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| Balangiga, Samar. Photo of Company C with Valeriano Abanador (back row, sixth from right with folded arms). |
Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 1901.
OFFICIAL LIST OF DEAD.
General Chaffee Sends Names of Those Killed at Balangiga.
MANY MURDERERS SENTENCED.
Horrible Stories of Murder and Rapine in Reports on Court Martial Cases. General Sternberg Says Health of the Army in the Philippines Is Excellent.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 9.—The list of casualties sustained by the ill-fated Company C Ninth infantry, in the massacre on the island of Samar, is given in the following cablegram received at the war department late yesterday:
"Manila, Oct. 8, Adjutant General, Washington:
"Casualties, engagement Balangiga, Samar, Sept. 28. Wounded will be reported as soon as received. Company C, Ninth infantry:
"Killed—Sergeants John F. Martin, Sergeant James L. Godon, James Martin, John W. Aydelotte, Byron Dent, Eli Fitzgerald, Charles E. Sterling, Robert Sproull, John H. Miller, Richard Long, Joseph Turner, Gustav F. Schuytzler, Corporal Frank McCormick, Private Proal Peters, Private Leonard P. Schley, Artificer Joseph R. Marr, Privates Jas. F. McDermott. Charles E. Davis, Harry M. Wood, John Wannebo, Joseph O. Kleinhample, Robert L. Booth, Guy C. Dennis, John D. Armani, Little Armani, George Bony, John D. Buhrer, James L. Cain, Frank Vobayda, Charles Powers.
"Died from, wounds received in action: Corporal Thomas E. Baird, Private Chris F. Recark, Private Floyd J. Shormacker.
"Missing bodies: Musician John L. Covington, Privates Patrick J. Bobbins, Jerry J. Driscoll, Evans South, August F. Porzeng, Christian S. Williams, Claude C. Wingo, also Harry Wright, hospital corps.
"Killed Sept. 1, Basay, Samar, Company G, Ninth infantry: Corporal John L. Weiss, Private Charles C. McManius.
"CHAFFEE."
At the war department it is said that the names of Joseph I. Godon, Gustavo F. Schuytzler and John Wannebo are subject to correction later.
The three officers killed in the fight are not mentioned in yesterday's list, their deaths having been reported in a dispatch sent several days ago.
MURDER AND RAPINE.
Horrible Stories Contained in Records of Philippine Court Martial Cases.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 9.—Horrible stories of murder and rapine are contained in the records of a number of court martial cases in the Philippines, copies of which have reached the war department.
Five natives seized three Filipinos, residents of the town of Pozorrubio, together with an Igerrote harvester. Conveying these captives to an isolated spot they murdered them with bolos and assaulted the women of the families of their victims.
The motive for the deed appeared to have been that the victims had dammed a stream which diverted irrigating waters from the lands of the murderers. All five were sentenced to be hanged.
A native named Biating, with one or more companions, assassinated with daggers Private James T. Burgey, Company C, Twenty-sixth infantry, while the latter was acting as a guard of prisoners hauling water for the garrison stationed at Baratoc Nuevo, Panay. The native was sentenced to death.
With a rock, a rice beater, and a club, one Fustino Ruiz and some of his companions set upon a native named Aacasta, whom they suspected of having aided the American cause and beat him to death. Ruiz was sentenced to be hanged.
Two natives were tried, charged with the murder of Private Eugene R. Lyons, Company K, Fifth infantry, whom they enticed to an isolated place, killed him with bolos and buried him on the spot. They, too, were sentenced to death.
Health of the Army in Philippines.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 9.—Surgeon General Sternberg resumed his duties at the war department yesterday after an absence of several months spent in an inspection of the medical department of the army in the Philippines. In regard to his visit he says:
"I found the health condition very satisfactory. I was very much surprised to find that in the low lands there is comparatively little malaria.
"Typhoid fever is not as prevalent as it is in most parts of the United States and the mortality from that disease in the Philippines has been much less than it was in our camps in the United States during the Spanish-American war. Dysentery is the most serious disease with which we have to contend, pulmonary consumption continues to prevail to some extent in Manila, victims being mostly Chinese or natives. At the time I left Manila only three cases had occurred among our soldiers.
"I found the supply depots loaded with supplies and the hospitals in excellent condition."
PAGE FOUR—BRIEF EDITORIAL.
The almost complete annihilation of Company C of the Ninth infantry in the island of Samar exceeds any similar disaster in the history of our army since the Custer massacre. Lack of vigilance, due to contempt for a hitherto unaggressive enemy, was probably the cause of the disaster. An American company could have withstood an army of Filipinos if ready for an attack. The penalty for this lack of caution has been a heavy one and should teach the soldiers in the Philippines a not to be forgotten lesson. The authorities at Manila will undoubtedly investigate the matter fully, but as the company's officers were all killed fixing the responsibility will be of little consequence.
Homer, N. Y., Congregational Church.
THE HOMER, N. Y., ANNIVERSARY.
Inspiring and Helpful Days for the Congregational Church of That Town.
Congregationalism and Presbyterianism Ably Discussed by Their Respective Advocates—The Concluding Banquet—Strong Addresses and Witty Sayings Around the Social Board—Rev. Dr. Ethan Curtis, Rev. Robert Yost, Rev. G. H. Brigham, Mrs. Amelia Stone Quinton, Rev. F. G. Webster, Rev. Dr. W. A. Robinson, the Speakers—Original Poem by Deacon Coleman Hitchcock—Letter from Ambassador Andrew D. White.
The centennial anniversary exercises of the Homer Congregational church were continued on Monday evening by the reading of a paper entitled "The Indebtedness of the Congregational church of Homer to Presbyterianism." This paper was prepared by the late Rev. Edward W. Hitchcock, D. D., of Homer and was read by the pastor. Mr. Kettle said that a month before Dr. Hitchcock died that gentleman told him that he feared he would not be able to read this paper and asked him to read it for him if such should be the case. Dr. Hitchcock took the paper with him when he left Homer for Saratoga and there revised it and had his oldest son Edward copy it and it was not then completed till the day before he died.
The paper began by a reference to an ancient document which the writer had a few years before found in his grandfather's trunk, from which it appeared that the church which is now the Congregational church was not the first church in Homer, nor the first society. The First Presbyterian society of the Township of Homer was organized on July 24, 1797. This was incorporated and chartered Aug. 20, 1797, and the incorporation papers were recorded in the Onondaga county clerk's office on Aug. 21, 1797. On Sept. 10, 1799, two years afterward, the First Religious society of Homer, the forerunner of the Congregational church was organized, and two of its three first trustees were of the charter members of the Presbyterian church. They had waived their denominational preferences to join in an undenominational society. To what denomination should this new church attach itself? One was for Presbyterianism, one was for Congregationalism, one was for examination, one was against it. Finally Dorothy Hobart, an elect lady, reported one morning that she had lain awake all the previous night thinking about it and that God had revealed to her the solution of the matter. Let it be a Congregational Calvinistic church, she said, and let all who will join it—Congregational in government and Calvinistic in doctrine. That sentiment prevailed. The Presbyterians who had formed the original church joined in this movement and by yielding set the example in Christian courtesy, in Christian brotherhood and in Christian co-operation.
But the indebtedness is not limited to this for the first sermon preached in Homer was in 1796 by Rev. Asa Hilliard, D. D., a Presbyterian missionary from the old presbytery of New Jersey. In 1804 the church was attached to the Middle association of Congregational churches. In 1811 it was merged into and taken under the oversight of the presbytery of Albany, later of the presbytery of Cayuga and still later of the presbytery of Cortland. For fifty-seven years this Congregational church was under the care of a presbytery.
The first great crisis in the history of the church came in 1820 during the pastorate of Rev. Elnathan Walker. Certain members became disaffected and preferred charges against the pastor. Dr. Lansing, founder of Auburn Theological seminary, was one of the council. Mr. Walker objected to the council and said the proceedings were altogether irregular and that he could only be tried by presbytery. A controversy was imminent and the church would be split up and ruined, for feeling both ways was very strong. Dr. Lansing, that strong Presbyterian, arose and said "Well, brethren, if we can do nothing as an ecclesiastical council, we at least have something to do as Christian brothers to save this church." At that he appealed to the others for mutual confession and for mutual forgiveness. The meeting lasted on and on. People outside wondered what was going on within. One after another was sent in to find out and asked to come out and report, but they did not come back. Finally the little room was crowded. It was a prayerful assemblage, and a tearful gathering. All hearts were softened. The charges were withdrawn. The church was knit closer together and a tremendous revival followed, in the course of which many souls were added to the church. In June of that year the pastor died. Thus the arresting power of the representatives of presbytery stopped the wrong course of action and saved the church.
The church owes another debt of gratitude to Presbyterianism because of the presbyterial [sic] oversight of the children of the church. We have a record of a circular letter addressed to the presbytery of Onondaga framed at its meeting at Homer and dated Dec. 31, 1812. This letter is based on the concept that all the baptized children of believers should be considered as of the church; that the children should be reminded of their birthright and kept track of. Certain rules for the instruction of children by this presbyterial oversight of the training of the children suggests a reason why the children of the early days were better trained than they are now.
In closing Dr. Hitchcock referred to his personal debt of gratitude to this Homer church. At this point Mr. Kettle who was reading the paper reminded his hearers of who had written these sentences, and that they were the last words to the church of one whom its members had loved and honored; that they thus constituted a parting benediction from one who had in turn loved them, but who had gone to join the heavenly throng assembled around the great white throne. There was scarcely a dry eye in the audience as Mr. Kettle continued his reading. Dr. Hitchcock said he was born in the church of an ancestry of three generations brought up within its fold; that he had been guided by the church and been aided by it through his college and seminary course; that he had always been welcomed and honored by it upon his every return to the town and that he had been the recipient of its affection and sympathy. And, said he, when affection and sympathy were most prized I gladly and gratefully bring to you on this anniversary day my heart-felt tribute of gratitude and affection. May the prosperity and usefulness of the church increase with you. May its consecrated workers be multiplied, and when our work day is ended may we all meet on the other side and enter into our rest and reward.
REV. W. A. ROBINSON, D. D.
The last speaker of the evening was Rev. W. A. Robinson, D. D., of Middletown, N. Y., for twenty-one years a pastor of this church. His theme was "The Indebtedness of Presbyterianism to Congregationalism," the converse of the preceding paper. Dr. Robinson began by referring to the claim in the previous paper that the children had been taken under the care of presbytery. He said that both Presbyterian and Congregational churches were under the care of presbytery from 1811 to 1868 as members of the old Middle association and were treated alike and that the training of children was a Christian idea not a Presbyterian one. In 1868 the Central association of Congregational churches was formed and the Homer church was a member of this association. It was just after this church had been taken from its affiliation with its Presbyterian associates that I came to Homer. There was considerable feeling in the church over the change and it was my task to heal this all up.
Churches needed first to be planted in this section in the early days and the youth needed to be fed. Most of the settlers came from Congregational ancestry in New England, were sons and daughters of New England Congregationalists. They came here to settle on the military tract. The missionary spirit of the Congregational churches of New England was, as it is today, for vital godliness. This spirit was implanted in the Presbyterian churches of New York, and this is one gift of Congregationalism to Presbyterianism. The fraternal breadth of the people is illustrated in the association of Presbyterians, and Congregationalists for so many years in the Middle association. This loyalty of the Congregational settlers from New England to the Presbyterian churches which they found in New York meant the handing over to the Presbyterians of the best portion of the Empire state. The Congregationalists from New England strengthened Presbyterianism in New York. Congregationalism jumped as soon as it had crossed the Hudson clear over to Ohio.
The liberal spirit of Congregationalism has infused into Presbyterianism and led to the unfettered thought and democratic spirit in the latter church which put new spirit into the Presbyterian church. Ultimately it led to the split in war times in the Presbyterian church which meant the Presbyterian church North and the Presbyterian church South. The separation of the church over the question of new and old theology was the result of the quickening spirit of Congregationalism, and showed the folly of trying to repress the spirit of inquiry and trying to fashion thoughts by the edict of an assembly.
The Congregational church gave many men to the ministry of the Presbyterian church. In the early days nearly all the Presbyterian ministers were sons of Congregationalists of New England. Some of them came to great prominence in the Presbyterian denomination. I think of three such men who were pastors in Syracuse while I was here, Dr. Thurber, Dr. Millard, Dr. Spalding. I think of Dr. Wm. B. Sprague for forty years pastor of the Second Presbyterian church in Albany; of Dr. Gardner Spring, for sixty-three years pastor of the Brick church in New York. The pulpits of Dr. Gurley and Dr. Sutherland in Washington in war time were potent for liberty and union as well as for national continuance—all Presbyterian sons of Congregational ancestors.
More than a score of the sons of this church have gone into the ministry, and more than half of them into the Presbyterian denomination. If there were no other offering made by this people these hundred years are not in vain to have sent into the ministry two such men as Rev. Henry A. Nelson, D. D., and Rev. Edward W. Hitchcock, D. D. The former was 8 years old when he came to this town. He united with the church when 11 years old. He was trained here in the old academy. This church helped him in college and seminary. For ten years he was pastor of the First Presbyterian church in Auburn: from 1856 to 1868 pastor of the First Presbyterian church of St. Louis. In those troublous times of the civil war he was a warrior for liberty and union, as well as for God. From 1868 to 1874 he was the professor of systematic and pastoral theology in Lane Theological seminary in Cincinnati; from 1874 to 1883 pastor of the First Presbyterian church in Geneva and then editor of the Missionary Magazine, the organ of the Presbyterian church. The Presbyterian denomination may be grateful that he was trained by a Congregational church.
To Dr. Hitchcock I would pay the warm tribute of personal friendship. The gift of such a man to a church or a denomination is a precious one. He was strong and outspoken for the church of his adoption, but he always cherished a deep love for this church in Homer, and he was ardent in his loyalty to the kingdom of God above all. For nine years he was a member of my parish and I often used his name to refute the charge that a clergyman makes a troublesome occupant of the pews. I pay to him the sincere tribute of one who loved him well and knew him true. The Presbyterian denomination received in those two some of the choicest offerings which Congregationalism could give.
Congregationalism has organized churches that became Presbyterian, it has contributed money and men to her sister denomination, but I can think of the two only as two streams that come together and flow onward as one, finding their importance and glory only as they helped to present and carry forward God's kingdom which will bless all lands and which will promote the welfare of all on the sea of life.
[The whole of page two is copied below—CC ed.]
THREE CORTLAND CITY BOARDS
Hold Meetings and Submit Estimates for the Coming Year.
The common council held an adjourned meeting last night for the purpose of receiving the estimates of the various city boards, from which the tax budget will be made. The following is the list of the estimates given:
School board, $16,600.00
Board of public works, 12,000.00
Fire board, 5,700.00
Police board, 7,000.00
Board of Health, 450.00
Poor fund, 3,000.00
Water fund, 7,395.83
Lighting fund, 7,400.00
Total, $50,545.83
The action of the board of public works, in directing the superintendent to proceed at once to make necessary repairs on the Railroad-st. pavement, was ratified by a resolution.
The fire board held its regular meeting last night and certified to the common council that the expenses of the department for the next fiscal year would be $5,700. The following bills were audited:
D. F. Waters, salary, $55.00
H. P. Davis, salary and disbursements, 81.82
J. F. Costello, salary, 38.33
Homer & Cortland Gas Light Co., 87.05
H. H. Pomeroy, rent, 15.10
Borden & Hopkins, shoeing, 8.70
Cortland & Homer Electric Co., 9.31
The board of health held a special meeting last evening and made up the amount that will be required to maintain the department next year. The following itemized list was presented to the common council:
Labor at dumping grounds, etc., $150.
Sanitary and milk inspections, 175.
Disinfecting, 50.
Miscellaneous expenses, 75.
Total, $450.
An adjournment was taken till Tuesday evening, Oct. 15.
BREVITIES.
—Meeting of the L. O. T. M. tomorrow night at 7:30 o'clock.
—Rev. Dr. Houghton will conduct the prayer meeting tomorrow night at the First M. E. church.
—Ed Brown and James Reidy were arrested by Night Captain Baker last night, charged with public intoxication. They were fined $3 apiece in city court this morning.
—New display advertisements today are—C. F. Thompson, Pears for pickling and canning, page 5; Mitch's Market, Money at steak, page 5; Bosworth & Stillman, Running into a bargain, page 6.
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