Southern Argentina by Arturo Fulton

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 29, 1909

Southern Argentina

By Arturo Fulton

MOST of the older readers of the REVIEW will remember in the geographies they studied in school, that the long, tapering point of South America bore the name Patagonia. This is now a part of the great Argentine republic. It is divided into territories, and is fast being opened up to settlement. At the lower tip on the Chilean side the light of truth has obtained an entrance, and a few Sabbath-keepers are to be found. The past summer several of the towns, both on the mainland and on the island of Tierra del Fuego, were visited by Brother F. W. Bishop, one of the Chilean workers, who had good success in putting many of our books in the homes of the people. Farther up on the east coast for some time a lone sister has been the only representative of the truth. We understand that some of our staunch Uruguayan brethren have now gone to Chubut, one of the central of these territories, in order to take up land. Farther to the north and about six hundred miles southwest of Buenos Aires, in the territory of La Pampa, or Great Prairie, as its name indicates, there is a church of about twenty members. Brother Adam Korb, the elder of the Galarza church, in Entre Rios, recently made them a visit, and remained during the week of prayer, which we celebrated here in South America during the latter part of April. He reports many interesting experiences, and a desire in several places to know more of this truth. We quote his own words:—

“I found the brethren united, and of good courage in the Lord. We had good meetings during the week of prayer. Some of the neighbors show great interest in the truth, especially four families belonging to the Baptists, who have recently come here from Rumania. They believe as we do in many things; as, the state of the dead, the resurrection, the soon coming of Christ, etc. We studied with them in regard to the Sabbath, and they were much interested, and recognized that it is the truth. May God help them to obey it. Two Hebrews at this place have also accepted Christ as their Saviour. When reading of the sacrifice of Christ, the older will weep. They call us brethren, and are suffering persecution from their friends.

“We also visited the company at Remeco, a station about forty miles north of the brethren, where last November several families began to keep the Sabbath. We found them of good courage, and ten of this company are ready to unite with the church, six asking for baptism, the others having been baptized by the Baptists.

“The Lord is working in the pampa, and his work is advancing. Many, among them Catholics, urged us to send them workers.”

Here is a vast field, stretching away to the south from Buenos Aires for over eleven degrees, in only one or two places of which the truth has ever been represented. This country is being rapidly settled with German, Scandinavian, and Russian colonists, as well as with immigrants from the south of Europe. We believe it offers one of the most productive fields of our South American Union Conference. The time has come when these scattered settlers must also hear the truth. From Patagonia will also come that glad exclamation, “We have waited for him, and he will save us.”

ARTURO FULTON.

Field Notes

As a result of a series of meetings held at Spencer, Iowa, sixteen persons were baptized.

Six persons have begun the observance of the Sabbath as the result of meetings held at Burlington, Iowa, and others are interested.

ON June 25 sixteen persons were baptized at Newark, N. J., and there are several others who will go forward in this ordinance in the near future.

ON Monday, June 7, Brother J. Ernest Bond baptized four persons at Sanchez, Ariz., and on June 12, seven—three adults and four young people—at Clifton.

SABBATH, July 3, thirteen candidates were baptized at Schenectady, N. Y. Six others are awaiting another opportunity to go forward in this ordinance, circumstances preventing them from doing so at this time.

SABBATH, May 29, was the last of a series of meetings held in the West Erie Street church, Chicago, Ill. Three persons were baptized. One of this number, a young lady who is a trained nurse, will have an active part in our work this summer.