North Brazil Mission by F. W. Spies

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 4, 1909

North Brazil Mission

By F. W. Spies

F. W. SPIES Almost five weeks have passed since I came to Maceio, the capital of the province of Alagoas. About a week ago I visited the small town of Atalaia, about forty-five miles inland, where several Sabbath-keepers reside. There are, in all, twenty-one who are keeping the Sabbath in this province at the present time. But there still needs to be a great work done for nearly all of them. Most of those who have begun the observance of the Sabbath are very poor in every sense of the term. They are, first of all, poor in this world's goods; then they have little or no education. Some of them can not read at all, and the majority of those who do read read very little. Again, the religious education they have received all their lives is of such a confusing character that sacred terms can not suggest to them anything else than

common things. Almost daily in my work here I pass a little rumshop whose owner is pleased to designate his place as “Saint Peter’s Bazaar.” A boat, a street, a square, or anything else may be termed “Espirito Santo,” Holy Spirit. Thus those terms that ought to suggest the highest of spiritual things and relationships are not comprehended by the people, in the confusion which Rome has caused. And, as is natural, the less a people know of the real spirit of the gospel, the more tenaciously they cling to empty forms.

A few days ago “All Souls’ day” was celebrated. Human life is regarded here with astonishing indifference. A man’s life is often taken upon the most trifling pretext. Yet on “All Souls’ day” people are expected to go to the cemeteries to do honor to, and mourn over, the dead. And, as a formerly zealous and well-informed Catholic told me, one must not only go to the cemetery on this day, but he must shed tears over the dead, or he is not considered to do them due honor. How much these people need the true gospel that teaches them to love God and their neighbors, and trust in Jesus and his coming as the ground of their hope! 1 Thess. 4: 13-18.

On my trip to Atalaia, I learned that the capitalists and oppressors of the laborer do not all live in North America. On this trip I had the privilege of visiting the largest sugar and whisky manufacturing plant in the state. It employs many hundreds of men and women. A common wage for men doing ordinary work is twenty-four cents a day, and for women, twelve cents. The living, however, is rather higher here than in some places in the southern provinces. And this is only a sample, as there are many such establishments scattered throughout the province. This also accounts for the abject poverty one meets on all sides. It is not an uncommon thing that a family of from four to eight persons has to live on such a wage as that mentioned.

Our night meetings are still well attended. More than this, a goodly number of persons are interested in the truths presented. Some have confessed this to us, and through those who have acknowledged to us that they are interested, we have learned of others. But here again we see how the people are bound by customs and surroundings. Protestants are generally despised by the Catholics, and are called goats. I have not been able to learn how this term originated, or what it is really supposed to imply. Many are convinced of the truth, but to obey it means not only the turning of one’s back upon the Catholic Church, but upon all one’s friends and relatives. The one who does this stands suddenly alone; and not only that, but it is with difficulty that he can find employment.

But as we present the truth, we see that it is influencing the lives of those who hear it; and our trust is in the Lord, for we know that his word does not return to him empty, but accomplishes that to which it is sent.

Rio de Janeiro.