Porto Rico by WILLIAM STEELE

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 27, 1916

Porto Rico

By WILLIAM STEELE

WILLIAM STEELE

The cause of present truth is making rapid advancement in this little island of eternal spring. The building of our first church in the capital has given a wonderful impetus to our work. During the first eleven months the membership has nearly doubled. Recently Brother D. D. Fitch received nine members into the church by baptism. Truly the Lord has set his hand to finish the work. The people are awakening to the fact that we are not transient, as was said by some in days past because we owned no church buildings. People are beginning to take notice that we are permanently established. We now have two church buildings, and a third in contemplation. For all these evidences of advancement we praise God.

On October 28 we began a gospel effort in Cayey, an interior city, Brother R. Lopez and Sister Jessie C. Butler assisting as Bible workers. The Lord abundantly blessed in the presentation of the truth, and a short time ago we were able to perfect an organization which now has twenty members, and eight others are preparing for baptism. There are still many interested ones who give promise of being received later.

The Cayey church, although young, has given us four excellent young people who are actively engaged in the colporteur work. Brother and Sister Taro, who are working in Mayaguez, give promise of becoming valuable workers. Brother Angel Ojeda is working with the missionary paper, and Brother Artemio Vasquez also is working with great energy to advance the message.

In Moca, where we built our first chapel, the message is making progress. Brother Moon is in charge. During my recent visit seven presented themselves for membership. Two of these had learned of the message through the efforts of a young brother who did not bury his talent, but has followed the command of the Master to use it in blessing others. His face shone with joy when he saw the fruit of his labors. He has also induced his parents to leave off the use of tobacco, something that seemed to the writer as impossible, all his efforts having failed. The faithful labor and fervent prayers of the son, however, brought the change. A sister of this boy, although not able to read, is one of our most faithful members.

I must tell you about Josefa, a little seven-year-old girl whose grandparents are members of our church. Her father professes the Catholic faith, while the mother is a believer in Spiritism. Josefa, in company with her grandparents, has attended Sabbath school, and has gained quite a knowledge of the truth. She is anxiously awaiting the time when she can be baptized.

On one occasion, the father, having made a promise to his saint that his little daughter should carry some images to the church that the priest might bless them, commanded her to go. She said she would take them if he commanded it, but she would not kneel or take any part in the ceremony, and would not be responsible if they should fall and be broken. Her father threatened her with a beating, but she remained firm, telling him that he might beat her to death if he desired, but added, “I cannot worship false gods or images.”

Upper — Baptismal Scene in Cayey, Porto Rico
Lower — Josefa — Upper — Baptismal Scene in Cayey, Porto Rico Lower — Josefa

I recently visited Sister C. N. Mounton, who lives in the country of Lajas. She has a home Sabbath school of about twenty members, several of whom are preparing for baptism.

Companies could be raised up in all the seventy towns in the island had we the laborers. Through literature the leaven of truth is working. We can see this wherever we go. We must educate the bright young people who are coming to us, and send them out laden with the message. But to do this we must have the cooperation of our brethren in the homeland. Come to our aid, brethren, both with your prayers and with the substance God has so graciously lent you, so that we may be able to carry on a school for training these young people.

‘The time is short, the King’s business requires haste; let every one faithfully work in his place, and then there will be a sound of “a going in the tops of the mulberry trees.”’