Manila, Luzon Island – Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo
Forenoon cloudy, afternoon, dust storm, followed by thunder & a heavy shower. After the latter weather cool & comfortable. Wrote & copied a letter in the forenoon to Private H.B. Nevin, H. Battery, 3d Heavy Artillery, Malolos rephoto films. English Drug store have name on sale.
Studied maps. Rev. Owens again approached me with offer to sell some of his household furnishings for $30 Mex.
Took Jolo street car down to the post office & mailed the abovementioned letter & inquired for mail. Rec’d none.
Requested Peter Weigner the Norwegian sailor to ask Bro. Geo Turner to call & see me at noon repurchasing food for the seven sailors – 4 of whom are staying with me in No. 2.
Down on the Escolta a private soldier stopped me. He belongs to the 13th U.s. Infantry (last arrived of the regts) and said the command is under marching order for the front. Brought the all-important matter of salvation to his attention. Replied yes he may need it pretty soon.
Another man met me & remarked that the 2d Oregon vols. instead of going home by the next steamer, have been issue several days (10) rations & will start this evening for Paranaque. A battle is impending down there – about 6 miles south of Manila’s city limits. After all the fighting on the north line & over on the Laguna de Bay, the Filipinos are still strongly intrenched within easy striking distance of the Philippine capital.
Returned home after purchasing some sugar & peanuts.
Private Devine called & passed several hours in my parlor. He needs rest for mind and body.
Bro. Geo Turner of the Ecclesia Mission, dropped in about 2 p.m. the sweat standing on his face in great drops.
He is not strong. Dysentery pulled him down to a shadow of his former self. Turner agreed to purchase supplies for me at the U.S. Commissary. He is provided with a permit to do so. I gave him a $10 greenback bill & authorized him to purchase; 3, 8 lb. boxes of crackers; 1 ham; 4 lbs sugar and 1 can ground coffee for the sailors; also 3 bottles of lime juice for myself.
Bro. T. passed word on to me that Bro. N. H. Harriman, leader of the Ecclesia movement in Washington D.C., wished me to write him a letter giving my opinion of this country & the missionary outlook. Address: “Ecclesia Voice”, Tacoma, Wash. Before Bro. T. withdrew, himself, the writer and Bro. Devine (Landrum) prayed together.
The Filipinos (children & women principally & some men) collected in my back yard again after dark & had another installment of the Corpus Christi ceremony similar to that of last evening. Another & large procession of natives with candles & music marched down our street this p.m.
Rev. Owens told me today that he is having a $20 gold spectacle frame made for himself. Afterwards paid only $10.
Write up this morning early & read a chapter in Numbers and a psalm. Prayed & cooked breakfast, fried bacon, oatmeal mush & chockolate.
Read an article or two in St. Louis, Central Christian Advocate (Methodist).
Instructed Peter Weigner to go to Turner & bring with the assistance of the 2 Swedish sailors, the purchases made at the U.S. Commissary tomorrow for them.
Spoke again (the 2d or 3d time) to August Hagerlund, the sailor, about Christ & the importance of immediately going to Him for pardon of sin.
Wrote & copied a letter about 9 p.m. to N. H. Harriman regarding the Philippines & the outlook for missionary work: i.e. (1) Needs missionaries (2) latter should not come until after the present war (3) should be foreigners & not Americans to avoid hatred & bitterness caused by the war, (4) Soldiers & sailors should be dealt with now (5) will be difficult because of diverse races & languages (6) can be over come – the difficulties – thro’ God-given power.
The 4 sailors have received their permit to go aboard the transport U.S. “Hancock”. Expect to sail Sunday or Monday next. They are rejoicing at the prospect. Mc [Taggert] is now ailing, gets a touch of ague every third day.
This evening following sunset thought I heard the sound of cannonading down towards Paranaque.
The 2d Oregon troops must feel very bad, because their high hopes of going home soon, fare upset by going to battle.