p. 17 | Experiences in Brazil by Caleb L. Gregory, M. D.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 16, 1907

Experiences in Brazil

By Caleb L. Gregory, M. D.

In the municipio (county) of Santo Antonio, State of Rio Grande do Sul, we have about eighty believers in present truth. The opponents became so incensed against them that the Sabbatistas were forbidden to hold any public service, the threat for such being that kerosene would be thrown on the house, and fire applied, also that should any person escape, he would be shot. The outcome was that our brethren gave up singing at family worship, and held Sabbath-school in another district where Catholic indignation was not so intense.

The conference, taking cognizance of the situation, asked the writer to go to the municipio, and see what could be done. About one month was spent in visiting, before any public effort was begun. Finally, with a young Portuguese, we settled in the county seat, and began preaching, when, to our astonishment, only a few men and boys attended, the women being prohibited by the men, on account of certain reports which had been circulated about us. We therefore abandoned meetings until my wife could come. In the meanwhile we visited, and took orders for our Portuguese paper, The Herald of Truth. The writer worked at dentistry, and thus gained enough money to be self-supporting during all the time he was out—three months and a half. At the end of a month and a half, Mrs. Gregory came, and we began another public effort, which was soon abandoned, as the Catholic influence was too much for us.

Some of the ministers of Protestantism who say Rome is reforming ought to have been here and experienced the things we had to endure; then they would see that “Rome never changes.” We cite one case: The priest determined to run us out of town. While he was perfecting his plan to call in two hundred of the faithful to expel us, the chief of police called him to audience, and informed him that the Sabbatistas have as much right under the Brazilian constitution to hold quiet assemblies as the priest has to hold mass; that as a public officer, it was his sworn duty to uphold law and order; and that Dr. Gregory should be protected, or the chief of police would die. He said the vigario could bring the two hundred men, but that the police would greet them by the voice of the musket. This soon quieted matters, and we finished our work in peace.

The results were apparently small. An ex-priest, who now has a wife and family, began keeping the Sabbath, while others say we have the truth. The ex-priest is an Italian, very learned, speaking Spanish and Portuguese as well as his own language. He attended our conference in Taquary, where he made his public renunciation of Catholicism, and signified his determination to join the Adventists. He now goes home, and settles down to the practise of medicine, until we have somebody to send with him into the field, to assist him in the truth.

We need men who know the truth, and are as true to it as the needle to the pole. We are looking to America for help, but, brethren, our hope wanes. We have asked Germany for a man for the school. Five years we have now been in Brazil, calling to you to come over and help us. Sometimes we could wish that persecution would come on you there, and scatter you to the four winds, and that a few faithful men would alight on the soil of Brazil. The Portuguese language is not difficult, and we find it a great help to our English.

Now, we have one worker less, since Elder H. F. Graf has gone back to America. Does not the good Spirit move some reader to say, “Here am I; send me”? Five years we have been self-supporting in this country. What we have done others can do. Three years of this time we have had one or two orphans in our house. One of these is now in the capital, selling papers and books. There are three boys in the canvassing company who are about sixteen years of age. Young, you say?—Yes, but we have no others.

Brazil has an area almost as large as the United States of America, and more than half of it has not been entered by representatives of the truth. Reader, will you pray once for the work here? Would you like to help us?

CALEB L. GREGORY, M. D.

Taquary, Rio Grande do Sul.