p. 14 | ED. F. FORGA by ED. F. FORGA

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 10, 1908

ED. F. FORGA

By ED. F. FORGA

A Plea for the Inca Indians of Peru — No. 5

ED. F. FORGA

The sympathies of the Seventh-day Adventist people are being drawn out in behalf of this race, as is shown in the following extract from an article entitled “A New Undertaking,” written by Elder F. L. Perry, of Peru, in the South American church paper:—

“Since we began to preach the gospel in this country, a few Indians have accepted the truth, and these have proved to be true, faithful Seventh-day Adventists.

“Approximately, half of the population of the said republics [Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador] are Indians; and as our work has progressed, a great desire has grown up in the hearts of the workers to establish an active and concrete work among that unfortunate race.

“Elder J. W. Westphal, in his last visit to this field, was very much interested in this matter. Consequently he and the delegates of these fields presented in the South American Union Conference, held last March in the Seventh-day Adventist school of El Plata, in Argentina, the conditions now existing, and the opportunities open before us; and the following resolution was adopted:—

“‘Considering the thousands of Indians in Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador, and their great need, we recommend, That a fund be raised to begin a definite missionary work among them, and that this should be the special object of the liberality of our youth.’

“The committee that presented the resolution had already assigned one hundred dollars to this work, and as soon as the resolution was accepted, two hundred seventy-five dollars in cash and fifty dollars in pledges were received. After the meeting the writer showed a number of jars, vases, etc., that had been found among the Inca ruins of Peru, and which were supposed to be five hundred years old. Nearly all the brethren bought some, in this way adding sixty dollars to the fund for the Inca Indian mission.

“This message must be preached to all nations, tribes, tongues, and peoples; therefore before the end we must give the good news of our Lord’s coming to the neglected Quechua Indians. We make an appeal for the interest and help of all our people, that this work may soon begin.”

In a private letter written from Peru, April 28, 1908, the day following his return from the union conference in Argentina, Elder Perry says further regarding this movement:—

“For some months I have been burdened with a desire to see something definite started among the Indians of this land. At the conference I brought the matter before the brethren, and it met with much sympathy and a hearty response. It was resolved to begin at once plans for an active, definite work among the Indians of Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia. The idea presented was the founding of an industrial school farm, similar to our mission stations in Africa. Here we can gather in the young who desire helpful influences, and prepare those who may seem adapted for a part in the work.

“I am acquainted now with a number of youth who would avail themselves of such an opportunity; and as I have studied the matter, I am confident that the undertaking is right, and will be successful. We can locate where the soil is productive, and the produce can be marketed. I think the best place would be in the interior from Lima, perhaps in the neighborhood of Tarma.

“The initial expense would be three thousand or four thousand dollars, according to the size and location of the property. A start, of course, could be made with much less if necessary. We intend to raise all we can in South America. Already I have raised in my journey about six hundred fifty soles (three hundred twenty-five dollars). I hear that about three hundred fifty dollars has been sent to Washington for work among the Indians of Peru. Perhaps this could go into the same fund. I am rejoicing at these growing evidences of interest in our work here. May God bless those who give, and those who must plan and execute, that his holy will may be done.”

Will not those who read this ask themselves, What would God have me do in the rescue of those who can be saved from among these people, ignorant of the love of Jesus, and of his soon coming? Will you not remember this needy field in your prayers? If your hearts are stirred to give of your means to this enterprise, any money forwarded to Elder I. H. Evans, treasurer of the Mission Board, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C., will be used for this purpose, if so specified.

In the name of my country, and in the name of six million unhappy Quechua Indians who live scattered along the Andes chain of South America, I make an appeal that they be helped, and that speedily.

Perhaps no other people so enslaved in the awful darkness of Roman Catholicism are more earnestly looking and longing for salvation. How greatly would they appreciate the message of the third angel!

O that we may hear the cry of these unfortunate “Children of the Sun,” and, hearing, pass not by unheeding!

“O Spirit God! if such a God there be, We know thee not, yet grope our souls for thee. If thou dost hear, O hear our humble cry! With thy compassionate heart draw to us nigh. Send us thy light, That clear and bright Our star may rise, our shackles broken be, That we may know thy wondrous liberty— Show us thy grace, and we will worship thee.”

O HEAR OUR HUMBLE CRY . . . SEND US THY LIGHT