 
 some details of administration to be ad- 
 justed. It is even possible that the 
 merger will not be as complete as was 
 for a time anticipated, but whatever may 
 be decisions as to the avenue of sup- 
 port the workers formerly organized in 
 separate missions will henceforth oper- 
 ate as one force. 
 
 
Executive Secretary 
 
 All the members of the Committee 
 were deeply impressed with the value 
 of the work done during the past year 
 by the Rev. Sylvester Jones^ the Exec- 
 utive Secretary. A year ago, at the 
 urgent request of the Committee, his 
 Board, that of the Friends, allocated 
 him for this general service, with fine 
 Christian liberality, continuing and en- 
 larging his salary. He has during the 
 year carried some responsibility as the 
 head of the Friends’ organization on the 
 island but has changed his residence 
 to Havana and devoted himself largely 
 to the cooperative movement. During 
 this period he has informed himself of 
 the work throughout the island, has 
 visited the annual meetings of the vari- 
 ous missions, and has started several 
 cooperative enterprises of distinct 
 value. A literature depository has been 
 established in Havana and is in the 
 charge of the Executive Secretary. Op- 
 portunities for display are not those 
 finally to be desired, and it is hoped 
 that action taken at the meeting in April 
 will enable the Committee to establish 
 a creditable salesroom in a convenient 
 center in Havana and keep an agent 
 employed for sales, and for correspond- 
 ence with missions and all others inter- 
 ested in evangelical ideals and work. 
 
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Schools and Training of Leaders 
 
 Never were the missions more deeply 
 and universally impressed with the need 
 of education. All share in the general 
 conviction that each church in a recog- 
 nized center of population should have 
 associated with it a good school. The 
 public facilities of education in Cuba 
 are seriously inedequate, in quantity 
 especially, and at many points also in 
 quality. It cannot be said that the mis- 
 sions have adopted an island-wide edu- 
 cational policy, but the impetus being 
 given the mission school work amounts 
 to a general movement. 
 
 Besides the parish schools several 
 educational centers are being magnified, 
 including the Methodist College in the 
 suburbs of Havana which enjoys the 
 best plant on the Island, the flourish- 
 ing institution at Cardenas supported 
 by the Presbyterians U. S. which has 
 the largest enrollment of any mission 
 school on the Island, the central school 
 of the Friends at Holguin which has 
 been recently incorporated with the pub- 
 lic Institute, and the boarding school 
 maintained by the Northern Baptists 
 at El Cristo. Several other important 
 education centers are also developing. 
 
 The question of ministerial training 
 was one of the first considered by the 
 cooperative force. It was hoped by 
 many that a union theological seminary 
 might result from protracted study of 
 
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this problem. The peculiar geograph- 
 ical formation of the island, the isola- 
 ion of one part from another, the diffi- 
 culties of travel, joined with other seri- 
 ous obstacles, have hindered carrying 
 out that policy, and have convinced 
 many of the workers that a union train- 
 ing school for Cuba is not feasible. 
 The cooperative forces will doubtless 
 soon be training leaders at two or more 
 points for increasingly efficient service: 
 The results of several years’ effort by 
 the Baptists at El Cristo are already 
 showing gratifying results in a resource- 
 ful and increasingly numerous native 
 ministry for the churches of that mis-* 
 sion. 
 
 There was discussion at the Commit- 
 tee meeting of a plan to establish a non- 
 denominational but definitely Christian 
 institution near Havana, designed to 
 serve all the missions but operated un- 
 der an independent board of trustees. 
 Since the meeting in Havana in April 
 there has been a conference of leaders 
 in New York in pursuance of this plan. 
 Further meetings are scheduled when 
 it is hoped the proposal will take defi- 
 nite form. 
 
 Field Studies 
 
 Since the first meeting of the Com- 
 mittee field studies have been conducted 
 in Cuba with a view to assembling the 
 outstanding religious, social and eco- 
 nomic facts which might guide in the 
 
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development of further mission policy. 
 This movement was supported through 
 the interest of friends in the United 
 States. A field agent visited the Island, 
 collected a large fund of information, 
 and the results have been laid before 
 the Committee. It is believed that no 
 service will be rendered the cause by the 
 official publication of the results in this 
 survey, but the studies have had a guid- 
 ing influence in the development of co- 
 operative plans. 
 
 Evangelism and Social Service 
 
 The proposal for an island-wide evan- 
 gelistic campaign was renewed at the 
 meeting in April and the plan assumed 
 more definite form. This plan would 
 have been carried out at least limitedly 
 if the attempted revolution of the spring 
 and summer of 1917 had not interfered. 
 It is hoped that the plan can be car- 
 ried out during the coming fall or win- 
 ter when the cooperation of a strong 
 evangelistic leader can be secured from 
 some neighboring Latin mission field. 
 This plan was proposed as the first step 
 towards the interchange of workers for 
 temporary service between Latin-Amer- 
 ican fields. 
 
 For some tinxe there has been consid- 
 eration of lectureships in Cuba when 
 an eminent evangelical speaker might 
 be introduced to thoughtful audiences 
 in various parts of the island for the 
 interpretation of evangelical ideals and 
 
 7 
 
their implications in the social order. 
 It is considered feasible to seek the 
 services of evangelical leaders from the 
 United States even though they can- 
 not speak the Spanish language. Both 
 in the United States and in South and 
 Central America there are emerging 
 leaders familiar with the Spanish lan- 
 guage who might also contribute to 
 such a course. 
 
 Interest was expressed in a temper- 
 ance and anti-gambling campaign and 
 plans were laid for concentrating the 
 efforts of the evangelical churches on 
 such a movement at an early date. 
 
 Periodical Publication 
 
 Naturally the attention of the work- 
 ers has been turned to the need of a 
 joint evangelical periodical. The re- 
 markable success of such a movement 
 in Porto Rico has been a guide to the 
 thoughts of workers not alone in Cuba 
 but elsewhere in Latin America. In 
 Porto Rico eight denominations unite 
 in supporting the superior publication, 
 *‘Porto Rico Evangelico/’ whose circu- 
 lation is the largest of any periodical 
 on the Island and whose powerful in- 
 fluence was indicated by the successful 
 prohibition campaign which this peri- 
 odical led. 
 
 Provision has not yet been made in 
 Cuba for a joint publication but the 
 plans have so far progressed that only 
 the lack of funds holds back the enter- 
 
 8 
 
prise. In the meantime the Methodists 
 and Baptists are issuing denominational 
 organs. 
 
 Sunday School Cooperation 
 
 The Executive Secretary of the Cuba 
 Conference Committee is also the Sec- 
 retary of the Cuba National Sunday 
 School Association. This Association 
 furnishes the medium for the most ex- 
 tensive cooperative effect wihch has yet 
 been realized. The Conference Com- 
 mittee expressed its desire that its Exec- 
 utive Secretary should devote a portion 
 of his time to executive work in connec- 
 tion with the Sunday School Associa- 
 tion and requested the Cuba Associa- 
 tion to join in asking their International 
 Sunday School Association in the United 
 States to furnish a portion of the salary 
 so that the executive office jointly sup- 
 ported might jointly serve these causes. 
 
 Cuba’s Missionary Claims 
 
 Representations were also made to 
 the supporting Boards in the hope that 
 a period might be designated for a 
 Cuba campaign among the churches in 
 the United States. It is hoped that in 
 preparation for such a campaign bud- 
 gets of advance may be formally 
 adopted, special literature prepared, 
 mission study classes supplied with a 
 new text-book on Cuba, and specially 
 equipped speakers be itinerated among 
 the churches. Cuba is important enough 
 
 9 
 
to call for such a concerted appeal. 
 The evangelieal forces in the United 
 States should be made to realize what 
 a unique and weighty responsibility 
 they carry for the evangelization of 
 Cuba. 
 
 The workers in Cuba are profoundly 
 impressed with the importance of their 
 held of missionary work. Unique op- 
 portunities to inhuence Latin America 
 appear in Cuba. The ground has been 
 covered by missionary organizations as 
 have few mission helds, and this pre- 
 Bminary work having been done the 
 demand for intensiheation and larger 
 efficiency in program is made the more 
 manifest. Here are tests of missionary 
 statesmanship which none can afford to 
 neglect. Cuban-American relations are 
 growing more close every year^ and 
 American civilization falls far short of 
 its responsibility when it fails to pre- 
 sent evangelical ideals at their best and 
 strongest to a people whose civilization 
 is consciously and unconsciously being 
 molded by American relationships. 
 
 10 
 
Program of Work Adopted by the 
 Committee of Conference in Cuba 
 at the Meeting Held in Havana 
 April 2 and 3, 1918. 
 
 Testaments for Soldiers 
 
 Resolved, that an effort be made to pre- 
 sent a New Testament to every Cuban sol- 
 dier and sailor who desires one, and we 
 refer this resolution for execution to the 
 new Committee on Evangelism in coopera- 
 tion with the Executive Secretary. 
 
 Temperance Campaign 
 
 Resolved, that we approve of a campaign 
 in favor of temperance and anti-gambling, 
 and pledge ourselves to help the churches 
 in any way possible in concerted efforts for 
 the diminishing of vice and temptations to 
 vice, and the Executive Secretary is asked 
 to inaugurate measures designed to carry 
 out this proposal. 
 
 Interdenominational Paper 
 
 Resolved, that this committee recognizes 
 the need of an interdenominational paper, 
 and that the matter be placed in the hands 
 of the Executive Committee to be realized 
 if practicable this year, or if not, to make 
 preliminary arrangements for its realiza- 
 tion next year. 
 
 Simultaneous Campaign in States 
 
 Resolved, that it is the desire of this com- 
 mittee that there should be arranged a 
 simultaneous campaign in the United States 
 during the fall of 1919, with the object of 
 creating an interest among the churches 
 
 11 
 
and others there in helping to solve the 
 religious and moral problems in Cuba. 
 
 Evangelism 
 
 Resolved, that it is the mind of this Com- 
 mittee that the Christian people of Cuba 
 should give much time, thought and prayer 
 for a religious revival throughout the island. 
 It is desirable that an evangelistic team be 
 secured which would be able adequately to 
 manage the preparation for, and conduct 
 of evangelistic campaigns. We look with 
 favor on some plan of reciprocal exchange 
 of men specially fitted for such work, with 
 other fields such as Porto Rico and Mexico. 
 Also we look with favor on such union 
 efiPorts in ministering to the inmates of the 
 hospitals and jails as now practiced in 
 Matanzas. We recommend that this kind 
 of service be extended as opportunity of- 
 fers. 
 
 Collaboration with Nat. S. S. Association 
 
 Whereas, the Executive Secretary of this 
 Committee has been giving, without com- 
 pensation, a considerable portion of his time 
 to the work as General Secretary of the 
 National Sunday School Association and, 
 whereas, some indications have come to this 
 Committee that the International Sunday 
 School Asociation in its work of supporting 
 the General Secretary, Resolved, that if 
 satisfactory arrangements can be made as 
 to salary, etc., this Committee vdll be glad 
 to cooperate in the matter, and this Com- 
 mittee appoints the Rev. D. A. Wilson as 
 its agent in carrying out this resolution. 
 
 Summer Institute 
 
 Resolved, that this Committee heartily 
 commends the idea of an Interdenomina- 
 tional Summer Institute for workers de- 
 siring to cooperate in that way and the 
 Executive Committee through the Executive 
 
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Secretary is authorized to give such help 
 as may be desired and possible. 
 
 Training for Ministers 
 
 Resolved, that the plan suggested last 
 year to associate the proposed Union Train- 
 ing School for ministers with one of the 
 existing schools be reaffirmed, and that Rev. 
 S. G. Inman, Rev. A. B. Howell, Rev. Syl- 
 vester Jones and Rev. R. L. Wharton be 
 appointed a committee to caU a conference 
 of the agencies concerned and otherwise in- 
 vestigate the situation with a view to pro- 
 posing a practicable plan for cooperation 
 in ministerial training. 
 
 Christmas Offering 
 
 Resolved, that the Executive Committee 
 be authorized to invite all the churches to 
 contribute next Christmas to some un- 
 selfish purpose, preferably one looking to 
 the relief of destitution in some foreign 
 land, caused by the world war, and that the 
 Executive Committee be asked to choose 
 such an object in the light of events as they 
 appear next fall. 
 
 Collaboration with Bible Society 
 
 Resolved, that the request to the Ameri- 
 can Bible Society be renewed that their 
 agency be located with the headquarters of 
 the Committee of Conference in Cuba, and 
 that the Executive Secretary of this Com- 
 mittee be appointed their agent for the Isl- 
 and of Cuba. The Rev. R. L. Wharton is 
 designated to present this request to the 
 Bible Society. 
 
 Campaign for Joint Institutions 
 
 Whereas, the Secretary of the Committee 
 on Cooperation in Latin America has re- 
 quested an expression of opinion as to 
 Cuba’s share in any possible campaign for 
 joint institutions in Latin America, Re- 
 
 13 
 
solved, that a special committee, consist- 
 ing of Bishop H. R. Hulse, Rev. E. A. 
 Od^ell and Rev. Sylvester Jones, confer with 
 the representatives of all the Missions work- 
 ing in the Island and after such confer- 
 ence, make such recommendations to the 
 Committee on Cooperation as seem desir- 
 able 
 
 Union Depository 
 
 Resolved, that authority be given the 
 Executive Committee to organize a commit- 
 tee for the issuance of stock in the Union 
 Depository, of amount sufficient to cover 
 the investment. 
 
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