Mexico by G. W. Reaser

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 18, 1910

Mexico

By G. W. Reaser

JUNE 20 a meeting of the advisory board of the Mexican Mission was held in the city of Queretaro. Several matters of importance to the work here were thoroughly discussed. Harmony prevailed throughout the session.

It is the firm conviction of our committee that our greatest need in Mexico, in order to place our God-given message on a firm foundation, is the establishment of an educational system that will reach our native believers, and tend to develop in them stability of character, in order that they may stand loyal without the constant watch-care of a minister. Our hope lies in selecting and training workers from the native Mexican young people, rather than in importing them all from the home land.

Our success in Africa has been largely in gathering in the children and young people, and molding their minds by school work. Not a single Protestant denomination has met with success in Mexico, which has not adopted the same policy. Protestantism would have scarcely a

foothold in Latin America to-day were it not for well-organized schools. We believe that the evangelistic, medical missionary, and publishing work will not suffice to develop a strong membership in Catholic Mexico. Educational work should be added.

Our committee approves of the plan for a certain number of our young people from the United States, who are fitting themselves for service in Latin fields, to come to Mexico for the completion of their course by a year's work in a central training-school to be opened in Tacubaya, D. F., September 21. This school is intended to be especially strong in instruction in the Spanish language. When it is in successful operation, we should be able to select workers from it year by year to fill positions as teachers, colporteurs, and evangelists in Mexico, and possibly to go to other Latin fields as well. No one should come without first corresponding with Prof. G. W. Caviness, Tacubaya, D. F., Mexico.

We have recently secured an excellent building, centrally located in San Luis Potosi, to be used as a school, to be conducted by Miss Bertha M. Lewis, of College View, Neb., and also as a chapel for our meetings. If we could have an evangelist there, our work ought to make good progress in that important city.

From our experience so far in Mexico, it would seem that our work can never become self-supporting. At present the yearly expenditure for advancing the message in this field is about $11,000. Only $1,500 of this is paid into our treasury by our people in Mexico, and a considerable part of this amount comes from our workers. Aside from the tithe paid by the latter class, there would scarcely be enough tithe in the field to support one worker. Our native people are nearly all very poor.

If there is full consecration on the part of all, there will be no lack of free-will offerings. Nearly everywhere we are at present enjoying financial prosperity; and this prosperity, so far as it affects God's people, is not given to be used selfishly in hoarding up treasure, nor in the pursuit of pleasure, but rather for the glorious work of giving the everlasting gospel to all the world in this generation.

G. W. REASER.