Bahia, Brazil by F. W. SPEES

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 13, 1908

Bahia, Brazil

By F. W. SPEES

F. W. SPEES

In a recent article I related how the Sabbath truth had gained its first adherent in Bahia. Though for some time supposing himself the only one in all the world who was obeying the fourth commandment, this brother stood firmly for the light, and tried to teach it to his neighbors and to his brothers and sisters. Then, even after he knew that there were those who kept the Sabbath in other places, three years passed ere he had the pleasure of meeting any one of these of like precious faith. Still he continued faithful. No doubt he, like many others newly come to a knowledge of the truth, saw it all so clearly that he thought all others must see it as easily and accept it as willingly as he had done, and being surprised that people as a rule would not do this, he perhaps at times urged the truth with more zeal than it was best to do, still, when I arrived there, he had gained two other young men to the truth, and his two sisters were somewhat interested in the Sabbath question.

But this brother’s life exerted a great influence in that section of Bahia where he lived. Between two and three years ago the Sabbath question was discussed in a lively manner by the members of several Baptist churches, about one hundred miles from where he lived, as a consequence of his having told one member of the Baptist church of the Sabbath. For a time a goodly number seemed favorably inclined toward the Sabbath. One of these—a Baptist—who passed through this experience, and who himself kept the Sabbath for eight months, told me that with their Bibles in their hands the Sabbath question was discussed and studied many a night, sometimes nearly the entire night.

But as many of those, like the man just referred to, were not yet strong in the Scriptures, and many could not even read very well, a strong influence exerted in favor of Sunday by the Baptist leaders finally brought all but a few of these back to the observance of Sunday.

Those of the Baptists, only a few of whom, as I was told, were still observing the Sabbath, were so far distant, and the information I could get concerning them was so uncertain, that it seemed wise to enter into correspondence with them, and plan for more definite work among them later, rather than try to visit them at once.

As I was told of this Sabbath movement in Bahia, and as I saw the great success a certain denomination is having among the people here, and realized how the people are accepting their antinomian ('no-law') doctrine, I deeply felt the force of the Testimonies that say we are “years behind” in our work.

What a wonderful victory might have been gained for the truth, if, at that critical moment, an able worker could have helped the honest seekers after truth to find their bearings and to take their stand firmly upon the side of God’s holy Sabbath! It would then have been comparatively easy, as then the obligation to obey the commandments was not denied as it is to-day. I could but feel sad that such an opportunity for the truth to gain sheaves for the heavenly garner had been lost, practically lost, for a lack of reapers.

If the burden of the needs of this work could only rest upon all our brethren as heavily as it does upon those who in the far-away mission fields daily see and feel its needs, how different many things would then be! What a consecration of talent to the work of saving souls would we then see—talent that now too often is dedicated to gathering treasures that must soon perish when Jesus shall be revealed in his glory! And what a consecration there would be of means to carry on the work!

At Santo Antonio de Jesus, where Brother Antonio Leoncio, the brother above referred to, lives, I spent about sixteen days endeavoring to instruct these new converts, who needed, and even now still need, much instruction. After being there a few days, the sisters of Brother Antonio fully surrendered to the Lord and his truth, and so on Wednesday, October 2, we repaired to a small river near by, and there buried with their Saviour, in a solemn and impressive service, five willing souls in the watery grave, the first-fruits of this field. May the Lord in his mercy lead them on to perfection, and make them a light whose beams will yet cause many a wandering and sin-sick soul to find the sure haven of rest.

Rio de Janeiro.