A Visit to Mexico by A. G. DANIELLS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 19, 1908

A Visit to Mexico

By A. G. DANIELLS

By request of the General Conference Committee Elder W. C. White and I attended the general meeting in Mexico. This meeting was held in Mexico City December 19-29. Two other important meetings were held in Mexico during our visit—one at Guadalajara and the other at San Luis Potosi. It had been five years since my last visit to Mexico, and I was greatly encouraged by what I saw at this recent visit regarding the work in that difficult field. On my visit five years ago, I found only two or three Mexicans keeping the Sabbath. On this recent visit, I found about one hundred rejoicing in the third angel’s message. The reports presented for 1907 by the superintendent of the field, Elder G. M. Brown, showed that excellent work is now being done in the circulation of our literature.

Our first meeting was held at Guadalajara. Here we had the pleasure of meeting Elder Brown and wife, the Drs. Swayze, Dr. Erkenbeck, and Brother and Sister Placencia, whom we had met on our previous visit. Besides these dear friends, we met quite a number of Mexicans who were much interested in the truth, some of whom had been baptized and united with the church.

We were pleased to find an excellent medical dispensary and treatment rooms in this city. The large sanitarium in which our people were once so deeply interested, and for the erection of which they gave thousands of dollars, is not now used for medical work. About four years ago this institution passed into the hands of the Battle Creek Sanitarium. It has since been sold to the Methodists, and it is now being used as a girls’ college. I was informed that it was sold for about $61,000 gold. The medical mission which we are now operating was donated by the Drs. Swayze. It has been fitted up for giving treatments to first-, second-, and third-class patients. Besides the regular line of medical work and treatments, it has a good dental parlor. Dr. Myers is acting as superintendent of the institution. The place is a model of neatness, and the institution is so conducted that all classes of people can receive accommodation.

In connection with the mission there has been erected by the brethren and sisters in Guadalajara a very neat and appropriate chapel for religious services. This institution is on the corner of a good street, along which an excellent electric car-line runs. We feel very greatly pleased and encouraged regarding the outlook of our medical missionary work in this city. It seemed to us that this was a most appropriate provision for such work.

We greatly enjoyed the services of the Sabbath which we spent in this place. As usual the first hour of the forenoon service was devoted to the Sabbath-school. The chapel was well filled, and the entire program was conducted in Spanish. The sermon that followed was translated into Spanish. As the progress of our cause in all lands was outlined on the missionary map of the world, the congregation seemed to gather new courage to press on with the work. The afternoon sermon was followed by a spirited praise service in Spanish, and at the close two Mexican sisters were baptized by Elder Brown in the baptistery connected with our chapel. In the evening the chapel and mission were dedicated to the worship of God and to the service of love he would have us render to our unfortunate, suffering fellow men. One of the American missionaries of the city, and also one of the resident Mexican ministers, joined us in the service. It was a great pleasure to our brethren in Guadalajara to have this excellent medical mission and chapel completed and dedicated to the good work for which they were provided.

Protestant missionary work is carried forward with great difficulty in Mexico. The men of the upper class of society are very indifferent to everything pertaining to religion. The women of the upper class are devout Catholics, and seem to be afraid of giving any other religion any attention. Both the men and the women of the lower class are very superstitious, and are perfectly satisfied with what they have. But notwithstanding all the difficulties and obstacles that have to be met in Mexico, the Lord has blessed the efforts that have been made during the last five or six years in that field. We are profoundly thankful for the deep interest our brethren who have located in Mexico have manifested in the development of our work in that field. We appreciate the services they have rendered to the cause.

In next week’s REVIEW I shall report our meeting in Mexico City.

A. G. DANIELLS.