The Republic of Uruguay by JUAN MC CARTHY

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 9, 1907

The Republic of Uruguay

By JUAN MC CARTHY

JUAN MC CARTHY

Some time has passed since we sent in any report of our work; not because we have not had precious experiences, and enjoyed the blessings of God, but because of our being pressed for time.

Since I have been superintendent of the Uruguay Mission, I have had reason to rejoice, and be thankful to our Heavenly Father, for the manner in which he has blessed the efforts of his servants. The results go to prove that God is not dependent upon great talents for the success of his work, but that he can powerfully operate in those who will walk humbly and obediently in the paths which he has laid out for them.

During the year twenty have been baptized, while about thirty have determined to obey the truth. In all our trips we have seen the power of the Lord working upon the hearts of his people, constraining them to embrace present truth. Upon one occasion, while I was visiting a Methodist family, the minister dropped in upon the scene, so I requested him to take a seat and study the Sabbath question with us. This he most energetically refused to do, using as his arguments most unkind words. At last he went away indignant, leaving Gamble's book with his church-member, with which to convince him of the error of Adventism. I also left with this same person a small booklet which I had written and published, entitled, "The Deceit of the Christian Age; or, Is Sunday the Sabbath?" I told him to study

Gamble well, and when through with Gamble, to study this pamphlet, in conjunction with the Holy Scriptures. When I returned in company with one of our brethren, he told me of his determination to keep the Sabbath, since the bottom had fallen out of Gamble's theories, as they were studied in connection with the Bible and Adventist literature. In Mercedes upon that occasion about five persons began keeping the Sabbath.

From there Brother Schimpf and I went to Dolores. There we held meetings day and night, studying with the people often into the early hours of the morning. But hard work done in the strength of the Lord seems sweet, and always brings forth precious results. After a short time, we had the joy of seeing ten souls take their stand upon God's immutable law and Sabbath.

From here I went to the camp-meeting of the Argentine Conference, at the invitation of Brother Westphal. There the blessing of God came into our midst from the very beginning, and little by little souls were convinced of the solemn truth of the third angel's message preached day after day.

While there, I made the acquaintance of a professor of the Montevidean University. We studied together several points of truth, sometimes until past midnight. He was especially opposed to our position in reference to the soul. Finally he received a tract in Spanish, "The Conflict of the Centuries; or, Is the Soul Immortal?" The next evening, after service, he sent for me, and said that he thanked God for the truths he had found in that booklet; for it had led him to understand the nature of the soul, as taught by God and reason. And he told me that from now on he would make it his business to teach this truth in the university to the students. He is now studying a tract upon the Sabbath. May God open his eyes, is my prayer, since he is one of the most renowned authors in South America, and could do a great work in the cause of truth should he take an uncompromising stand for God.

The other day I met another professor of the normal school here, to whom I had forwarded "The Conflict of the Soul." He told me he was convinced of the truth of our teaching upon the soul, and requested me to send him more literature. Thus we see that little by little the message is finding a place in the hearts of many, and especially of some of the talented and intellectual classes.

Through the sending out of literature and missionary letters many have become interested in the truth, and several have accepted the message.

I received a letter the other day from a young American, whom I baptized at the beginning of the year, but who is now in the Argentine Republic. I had sent him some tracts, which he loaned in the district where he lived. Now he writes to tell me that the Lord has blessed their reading to the salvation of some precious souls. The Methodist minister in that place had read them, after which he wrote me, requesting me to send him all the Adventist tracts I had on hand, which I joyfully did.

We find it sweet indeed to labor for the salvation of benighted souls. The Lord comes so nigh to us, and cheers and illuminates the dreary path.

Thank God, the Uruguay Mission is participating in the bounty of heaven. There has been an increase of seventy per cent in membership; in tithe of one hundred and fifty per cent; in offerings of nearly four hundred per cent. Instead of receiving help from North America, the Uruguayan Mission has been able to hand over to the union conference of South America—independent of Sabbath-school and annual offerings—the sum of two hundred and seven dollars, to be used in the sending out of missionaries to fields where we have no laborers at the present time.

The brethren in Uruguay have large hearts for God's message, and make every sacrifice possible to send the gospel chariot forward. We can not do less than rejoice, because of the victories the Lord is giving his servants. Certainly these are the surest signs that the coming of the kingdom draws near. May God help us to get ready for that day, and so labor as to bring sheaves with us into the heavenly garner is my fervent prayer.

Nueva Helvecia.