p. 15 | Peru by H. F. Ketring

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 20, 1905

Peru

By H. F. Ketring

MOLLENDO.—It is now more than three weeks since I left Valparaiso, and over eight weeks since I left home. It will be about three months yet before I return to my home.

O; the darkness of these worse than heathen countries! I read of the heathen in China and other countries, how they come and beg the missionaries to teach them about Jesus. How the heart of the worker must bound when one comes to him in such an inquiring way! In Chile it is dark, but here it is still darker. In Chile it is possible to hold meetings, but here the law strictly forbids it. And, worst of all, the people are so deluded that they really think they are Christians.

Yesterday I was in a house to introduce our paper, believing that the inmates were interested in the gospel. I asked the young lady if mass was said every day in the church across the street. “Yes, every day.”—“Do you go to confession, too?”—“Yes.” “How often do you go to confession?”—“About once a month.” “Do you believe that the priest can really forgive your sins?”—“Being the minister of God, why not?” “But do you know that he is the minister of God?”—“Of course.” “But the Bible teaches that only God can forgive sins.”

I then asked, “But do not the priests do wicked things?” “How can the minister of God do wrong?” was her reply. These people are taught, and they believe it, that whatever a priest does is right.

I asked, “Do you believe in purgatory—that when one dies, he must go there to be purified?”—“I believe all that the ‘fathers’ teach us.” “But,” I said, “the Bible says that the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.” “O, that is your explanation! The ‘fathers’ explain all those things to us.” “And when your father died, did you have mass said for him to get him out of purgatory?”—“Yes, sir.” “And how much did it cost?”—“O, I do not know. Mother made the contract with the priest.”

And thus the conversation continued. I gave her a paper, with the prayer that it might open her eyes.

One can read histories of Roman Catholicism, but until coming to one of these countries, he can not imagine the import of her cup ‘full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.’ If some of those Protestants in the United States who are so anxious to shake hands and make friends with the Roman Catholic Church, and yield the reins of government into her hands, could spend a year or two in one of these countries, they would show a very different attitude toward her.

But I am thankful that our work is yielding some fruit. We are now established in Valparaiso, with a good central location, and at a moderate cost for a large city. Our rent is only a little more than ten dollars a month, that is, the part for which the mission pays. We also have a small hall for meetings, which is full every night of service. We began meetings soon after I reached Valparaiso, in August, and have them three nights in the week. That is all we can attend to, with the other work that must go forward. Before I left, eight or ten had renounced their idolatry, and had decided to keep the commandments of God. Others were interested. Thus you see that the Spirit of God is working with the people.

One family came on Friday night, then on Sabbath, and the lady arose and testified. On Sunday night they came again, and on Monday I visited them, and found their house full of images of the Virgin and of the saints. I spoke to them about their images, and they decided to get rid of them. The next day they broke them down, and destroyed all but one of the Virgin, which cost ten dollars United States gold. That they gave to me. They continue to come every night, and all except the oldest son keep the Sabbath; his mother told me that she was going to see his employer, and if he could not continue his work and keep the Sabbath, he would quit. It truly seems wonderful how quickly the Spirit of God can do a work upon hearts. Two more who had formerly gone off with the fanatical movement have returned, and humbly confessed their wrong, and have begged admittance once more to the church.

I am still on the steamer, as it goes slowly. We shall reach Callao-Lima in two or three days. I am busy writing and translating all day long, and sometimes until eleven o’clock at night; so my time is not lost.

H. F. KETRING.