6 Z^O'^ 1 CALLS FROM THE FOREIGN FIELD "Ta <2- \^k' • ^’■IJOents arriving at M Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/callsfromforeignOOpres CALLS FROM THE FOREIGN FIELD SILLIMAN INSTITUTE EXTENSION SILLLMAN INSTITUTE A Boys’ School and College of eight hundred (800) Students. This lighthouse is in the town of Dumaguete (pronounced Doom-a-gate- y) on the Island of Negros, Philippine Islands. HISTORY Five thousand (^, 000 ) students have passed through its doors. It is fifteen (i§) years old, having been founded by Dr. Horace B. Sillinian of Cohoes, N. Y., less than three years after American occupation of the Is- lands. Thirteen (ly) students were enrolled in 1901. Seven hundred and eighty-five (785) were in attendance in 1916. Three hundred (300) were turned away for lack of accommodations. WHAT KIND OF BOYS ARE THEY ? Eull-blooded Filipinos (iMalays) Chinese-Filipinos Spanish — Filipinos ( Mestizos) . Full-blooded Chinese. Rich and poor alike, from twenty- eight of the thirty-eight Provinces, min- gle in the School life. The son of Aguinaldo may sit next to the son of the poorest of the ex-Dicta- tor’s ])rivate soldiers. Democracy and broad fellowship are engendered by thus bringing together the various classes of the people. Boys of different tribes, and of varying customs, are brought into one big family and rub shoulder to shoulder in classes and athletics. Silliman Institute is the most widely known, and best regarded educational in- stitution in the PHILIPPINE ISLANDS In 1910 it was recognized and stand- ardized by the Government. It is authorized to confer the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and to give diplo- mas for High School and Intermediate School work. The Bible is taught daily throughout the entire course. INDUSTRIAL DEPARTMENT Courses covering three years are taught in this Department, supplemented by practical work in the shops. BOOKKEEPING AND PRINTING are taught and large amounts of com- mercial work are turned out by the boys, the profits going to help the Institute. Inteiioi of llie Chapel Assembly Hall. Morning tiatherini! CHRISTIAN TRAINING The bed-rock of all the training at Silliman is the Bible, and the main pur- pose is character building. Chapel service is held every morning and the message of Jesus Christ is care- fully and persistently set before the stu- dents. Every efifort is made to show the in- dividual boy the importance of accepting Christ as Saviour and Lord. Christian principles are zvoven into the life and habits of these students. EVANGELISTIC EORCE “Through her students, Silliman Insti- tute is the largest smgle evangelistic force in the Philippine Islands.” Students go out from her doors to their barrios or towns, even to distant Islands, and in their old home places organize groups of people into Christian enquirers and congregations. Many times our missionaries finding such groups and wondering how they were led, have had the answer, “Oh ! don’t you know? One of our boys is a Silli- man Student and he is teaching us !” WORK OF THE STUDENTS AND GRADUATES The boys work as colporteurs during vacation, greatly aiding the work of the missionary. They hold street meetings in the towns, testifying to the power of Christ and persuading their countrymen to ac- cept a living Saviour. A substantial in- gathering has taken place in the great southern Island of Mindanao, largely the result of the work of these boys while at home on vacation. On the north of the Island of Negros a church of 1100 members has grown out of the efforts of Silliman students blessed by the Spirit of God. It is not easy to be loyal to Christ in the face of bitter opposition at home and ostracism at the hands of one’s friends, which these boys not infrecpiently experi- ence. Stiuicnu of Silliman translfliinti the OM Testament Into ('chiian-Visayan DORMITORY BUILDINGS FOR BOYS Ta’o Dormitories for boys are ur- gently needed. Cost of each, $15,000.00 $30,000.00 Equipment for botli 2.000.00 Total Boys’ Dormitories. . .$32,000.00 There are now proper accommodations at the School for only 200 boys, zohereas 4/0 are now living huddled there. externos (hoys living outside) have no proper hoarding places in the town, and are exposed to serious temp- tation. Some hoys have built shacks for them- selves and are trying to attend school under most difficult circumstances, so anxious are they to get a Silliman educa- tion. 6io,ooo School Children in Govern- ment Schools in the Philippines without the Bible or Christian Teaching. The Presbyterian Church is giving to selected students from this multitude a knowledge of the Bible and Christian teaching, which they as future leaders of their people must have if the Philippine Nation is to be rightly led. SCIENCE BUILDING The Faculty have voted that the great- est and most pressing need is a new Science Building to cost $15,000.00 Equipment for Science Build- ing 2,500.00 $17,500.00 There is now no place where classes in physics, chemistry, biology', botany and in kindred courses can carry on ex- periments and have practical classroom drill. These courses are conducted after a fashion, but under entirely unsuitable ana inadequate conditions and surround- ings. Such a building will serve other im- portant purposes and will at once give an impetus to all the scientific training of the Institute, of which the students stand in such need. GIRLS’ DEPARTMENT Three hundred girls from far and near are knocking at Silliman’s doors. They have nowhere else to go for a Christian education. A Girls’ Department can be easily established. NEEDED One Girls’ Dormitory to cost . $22,500.00 Equipment for Girls’ Dormi- tory 2,000.00 $24,500.00 OTHER NEEDS Lighting Plant — for all build- ings 31,000.00 Additional land to enlarge the Campus 5,000.00 A Chapel Building for the School 5,000.00 Six externo Dormitories (for outside students) @ $1,- 000.00 6,000.00 One Cottage 2,5(X).00 A Sewer System 1,500.00 Various Other Needs 5,000.00 A TOTAL OF $100,000.00 An appeal has been made to the Fili- pinos for these funds and they have given or pledged $25,000.00. It is hoped that their total will reach $50,000.00. American Presbyterians are counted on to give the balance, $50,000.00. Shall we turn our backs on this eager young life? They look to us as their friends and helpers. The Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. 156 Fifth Avenue, New York November, 1916. Form No. 2440