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Report of Canvassing Work on the Border of Texas and Mexico

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 23, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 4.

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Report of Canvassing Work on the Border of Texas and Mexico

By W. F. MAYERS.

On Sunday, Oct. 27, 1912, Brother Phillips and I left San Antonio in a Sears automobile buggy for Eagle Pass, Tex. We spent a week on the way, canvassing for our Spanish books and periodicals. Some nights we camped out, sleeping on the ground. It was quite cold, so we felt sure that we should not be bothered with rattlesnakes, of which there are some large ones in this semi-arid region.
On Friday, November 1, we arrived in Eagle Pass, and spent the Sabbath on the Rio Grande, which divides Texas from Mexico. On Sunday we went to the coal-mines about three miles distant, and sold the miners some small books and papers. We found them very poor, and many were unable to read, so we sold but few. They live in small, miserable shacks, have very little furniture, and the surroundings are very unhygienic. The next day we began to take subscriptions for our three papers, Life and Health, Little Friend, and the Signs, all in Spanish. We had good success, and by the twentieth we finished taking orders, and moved across the river, intending to deliver our Eagle Pass orders December 1.
We were not very successful in our delivery, as the Romanists had warned the people against us. After much effort we succeeded in delivering only about thirty per cent of our orders. The priest also publicly warned his people against our literature, and even took a copy of St. John's Gospel into the pulpit and told the people that such reading would lead them away from the faith, and that those who had it in their possession would be excommunicated. Later the same day I visited a woman who had attended the meeting, and decided not to take her papers. As she was quite intelligent, I tried to show her the benefit she would receive from the literature, and I am glad to say that she let her subscription stand.
The situation had some hopeful features, one of which was that we were able to give some good gospel talks to the people. There are very few Protestants among the Mexicans in Eagle Pass, but we hope our work will develop some.
After taking orders from doctors, bankers, merchants, saloon-keepers, and others for two weeks in Piedras Negras, Mexico, we began delivering, and were quite successful; through our efforts many hundreds of our papers will come to the homes of the people here. The business men are usually very prompt in taking their orders, but the poorer people are often unprepared to take them. We delivered about eighty per cent of our orders.
I am glad that not every one considers our literature poison, and to know that where it is thus looked upon, it is the result of false education, and not the fault of the papers.
As a result of two months' work in Eagle Pass and San Antonio, I have placed $218 (gold) worth of literature among the people, and Brother Phillips has also placed a large amount with them. We have not had a nice warm room to live in, and have endured many discomforts on account of the cold weather; but we rejoice to be counted worthy to suffer for Christ's sake.
This magazine work is bringing the message speedily to the attention of the people, and I greatly desire to see many more consecrated workers engaged in it. Just now there are only a few workers in Mexico, as some have left for other mission fields, and some for the home land. With a goodly number of canvassers these periodicals could be placed all over the republic in a few years, besides putting our mission work on a self-supporting basis.
On account of the war, the plans to place a number of workers in some of the cities of this state, Coahuila, were frustrated; but I am glad to say that there is now peace in this state, also in many others. Let us pray that this cruel war may cease in all parts of the twenty-seven states and three territories, and that the messengers of peace may go everywhere preaching the good tidings.
W. F. MAYERS.