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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 26, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 48.

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MEXICO

By G. W. Caviness

A NEAR-BY REPUBLIC

Montezuma's Country

Among the sisterhood of republics of the Western hemisphere, Mexico, our nearest neighbor on the south, is one of the most interesting. From the days of Cortez, when he led his daring adventurers into the kingdom of Montezuma, and overthrew the government of the ancient Aztecs, down to the present generation, Mexico has been a country of international fame.
The fabulous stories of its glittering mines of gold and silver have stirred the cupidity of two continents, and sharpened the greed of Shylocks for nearly four hundred years.
MEDICAL MISSION
MEDICAL MISSION
Governed for many generations by the court of Spain, Mexico has had her revolutions and national sorrows; but her struggles for liberty have at last placed her among the countries that have shaken off the yoke of foreign supremacy and repudiated the doctrine of “the divine right of kings,” and she has taken her place among the splendid republics of the New World.
A MEXICAN STREET SCENE
A MEXICAN STREET SCENE
From the day when Cortez planted the flag of Spain in the heart of the kingdom of Montezuma, to the present time, Mexico has remained largely Catholic.
A WATER-CARRIER
A WATER-CARRIER
In the year 1895, according to the statistical report, there were to be found in the twenty-eight states of Mexico less than fifty thousand Protestants.
(Copyright, Underwood HOME LIFE IN MEXICO
(Copyright, Underwood HOME LIFE IN MEXICO
It is a sad commentary on the four hundred years of absolute control of the religion and education of a great people, that out of a population of more than thirteen millions, more than eleven millions can neither read nor write.
Splendid church edifices and gaudy priestly trappings have appealed to the vanity of the uneducated populace, while dead formalism and church ceremonies have been substituted for a genuine work of grace in the heart. The Word of God has been hidden from the laity, and all the knowledge of God that many of these poor souls have is through the formal services of the Catholic Church, and what is taught them by the priest. Centuries of darkness have blinded the eyes of a great majority of the people, and paralyzed their spiritual eyesight.
A MEXICAN NURSE
A MEXICAN NURSE
Mexico needs the Word of God. Nothing can help the people so much as the circulation of the written Word. Much good has been done by some of the strong missionary societies, especially the American Bible Society, in circulating Bibles among the laity.
Protestant religious literature, written in the fear of God and in the love of souls, will do great good in Mexico. The Seventh-day Adventist people have already started a printing plant in the metropolis of the republic, in which they are printing a large amount of literature in the language of the people. This literature is sold from house to house, distributed freely wherever persons can be persuaded to read, and is designed to teach the people concerning faith in Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sin by repentance, and the promises of the Word of God.
NATIVE FRUIT-SELLERS
NATIVE FRUIT-SELLERS
In the city of Guadalajara, Mexico, we have established a medical mission where the poor can receive treatments at a nominal cost, or in cases of poverty, free of all charge. Many other medical institutions ought to be opened up in this great republic, where the help that comes through a knowledge of the laws of life can be given to the people. It is impossible for the masses of the people ever to avail themselves of an institution far from their homes.
THE NIAGARA OF MEXICO Copyright, Underwood
THE NIAGARA OF MEXICO Copyright, Underwood
Mexico needs much; but there is none so able to help our sister republic, with her great population, to receive a knowledge of the true God as the Protestant churches in the United States of America. To the enlightenment of our near neighbor, all churches should bend their energies. If this is done, a few years will work wonders in the transformation of the hearts and lives of the people.

Encouraging Experiences

One of our canvassers was in Salina Cruz last year, and met a young Spaniard, talked the truth to him, and sold him some literature. I understand that he was with him not more than an hour or two. The canvasser went his way, and nothing was heard for some months, when the Spaniard sent for more literature, and said that about eighteen were keeping the Sabbath there. Dr. W. S. Swayze visited them, and reports a good company. The young Spaniard is
a brick- or stone-mason, and works by day, but holds meetings every night with about twenty interested persons, who are leaving off their bad habits, and taking hold of the Sabbath and other truths.
A leper sent to me from a place in the state of San Luis Potosi promises to furnish a hall or room for preaching, if we will send the man to do the preaching. Another letter from a minister of forty-five years’ experience says he never saw anything so clear as El Mensajero (the monthly paper printed in the Spanish language) on the prophecies. He wants to take an agency for the paper. Our little meeting-place is so full that we are thinking strongly of getting a larger place. The two brethren who are canvassing sell and take subscriptions amounting to about one hundred dollars apiece each month. We are trying to do all we can to satisfy the demands for books in Spanish, but expect that they will grow faster, and keep ahead of us. The evidence seems to show that the Lord has gone out before us in every direction.
G. W. CAVINESS.