Parana (Brazil) General Meeting by F. W. SPIES

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · May 20, 1915

Parana (Brazil) General Meeting

By F. W. SPIES

F. W. SPIES

The Parana general meeting for this year was held at Curityba, January 20-24. When the writer, accompanied by Elder J. H. Boehm and Brother August Pages, arrived at the place of meeting, we were very pleasantly surprised at seeing the new mission property, consisting of a spacious place for meetings and of two dwellings for missionaries, practically completed.

In order to construct this building the brethren of the Curityba church did some real sacrificing. The building, including the lot, cost about $5,000 United States gold. For a number of years the Curityba church had been gathering means for the building, but only about $3,000 had been provided. But in this time when materials were very cheap, and when the brethren themselves had but little work, they felt that they should go ahead with the building, and they did, they themselves providing what was still lacking. There being in the church membership men of different trades, they also did all the work on the large building. So it was with a pardonable feeling of satisfaction that they came up to the general meeting.

Unfortunately, on account of the hard times but very few of our brethren were present from the interior of the state. But the meeting was a season of special blessing to those who had the pleasure of attending it. Especially were the last days, Sabbath and Sunday, days of blessing, and with renewed strength and courage the brethren and sisters continue their journey toward the heavenly Canaan.

On the evening after the Sabbath the new building was dedicated. This time was chosen because many of the leading men of the state, such as the governor and members of his cabinet, the mayor of Curityba, and leading merchants who had made donations, were to be present, since the building was to serve as a school as well as for meeting purposes. It was thought that this time would be the most favorable for their attendance. Elder Suessmann, our minister in Parana, gave a fifteen-minute talk about our general work, Elder Boehm spoke of our educational work, and the writer gave the dedicatory address, and thanked the friends who had so kindly assisted us in the work.

The evening meetings were well attended, more than two hundred being present each evening, many of whom seemed really interested. May the Lord grant that many of these may yet cast their lot with God's people. The song services rendered by the choir of the Curityba church did much to increase the interest. We believe that the work in this city and state will now go with a new impetus.