The Simple Life in Mexico by G. W. CAVINESS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 7, 1909

The Simple Life in Mexico

By G. W. CAVINESS

G. W. CAVINESS

RECENTLY I visited San Luis Potosi. One of our native workers, having left us, was doing what he could to hinder our work here, and it was my desire to visit the brethren and counteract his work as far as possible. I found that the believers in San Luis Potosi were still holding meetings in a private house, and that the disaffected brother had had difficulty with some of them, and had separated from them. We held meetings each evening for a week, and also on the Sabbath, preaching the truth plainly, explaining the prophecies that pertain to our time. The brethren seemed interested and encouraged, and we hope that with further effort in their behalf they may be kept, and that others may be added to their numbers. Fifteen or eighteen of these brethren still hold meetings, and profess to keep the Sabbath.

From San Luis Potosi I went to Mexquitic, a place about twenty miles in the country. In Mexico, on leaving the cities and villages along the railroads, one has to resort to primitive methods of travel. In this case I had the privilege of riding a burro or walking. The burro is a very small donkey, and had I not used a pack-saddle, my feet would almost have touched the ground. After traveling in this manner for four or five hours, I arrived at Mexquitic.

The leader of the company here is the secretary of the civil court; but in this out-of-the-way place I found that the secretary was dressed like the peons of the country, with cotton trousers and shirt, sandals for the feet, and a large, wide-brimmed, tall-crowned hat. He received me in his office, and afterward took me to the brother's house where the meetings were to be held. The house was nothing but a hut made of adobe, or sun-dried bricks, the walls being four or five feet high, and roofed with poles covered with the leaves of the maguey plant. There were no windows in the house, and only one door, but the roof was sufficiently open to allow light and air to enter without difficulty. In this house they took care of me. For breakfast they gave me some bread with cinnamon tea; for dinner tortillas (corn cakes) and beans, with eggs. At night they spread on the floor, which was nothing but the naked earth, some skins and two or three blankets that I took with me, and so made a bed where I lay down for the night. I could not sleep very soundly, for the ground seemed much harder than I ever imagined it could be. I passed three nights in these quarters, and was able at last to sleep fairly well; but I can not say that I would like to continue that manner of life indefinitely.

Nevertheless it gave me real pleasure to preach the truth to these simple-minded people, for although they are poor and live in the style indicated, yet they are intelligent, and seem to have a willingness to receive instruction, and a childlike simplicity that is pleasing. I hung up the chart and preached the prophecies to them, and they seemed to understand and drink in the truth and rejoice in it. I found that this little company had been holding their meetings alone during the summer, that they were faithful as far as they knew, and I never enjoyed preaching the truth to any people more than to them. I certainly hope that in the near future further work can be done to establish them in the message. Eighteen or twenty were present in the meetings, and I understand that their entire number is about thirty. They are scattered throughout that part of the country, not all living where they can attend meetings regularly.

After this I went to Venado, a town on the railroad to the north of San Luis Potosi. At Moctezuma, one station this side of Venado, a brother met me, and together we proceeded to Venado. I found here a few who were interested in the truth, visited one family in the afternoon, and made arrangements for a meeting at night. This service was attended by about a dozen persons, and was held in the house of a man who is interested in the truth. His wife, son, and one daughter were at the meeting. After the meeting, as I walked home

with the brother who was with me, I asked him if there were any others in the family where we held the meeting. He said there was a daughter, but that she was sick with the smallpox in an adjoining room. In this country there is no quarantine against smallpox, and one is liable to come in contact with it almost any time. I felt a little peculiar on learning that I had held meetings in a place where one was sick with the smallpox; but as it has been some weeks since my exposure, and I have not come down with the disease, I think I am safe from it now.

There is an interest on the part of a few at this place, and something ought to be done for them. I hope to make them another visit; but some one should be stationed at San Luis Potosi to build up the work there, and also look after these little companies and scattered brethren round about.

The last night before leaving for home, my host and his wife got a notion that I might be in danger, and instead of sleeping in their bedroom, three or four rooms from where I was, they made a bed on the floor in the room next to which I slept, and stayed there all night, armed with a revolver. I told them that I had traveled a great deal in Mexico, and had never thought of being afraid, that I was always treated with the utmost respect, and the only fear that I had was that the people would wear themselves out trying to make it pleasant for me. But nothing happened, and I slept soundly all night. This brother said that the government had made stringent laws in favor of foreigners, and especially of Protestant missionaries, requiring them to receive protection everywhere. He himself had been a Protestant for many years, and in his earlier life had suffered some persecution. The next day I set out for home, and the host and his wife insisted on sending a present to my family, which reminded me somewhat of the present that Jacob sent to Pharaoh. It consisted of nuts, figs, and grapes, grown on his own place, and a “little honey.”

We have held our annual council, and laid plans for the work during the coming year, and have made some requests to the Mission Board, which we hope they will see their way clear to grant.

The canvassing work here in the city still continues good, last week being the best week since the work began. One young man took orders to the amount of one hundred thirty-six dollars, Mexican, and the sum of the four was about three hundred fifty dollars. This certainly shows that there is a possibility of doing a great work in this country with our literature, when young men knowing comparatively little of the language can make such a record.

We trust our brethren everywhere will remember us and the work in the republic of Mexico in their prayers, and that they will also give liberally of their means, so that the work may go forward to a triumphant conclusion.

Tacubaya, D. F.