General Conference Bulletin, vol. 6
Conference Proceedings. TWENTY-FIFTH MEETING
W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, I. H. Evans, C. M. Snow, T. E. Bowen
May 27, 3 P. M. (Concluded from last issue.)
The chairman next called upon F. W. Spies, director of the North Brazil Mission, to report for the Brazilian division of the field. He reported as follows:— GCB May 30, 1909, page 204.19
Brazil GCB May 30, 1909, page 204.20
Brazil, the largest of the South American republics, is a naturally beautiful and in many respects a very interesting country. It contains within its limits one fifteenth of the entire area of the earth, one fifth of the western hemisphere, and about one half of the South American continent. Brazil has a coastline of 5,300 miles, and a population of over twenty-two millions, not including a million or more of aboriginal Indians. GCB May 30, 1909, page 204.21
The republic is divided into twenty states and the federal district. All of these states are maritime, or coast states, save four: Amazonas, Minas Geraes, Goyaz, and Matto Grosso. Brazil is said to contain the most beautiful seaports of the world, and possesses an unrivaled mineral and vegetable wealth. GCB May 30, 1909, page 204.22
EARLY HISTORY
In the beginning of its history, there was a fair prospect that Protestantism would become permanent. A colony of French Huguenots settled along the bay, opposite the place which is now Rio de Janeiro; while in the north, in Pernambuco, the Dutch had a firm foothold for many years. Had these people succeeded in establishing themselves and their new-found faith, how different might have been the history of Brazil! But the Portuguese finally conquered the whole country, and with them came the Jesuits, and the whole train of evils with which Catholicism has, during four centuries, cursed this fair country. As the missionary to-day views the situation, he sees in the existing conditions a fit echo to the words of the prophet: “Darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people.” The language of the country is Portuguese. GCB May 30, 1909, page 204.23
Such a thing as race distinction is practically unknown in Brazil. White men early intermarried with Indians, and later also with Negroes. The population proper of Brazil, apart from the immigrants of recent years, consists of the three races above named, and their descendants. Accordingly we find among the inhabitants of Brazil all shades of color, ranging from white to black, and not infrequently these shades are all found in one family. But since in Brazil color in no way seems to exclude a man from any office, profession, or business, one finds whites, mulattoes, and blacks engaged in all pursuits, the greatest harmony apparently existing among them all. GCB May 30, 1909, page 204.24
TERRITORY AND POPULATION
As to the comparative size of Brazil, we could put all of the United States, without Alaska, into it, and still have room enough for the major portion of the German empire. But in order to comprehend still better the size of this country of “magnificent distances,” let us take some of the different fields or states, and compare them with territory nearer home. GCB May 30, 1909, page 204.25
For instance, the San Paulo Mission, one single state, and by no means a large one, considering the size of other states, could contain within its limits the entire Atlantic Union Conference, and have room to spare, its area being 112,307 square miles. GCB May 30, 1909, page 204.26
This mission, with nearly three million souls, has now two ordained ministers, Elder J. G. Kroeker and Elder H. S. Prener. The latter was located in Rio, but, being compelled to get into a more favorable climate on account of his and Mrs. Prener’s health, recently moved to San Paulo. Unfortunately, however, this took a man who was very much needed in Rio away from this needy field. But even as it is, the San Paulo Mission having in its territory 2 ordained ministers, 1 nurse, and 1 canvasser, has in all only 4 workers; whereas in the same territory in the Atlantic Union Conference there are 39 ordained ministers, 30 licentiates, 51 licensed missionaries, and 54 canvassers. GCB May 30, 1909, page 204.27
Let us try once more, taking this time the most populous, though by no means the largest of the Brazilian states, Minas Geraes. This state, containing 221,951 square miles, is as large as the Lake Union Conference, with the Central New England Conference thrown in. The population of Minas Geraes is close to four and one-half millions. (The population of the Lake Union is twelve millions, and of Central New England three and one-fourth millions.) And in this, one of the wealthiest states of Brazil, we have no worker, not even a canvasser, and it practically joins the capital, whereas, the Lake Union Conference has a total of 332 laborers, 82 being ordained ministers. Don’t you think, brethren, that South America is well called the neglected continent? GCB May 30, 1909, page 204.28
THE FIELDS IN BRIEF
We will now take a brief look at the various Brazilian fields. At the session of the South American Union Conference, held in Argentine in March, 1906, at the time of Elder Spicer’s visit to South America, a reorganization of the Brazil Conference, which at that time included all the Brazilian territory, was recommended. GCB May 30, 1909, page 205.1
Accordingly, at the next session of said conference, which convened a few weeks later at Taquary, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the above recommendation began to be carried out by disbanding the old organization, and organizing the above-named state into the Rio Grande do Sul Conference, of which Elder H. F. Graf was elected president. GCB May 30, 1909, page 205.2
At a meeting held in Santa Catharina a few weeks after this, a second conference, bearing the name of the Santa Catharina Parana Conference, was organized. This included the territory of both the states named, with Elder Woldemar Ehlers as president. GCB May 30, 1909, page 205.3
Next the state of San Paulo was set apart as a mission, with Elder Emil Holzle in charge. GCB May 30, 1909, page 205.4
The balance of the Brazilian territory, sixteen states and the Federal District, were constituted the North Brazil Mission, with the speaker in charge. GCB May 30, 1909, page 205.5
The work in these fields has been steadily growing. In some of them the growth, both in numbers and in means, has been more rapid than in others. The Rio Grande do Sul Conference, Dec. 31, 1908, reported 450 Sabbath-keepers, in 7 churches. By these members there was paid, in tithes, during the year $3,450.30. This conference not only paid a tithe of its tithe to the union, but also at its last annual meeting voted $600 of its surplus tithe, about all it had, to the union. Aside from this, and in harmony with the general plan of the work, the conference turned over to the union its Sabbath-school offerings, amounting to $256, and the week-of-prayer offerings, amounting to $103, making a total to the union of $1,304. GCB May 30, 1909, page 205.6
This conference has 1 ordained minister, 1 licentiate, and 2 licensed missionaries. A few young men have made an effort at canvassing, of which I will speak later. Rio Grande was the first of our Brazilian conferences to make an effort with tent work, especially in holding its annual and other general meetings, and the result has been most satisfactory. The Rio Grande brethren also have an intermediate school which is fairly well equipped. GCB May 30, 1909, page 205.7
Last year a great part of the state of Rio Grande was visited with a plague of locusts, which completely destroyed all crops in the sections where they were. Still there was no falling off in tithes and offerings. This shows a greater faithfulness on the part of at least some of the brethren there, as many harvested practically nothing, and hence could pay but little. GCB May 30, 1909, page 205.8
Coming further north, the next field we enter is the Santa Catharina and Parana Conference. The present membership of this conference is 580, and the number of churches is 7. Although the only minister of this conference baptized 65 souls during the last year, the membership has not increased. The reason for this is that the Santa Catharina and Parana Conference turned over to the San Paulo Mission a church and a company which were located in the territory of said mission, whose membership numbered about as many as the gain. GCB May 30, 1909, page 205.9
The first of April, Elder Knott arrived at Florianapolis, the capital of Santa Catharina. So there are now in this conference 2 ordained ministers, Elder Knott for the work in Santa Catharina, and Elder Holzle, who was elected president at the last annual conference, in Parana. Brother E. C. Ehlers also arrived from the States a short time ago, to act as teacher of the intermediate school, which it was voted at the last conference to re-open somewhere near Florianapolis. GCB May 30, 1909, page 205.10
Aside from the two ordained ministers and the teacher above mentioned, this conference has two licentiates, but it has not even one canvasser giving his whole time to the work. GCB May 30, 1909, page 205.11
The tithe in this conference has increased about $600 GCB May 30, 1909, page 205.12
during the past year, the tithe for 1908 being $3,333.33. The Sabbath-school donations, which were paid over to the union, amounted to $399.53; the Christmas offering to $230.30; and the surplus tithe (also turned over to the union), to $2,300. GCB May 30, 1909, page 205.13
Next we should mention the San Paulo Mission. Of its size and population I have already spoken. This mission has 2 ordained ministers, Elders Prener and Kroeker, and 1 nurse. The membership of this mission is about 135, with 3 organized churches and some isolated believers. The tithe received during 1908 was $784.39; Sabbath-school offerings, $107.54; weekly offering, $28.04; and week-of-prayer offering, $26.61; making a total of $946.58 contributed toward the support of the work. GCB May 30, 1909, page 205.14
The remaining field in Brazil is the North Brazil Mission. This is the largest of the four, containing sixteen states and the Federal District, making a field as large as the United States, less Colorado and Nebraska, and having a population of over seventeen millions. The North Brazil Mission has 253 members, in 5 churches, 3 companies, and a few isolated Sabbath-keepers. The tithe received during 1908 was $1,632.62; Sabbath-school offerings, $105.17; weekly offerings, $21.40; week-of-prayer offering, $57.29; other donations, $13.07; making a total of $1,829.55 contributed during the past year toward the support of the work. GCB May 30, 1909, page 205.15
In this vast field we have 2 ordained ministers, 1 licentiate, 1 licensed missionary, and no canvassers. If the other Brazilian fields can be considered needy,—and they are so considered by their leaders,—this one is certainly much more so. We have called attention to one of these sixteen states, Minas Geraes, larger than the Lake Union Conference, with a population of four and one-half millions, and no worker. But as we glance at the map of Brazil, we find to the north of Bahia, state after state along the coast with no one to represent the last closing message. We have here a field almost as large as the United States, and with one-fifth of its population, having only 4 workers. I think I need say no more to prove that we have an urgent need of more workers. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.1
There are yet four matters of general interest that should be referred to: The canvassing work, the publishing work, the need of a central school, and the medical work. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.2
THE CANVASSING WORK
The pioneers of the third angel’s message in Brazil were the canvassers. I well remember when, in 1891, Brethren Snyder, Stauffer, and Nowlen went to South America. The first labored in Argentina, and later on came to Brazil. Brother Stauffer has remained in Brazil until this day. But as these brethren had only Spanish and German books, they could in Brazil work only among the Germans, and hence in the various German colonies. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.3
An attempt was made to have books prepared in the Portuguese language outside of Brazil. But the translation of the first, “Steps to Christ,” which was made in the States, was very imperfect; and when we did have a good translation of “Gospel Primer,” typographical errors persisted in creeping into the work. Thus it seemed clear that as long as we must depend on our publishing houses in other lands, we could not hope to have perfect literature in Portuguese. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.4
But because of a lack of literature, the canvassing work, which for a time had flourished among the Germans, gradually came to a standstill. Repeated efforts were made to revive it; but for lack of proper books on the one hand, and for lack of experienced and devoted leaders on the other, each attempt at revival failed of producing the desired results, and the canvassers usually left the field discouraged. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.5
THE PUBLISHING WORK
When, in 1904, Elder John Lipke visited the United States, he succeeded in obtaining the gift of a printing-press, and in raising some means for procuring an equipment for a small printing outfit. Thus was the foundation laid for a printing plant in Brazil. But with the press donated, we could not make progress; it was too small. Also the location, Taquara, in Rio Grande do Sul, the extreme southern part of Brazil, was not well adapted to become a publishing center for this field. Hence early in 1907 it was decided to move; and in August of that year a property was bought in San Bernardo, San Paulo, in a very favorable location as well as good climate. The buildings have since been enlarged. On this property there is a debt of about $6,000. The Brazilian brethren contributed liberally, and the union also rendered what assistance it could; so our society was able to purchase a new and larger press, a gasoline motor, and some other needed things. These, with what we had, and with a small press kindly donated by the Hamburg Publishing House, give us facilities for producing all the literature that our field may need for some time to come. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.6
The yearly balance sheet shows that December 31, 1908, the society was the possessor of machinery, type, cuts, and equipment worth, at a conservative estimate, $4,723.06. All this is paid. Further, the society has on hand a stock of literature and material valued at $5,685.68. On this latter there is some debt. In order to assure the success of the canvassing work, it will be necessary very soon to print an edition of “Coming King,” and perhaps also a book on the prophecies. If not already being printed, an edition of “Christ Our Saviour” will soon be off the press, and this, when ready, will be the largest book we have for our canvassers. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.7
It is planned to hold a workers’ and canvassers’ institute at San Bernardo from June 1 to September 30; and it is hoped that at the close of this institute, the edition of “Christ Our Saviour” will be ready, so that the canvassers can go into the field with it. We greatly need a leader for this branch of the work, and hope that one may be sent to Brazil as soon as possible. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.8
If this Conference could make an appropriation to the International Tract Society of Brazil of about $5,000 as a working capital, it would greatly aid us in producing this important and necessary literature for this needy field. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.9
A CENTRAL SCHOOL
We have already stated that Rio Grande do Sul has an intermediate school, and that the Santa Catharina and Parana Conference decided to reopen the one in their conference. But we need a school that can do more advanced work. While about eighty-four per cent of Brazil’s inhabitants can neither read nor write, we find among the other sixteen per cent many keen and fairly well-educated minds; and in order that our young workers may be qualified to meet such, they need some preparation. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.10
It is clear that we must look to the natives for the future workers of this great country; but in order to do this work, they must be educated; and we have now no place where this could be done. Hence the need of early establishing a school for training such workers. Young people are offering themselves, but we have not been able, up to this time, to educate them, as we have had no school. It will not be possible to have in each state a school which can do advanced work. In the intermediate schools the student can receive a certain preparation, and continue his studies in the central school. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.11
The plan is to locate this central school in San Paulo. If we take San Paulo, Minas Geraes, the Capital District, and the state of Rio de Janeiro, we have close to ten millions of people, or almost half of Brazil’s entire population, close together. It is, therefore, clear that a better location for a central school could not be found. We believe that this enterprise must start small, and grow as the necessities demand. And while we believe that the brethren in Brazil will help in this matter according to their ability, we also desire to ask this Conference to assist this enterprise with a gift of $5,000. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.12
THE MEDICAL WORK
Since, from our experience generally, and in South America in particular, it has been demonstrated that the medical work is an important feature of this last message, the Brazilian brethren ask that this Conference take into consideration the procuring of a physician for that field. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.13
Naturally, such a physician must realize that we have in Brazil no sanitarium, nor any money deposited in a bank with which to build one. The work must be built up by personal effort. But we have faith that the proper man will succeed in this in Brazil, just as some have succeeded in other lands. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.14
The providence of the Lord has, from the beginning, opened the way that the message might speed on. A case has come to our notice where the Lord opened the eyes of a Catholic as he for a short time had access to a Bible, leading him to find in it, without human aid, the light regarding Sabbath observance. Thinking himself the only one in the world who observed the Sabbath, he obeyed the light which the Lord shed upon his pathway. In another case a man who in Rio was instructed in the truth moved to the northern part of Brazil, and there began to obey it all alone, and to each it to others, so that, upon our visiting that place, we found a company there who kept the Lord’s ways, thus opening the work in a new state. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.15
Again, in the experience of some others, we noted a striking similarity between their cases and the cases of demon possession related in the Gospels, and just as certainly were they delivered from the power of Satan by the power of the gospel. We have seen those who all their lives bowed down to wood and stone, to idols made with men’s hands, cast away these vain and useless things, and turn to the living God. This is what the message is doing for Brazil. But the few workers can only cover a relatively small portion of the ground. We need help. We ought to have a minister who could devote his whole time to the work in Rio, and another for Minas Geraes. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.16
In making these requests, we realize that many similar requests are being, and perhaps will yet be, presented to this Conference. We have tried to be modest in our demands, and it seems to us that we have been as modest as the urgent needs of the Brazilian fields would allow us to be. We hope that it may be possible for the Conference here assembled to grant these humble requests. GCB May 30, 1909, page 206.17
At the close of this report Elder and Sister Spies, Sister Lulu Corliss-Gregory, and J. W. Westphal sang a Portuguese hymn, “My Sins at the Cross Were Forgiven.” GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.1
These hymns, that are now and then sung, though in tongues not understood by most of the congregation, have in them a spirit that lays hold upon the hearts of all. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.2
Next, Wm. Steele, delegate from Ecuador, presented the following report:— GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.3
Ecuador GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.4
The republic that I represent has an area of 115,700 square miles, and a population of 1,400,000, besides the uncivilized Indian population, of which little is known. The civilized population may be divided into three classes: 1 The wealthy, or ruling class, generally those of more pure Spanish blood; 2 the Cholas—mixture of Spanish and Indian; 3 the pure Indian, the descendant of the ancient Incas. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.5
As the equator runs through Ecuador, the climate is naturally hot, especially on the coast. During the winter, or rainy season, the weather is extremely hot and sultry, and yellow fever and bubonic plague prevail continually, thousands dying every year. All tropical fruits, cacao, tagua, and india-rubber, are produced on the coast. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.6
In the interior there are great plateaus, from 8,000 to 12,000 feet high. The climate is generally healthful, if it were not for the filth that surrounds the homes of the people. The Indian lives in the interior, tilling the soil, growing most of the products of the temperate zones. He is the slave of the land-owner and wealthier classes. He has no redress from the law or government. The common peon, or workman, receives from 5 to 20 cents a day; the artisan, from 40 cents to $1. The servant girls receive from $1 to $2.50 a month. From this they must clothe themselves, and many of them furnish their own food. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.7
Each village or city has one market day each week, when the Indian brings his produce to be sold in the plazas. Native products are quite cheap, but everything imported is very dear, as the government derives its revenue entirely from its tariff. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.8
The people of all classes, like all nations cursed by the mystery of iniquity, are very immoral. Vice of every kind is rampant. It is rare indeed to meet a person, young or old, man or woman, who does not use intoxicating drinks and the deadly cigarette. Not more than five or ten per cent of the people are able to read. How to give the last message to this poor, illiterate people, is one of the greatest problems with which we have to deal. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.9
Our work began in November, 1904, when Brother Davis, from California, one of our faithful canvassers who started the work in Chile, located in Guayaquil, and began the sale of our literature. He has visited all the provinces of the coast but two, and sold our literature in all the towns along the Guayaquil and Quito railway. In November, 1905, he was joined by Elder G. W. Casebeer, who was not able to do aggressive work until he had mastered the language. In 1907 two were baptized, one being a young man of good education and belonging to one of the principal families of Quito. He is at present connected with our training-school in Argentina. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.10
At the union conference meeting, March, 1908, I was asked to take charge of the work in Ecuador. Leaving Chile June 1, and accompanied by O. Navarette, a young Chilean colporteur, we arrived in Ecuador the middle of July. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.11
After much difficulty, we obtained the theater in Ambato, and began a short series of meetings. I might say here that religiously the people are also divided into three classes: 1 Those among the ruling or educated classes, who belong to the church but have little to do with religion except three times in their lives—at birth, when they marry, and at death, when, by paying well for misas, they expect to go from purgatory to heaven; 2 the fanatics, generally the women and the uneducated classes; 3 the educated classes, who, as a rule, are indifferent to religion. They have seen the corruption of the Roman Church, and the iniquities of her priests; and as they were taught to believe the Catholic Church the only true church, on seeing her fallacies, they lose faith in all religion, and become infidels. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.12
In our meeting in Ambato we had an attendance of from 50 to 150, mostly young men and boys. An attempt was made to break up the meetings, by stoning the theater, and also ourselves on our return home each night. I will say here that the workers who go to Ecuador must live close to God, and have his protecting power with them each moment. One day, while I was talking with a Methodist minister about my visiting and working in a certain place, he remarked, “Before you go there, you must be sure you are ready to go to heaven.” It is necessary to have the protection of the police in holding public meetings in the interior towns. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.13
TIME TO WORK
Just now is the time to work in Ecuador. The honest in heart are waiting for the message that God has entrusted us to carry to them. At present the government is controlled by the liberal party, who will give every protection they can from the fanatics, who, if they dared, would make short work of all the Protestants in the country. And again, as thousands of the young people and thinking classes are leaving the church and going into infidelity every year, we should be there to present the gospel, that not all be eternally lost. The Protestant societies are able to do little for the people. For example, in one province from three to five missionaries have been laboring for twelve years, and have only 10 converts. Yet we with this precious truth, who have only touched the country as it were with the tips of our fingers, have believers in different parts. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.14
THE INDIAN
We have in our territory several hundred thousand Indians who must hear the glad news of salvation. This race, poor and downtrodden, yet the descendants of the proudest and best political government that perhaps has ever existed in this world, stretches out its hands to us for help. The one object of the Inca government is advancement in every way of the governed. Yet as the result of being for four hundred years under the government of the church, they have sunk to the lowest depths of degradation. There are few who can read, so they must receive the truth from the living teacher. These teachers must be obtained from the Indians themselves, educated in a school established for that purpose. Will you not remember liberally with your offerings the call that has been made for the establishment of this school? GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.15
The Indians have a legend that in the end of the world a Saviour will come to deliver them from the oppressive rule of the white man. Will we wait longer to tell them of this Saviour, and of what they must do to prepare to meet him? God help us to arise to our duty, which is also the greatest privilege ever committed to mankind. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.16
Ecuador’s Needs GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.17
At present there are two workers—Brother Wheeler, the superintendent, who can not yet preach to the people in their native tongue, and the colporteur, Brother Navarrete. A worker and colporteur are needed to locate on the coast at Machala, to work in the provinces of Machala and Oro on the coast and Cuenca in the interior. The city of Cuenca has a population of 25,000, who have not received one word of present truth. This city is very fanatic. No Bible colporteur has been able to stay when his presence was known to the priests. Yet we must carry them the third angel’s message. At Machala one family has accepted the truth, and I believe that with little work a church could be raised up there. Brethren, when these peoples get hold of the truth, or the truth gets hold of them, they are ready to labor for others. For example, the father of this family, the very night he decided to obey, asked me, “Now what can I do to help advance the message?” He began at once to spend what time he could from his daily work, to distribute our literature and take subscriptions for our paper. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.18
Another laborer and canvasser are needed for Guayaquil, a city of 80,000 inhabitants, and the provinces of the Guayas River. And we should have another worker and colporteur for the provinces of Manobi and Esmeralda. This would leave the present force free for the interior, which has many cities with a population of 8,000 to 15,000, besides the capital, Quito, with a population of more than 80,000. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.19
We have not one discouraging word to offer. All we ask is that you prepare your sons and daughters to be missionaries, consecrate them and your means upon the altar for these dark lands, and, above all, pray that the Lord may use us all to speedily finish his work. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.20
O. A. Olsen: I am glad to listen to these reports. The great wide field opens up before us. And yet we have not heard all. I am sorry that we can not hear from Brother Perry, Brother Thomann, Dr. Habenicht, and Brother Town. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.21
If these appeals and the setting forth of these needs can not stir our souls and lead us to consecration to the work before us, what can do it, brethren? May the Lord help us to turn to him as we have never done before in our lives. GCB May 30, 1909, page 207.22
The meeting adjourned.
O. A. OLSEN, Chairman,
W. A. SPICER, Secretary.