Outposts Moving Northward in Brazil by F. W. SPIES

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 14, 1909

Outposts Moving Northward in Brazil

By F. W. SPIES

F. W. SPIES.

OCTOBER 3 I embarked on the steamer “Alagoas,” which was the only boat in prospect for some time for the northern ports of Brazil. This vessel was to sail at 10 A. M. that day; but it so happened—and this is often the case here, even in Rio de Janeiro, the nation’s capital—that the boat left according to Brazilian punctuality, at 8 A. M. the next day; so instead of enjoying the celebration of the Lord’s supper with the church on that Sabbath, I spent an unpleasant day on board, amid the noise and rumble caused by loading cargo, not daring to leave the vessel for fear of being left behind. I was, therefore, glad when we were finally under way. My destination was Maceio, the capital of the province of Alagoas. Five or six months before this I had received an invitation to come and assist in establishing the work in that place. It was then almost a year since some there had begun the observance of the Sabbath, and they desired baptism, and further instruction in the truth. This visit was the first one made by a Seventh-day Adventist minister to this province.

Our voyage was for the most part rather stormy. Still I succeeded in improving my time quite well in studying and writing. But the ship lost time on the way, so that, instead of arriving at Maceio in a little more than four days, we required six days and some hours. When we had finally cast anchor in the unsheltered port, it seemed quite an undertaking to reach the several-miles-distant shore in a small open sailboat, with the sea running so high. But we finally landed safely at Jaragua, a suburb of Maceio, where I was heartily welcomed by about twelve Sabbath-keepers who had come to the wharf to meet me.

Maceio is a city of forty thousand inhabitants, and is nicely situated, fronting the ocean. The entire province may have a population of eight hundred thousand. The chief products of export are sugar, rum, cotton, and hides. Cattle raising is carried on quite extensively. For home consumption, Indian corn, beans, manioc, and other products are raised. Sweet potatoes grow very well here. But the general impression made upon the newcomer is that poverty, ignorance, superstition, and vice rule supreme. While I have seen much superstition and fanaticism in other parts of Brazil, these seem to be much worse here than at any place I had visited.

I found twelve keeping the Sabbath here, and four others about three hours’ distant by train. These are all poor in this world’s goods; still they love the truth as much as those who are more favored in this respect.

Recife, the capital of Pernambuco, the province adjoining, is easily reached from Maceio by train in ten hours. This good connection between these two provinces will no doubt greatly facilitate the work.

The seeds of truth were planted in Alagoas by a nurse in government employ, who had received a partial knowledge of the truth in Rio, and, after being transferred to this city, began living the truth and teaching it to others, with the result already mentioned. The meetings held every evening are well attended by an orderly and apparently interested congregation, and we hope more in this long-neglected place will yet decide to obey the Lord.

We are certainly thankful that the outposts of the third angel’s message have, during the past year, been planted several hundred miles closer to the Amazon, and hope we may soon see them planted in districts still farther to the north.

Of course this open door naturally creates a demand for a permanent worker here; but we are glad to have it so. I had planned to visit the Mucury church before the close of the year; but the interest manifested here will probably prevent my leaving this place ere that time.

Brother E. Schwantes also reports an interest in the city of Cachoeira, Bahia. Brother Joseph Lindermann, of Espirito Santo, relates some good experiences in connection with some of his recent trips in that province. Brother and Sister Prener, who recently arrived from the States, are working hard to master the Portuguese, in order to help draw the gospel net at our nation’s capital, where the work is also onward—perhaps retarded somewhat, especially in Nichteroy, by the terrible epidemic of smallpox, which is carrying away many victims. In Rio and the suburbs over five thousand deaths have been caused by this disease in the last few months; but thus far our people have been spared, for which we thank the Lord. So from the North Brazil Mission we have only good tidings. Still we ask the brethren to remember us at the throne of grace, that the Lord may ever protect and guard us, amid all the dangers that constantly surround us, and that his work may prosper in this difficult field.

Rio de Janeiro.