The Laying of Hands on Mr. Felix Manalo

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Therefore, there is but “one body”. The “body” remains one; the church is just one. Whoever builds another church are an anti-Christ, anti-Bible, anti-Apostle, and anti-God. Why? … because according to God … according to the Bible … according to the Apostles, there is but one body. There is no need to build another church. All that we, the Gentiles, have to do is to become a part of the “body” by means of our faith in the Gospel.

Now, let us proceed to our main concern. Let us find out if Mr. Felix Manalo is, indeed, a messenger of God. We will not be hasty in our conclusion that he is, or he is not, a messenger of God. Let us give him the benefit of the doubt. Let us presume that he is really a messenger of God.

First of all, let me give you a background on how the Bible introduces true messengers of God. Let us find out how their role, as messengers, began. Do you know that these messengers have a special role in God’s historical and religious book – the Bible? This is what St. Paul said about God’s messengers and leaders in Gal. 1:13-16.

“For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the Church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace. To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.”

The great messengers of God were already tasked to perform a specific role even while they are still in the womb of their mothers. Their tasks begin from the womb. In another verse, we will prove that the leaders of God are already being prepared for their task while they are still inside their mothers’ wombs.

[Jer. 1:4-7] “Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak; for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall speak.”

Therefore, God already has a plan for His messenger while he is still inside the womb of his mother.

Our question is when did Mr. Manalo begin as a messenger? Did he begin while he was still in his mother’s womb? I will share with you a little background on the life of Mr. Felix Manalo. This is not my concoction. It was published in their Pasugo Yearbook. It said:

“Sa pagitan ng 1911 at 1912, si Felix Manalo ay umanib naman sa mga Adventista del Septimo Dia (Sabadista). Naging mahalaga siyang tagapagpalaganap ng relihiyong ito. Kasalukuyan siyang nagtatagumpay sa kanyang mga gawain sa relihiyon nang ang kanyang asawa ay namatay. Pinangatawanang lalo ng ebanghelista ang kanyang gawain.”

(In between 1911 and 1912, Felix Manalo joined the Seventh Day Adventists. He became a vital instrument in the propagation of this religion. While he was succeeding in his religious works, his wife passed away. The better the evangelist assumed his responsibility.)

Noong 1913 ay nangibig si Felix at naging karapatdapat siya sa pagtatangi ng kaibig-ibig na dalagang si Honorata de Guzman, na naninirahan noon sa Avenida Rizal, Maynila. At isang hapong uulan-ulan bahagya, isang araw bago sumapit ang ikadalawampu’t pitong taon ng ebanghelista, ang magkatipan ay ikinasal sa Singalong ng pastor na si Emiliano Quijano ng Christian and Missionary Alliance. Mula noon, ang mga bagong kasal ay nagtuloy sa Malolos, Bulakan sapagka’t doon bagong nakadestino ang ebanghelista.”

(In 1913, Felix fell in love, and became worthy of the care of a lovable maiden, Honorata de Guzman, who was, then, residing in Rizal Avenue, Manila. And in one drizzling afternoon, a day before the twenty-seventh birthday of the evangelist, the lovers got married in Singalong, and their wedding was officiated by a pastor, Emiliano Quijano, of Christian and Missionary Alliance. From there, the newlyweds proceeded to Malolos, Bulacan because that was where the evangelist was assigned.)

Please take note that Mr. Manalo was once a member of the Seventh Day Adventists. But when he got married, the pastor who officiated their wedding was from the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Why are we mentioning these things? To malign the person of Mr. Manalo? No! We are only looking back to history. They were wedded by a pastor from the Christian and Missionary Alliance when he was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist, the church that prohibits the eating of pork. But before he became a member of this church, he was a member of another church. Let us read a part of the narration.

“Noong siya’y magbalik sa Maynila, ipinagpatuloy ni Felix Manalo ang kanyang pag-aaral ng Biblia sa Presbyterian Ellinwood Bible Training School. Mayroon silang lalong mabubuting pamamaraan kaysa mga Metodista.”

(When he returned to Manila, Felix Manalo continued his study of the Bible in Presbyterian Ellinwood Bible Training School. They had better procedures than that of the Methodists.)

In other words, he used to be a member of the Methodists.

“Siya’y nangasera sa bahay ng isang mag-asawang Presbyteriano, sina Esteban Aquino at Rita Bagni na naninirahan sa kanto ng mga daang Carolina at Cortabitarte sa Malate. Nagkalapit ang mga kalooban nila at itinuring ng mag-asawang di magkaanak na higit sa isang anak si Felix. Ang mag-asawa ay umanib sa lahat ng mga relihiyong kinabibilangan ni Felix Manalo. Si Esteban Aquino ay namatay sa Metodista ngunit si Rita Bagne ay malaon pang nabuhay at sumapi sa Iglesia ni Cristo. Pagkaraan ng tatlong taon at kalahating pag-aaral sa mga Presbyteriano, natuklasan naman ni Manalo ang Christian and Missionary Alliance, kilala sa pangalang Disciples of Christ sa Amerika, at sa kanilang natatanging paraan ng pagbabautismo sa pamamagitan ng paglulubog sa tubig.”

(He boarded in the house of a Presbyterian couple, Esteban Aquino and Rita Bagni, who were living in the corner of Carolina and Cortabirte Streets in Malate. They became close to each other, and this childless couple treated Felix as their own son. This couple joined all the religions that Felix Manalo became a member of. Esteban Aquino died a Methodist, But Rita Bagni, who lived longer, joined the Iglesia Ni Cristo. After three and a half years of studying with the Presbyterians, Felix Manalo came to know the Christian and Missionary Alliance, which was better known in America as the Disciples of Christ. They were also known for their unique baptism, which was immersion in water.)

Why am I reading all these? … because will show you an old document, which our organization keeps. If you are the inquisitive type of a person, you might ask, why is it that, despite his being a member of the Seventh Day Adventists, when Felix Manalo got married, his wedding was officiated by a pastor from the Christian and Missionary Alliance. I will read to you an invitation.

Iglesia ni Cristo
Maynila, Disyembre 1918

BUHAY AT KAPAYAPAAN

Ginoo:

Mapitagan naming inaanyayahan ang inyong kamahalan sa gaganaping pagdiriwang ukol sa PAGPAPASALAMAT, sanhi sa ika LIMANG TAONG BUHAY ng “Iglesia ni Kristo” sa Pilipinas at PAGPAPATONG NG KAMAY sa kapatid na Felix Manalo sa tungkuling pagkapastor at tagapamahala ng Iglesia. Ito’y idaraos sa Sine “Gloria” blg. 1649 daang Sande, Tundo, Maynila sa ika-25 ng Disyembre ng taong ito. Sa ganap na ikawalo ng umaga (8:00 a.m.) ng nasabing araw.

Lubos ang aming pag-asa na pararangalan ng inyong pagharap ang nabanggit na pagdiriwang sa araw at oras na nabanggit.

Ang mga gumagalang,
Gustino Casanova Teodoro Santiago Federico Inocencio Pang. Ng Lupon Kalihim ng Lupon Kagawad ng Lupon

(Gentlemen:

We are cordially inviting your majesty to the forthcoming celebration of Thanksgiving for the 5th year of existence of the INC in the Philippines and the laying of hands on brother Felix Manalo as pastor and administrator of the church. This will be held at Gloria Theater, 1649 Sande St., Tondo, Manilla on the 25th day of December this year.

We are hoping that your presence would bring honor to the occasion on the aforesaid day and time.)

This document was dated December 1918, the year they celebrated the 5th year anniversary of the INC in the Philippines.