Pioneering in Old Spain

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 26, 1912

Pioneering in Old Spain

We have published from time to time in the REVIEW reports showing how the Lord is blessing in the circulation of our literature in Spain. The following experiences will give a little idea of what it means to sell Protestant books in that fanatical country. A colporteur who had taken sixty-three orders in a small provincial town wrote Brother John L. Brown, the general agent, as follows concerning his experience when he undertook to deliver the books:—

“I entered the town with my sixty-three books to deliver. I had worked two and one-half hours when three fellows stopped me as I entered a street. They had in their hands the books I had delivered to them a little while before. They demanded that I take their books back and give them their money. This I had to do. Soon they returned with a woman who had her book also. I refused to return the money, so was taken to the police station, accompanied by these enraged persons. The chief of police told me I must pay back the money and get out of the town as soon as possible, because the people would mob me for selling that Protestant book. I was sent out of town in a cart, and can not return to deliver my books. What a trial, after working so hard to get the orders!”

Two other colporteurs working in northern Spain told Brother Brown of their experiences as follows:—

“We worked hard all day, after providing a room in the fonda (lodging-house), and returned to our stopping-place for the night. The fondista (proprietor) would not give us our room. He said we could not remain in his house. We then hunted all over town for a place to stay, but could not find a single person who would give us shelter. They were all aware that we were Protestants, and therefore we were outcasts. It was cold. We started for the next town, but after walking for a long time and being tired, we decided to remain under God’s free, open dwelling-place. We slept for a little while in an old haystack, but before morning we had to get out and walk about to keep from freezing. O brother, pray for us that we may have courage and strength to carry the precious message to these poor ignorant and deceived people!”

Brother Brown tells of another instance where the priests published an article in the Catholic daily papers, warning the people against the colporteurs, but adds, “However, in spite of these difficulties, the boys are of good courage. They want to press on until the end. Notwithstanding difficulties, we see that God is for us and that no one can stop the good work. While Satan is hard at work in one part of the country, we attack his forces in another part. During the past two weeks one canvasser has taken 778 pesetas’ ($155) worth of orders.”

Let us not forget to pray for the men who are pioneering with our literature in old Spain and other strong Catholic fields.

Progress in Germany

BROTHER BOEK, the general agent in Germany, writes that the outlook for the colporteur work in the German unions is very encouraging. During the present year more than four hundred fifty new colporteurs have taken up the work. During the first ten months of this year the Hamburg Publishing House has made a gain over the same period last year of $43,000 in literature sales. The increase in the sales of large books in that field is especially encouraging. During 1911, 7,692 copies of “Daniel and Revelation” were sold, while this year they have sold nearly 144,000 copies of the same book. The sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” increased from 1,797 copies in 1911 to 9,425 copies in 1912. The German paper, Herold der Wahrheit, published semimonthly, has reached an average circulation of 100,000 copies an issue.

We congratulate our brethren in Europe on the good work being done by the colporteurs.