Portugal by C. E. RENTFRO

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Dec 28, 1905

Portugal

By C. E. RENTFRO

CARCAVELLOS.—The past three days there has been a feast in honor of the patron saint of this village, “Our Lady of Remedies.” There has been music by a band, dancing in the evenings, and sending up of sky-rockets by the dozen. Sunday afternoon there was a procession, in which three images were carried.

Many times I see interesting items in the daily papers here. One paper, recording the death of a countess, gave her last will and testament. Among other things was the following: On the day of her death, thirty masses were to be said for her soul, and during eight days following, one hundred more were to be said. Besides these, she ordered to be said two hundred for her husband, two hundred for her parents, two hundred for her grandfather, three hundred for different uncles, others yet for the souls of cousins and aunts, and for other souls in purgatory—all amounting to more than three thousand masses, at a price, provided for, of five hundred reis, or more than fifty cents, a mass, the total being over sixteen hundred dollars.

The liberalists do a great deal toward holding in check the intolerant spirit of the Catholic Church in Portugal. In one paper, called Folha do Povo (The People’s Paper), the inconsistencies of the papacy are constantly held up before the readers. These things, with others, I believe tend to hold the enemy in check, so we can have a chance to give the third angel’s message. Pray for the work and workers in Portugal.

We are enabled to publish our first tract in Portugal, by the help of a gift from a good sister in California, for which we praise God. We wish to follow this with a health tract, entitled “Secret of Health.” It is now in the hands of our teacher, who is taking quite an interest in using her talent in order to help the people of this language. She gave us a donation to the publishing-work. C. E. RENTFRO.