p. 16 | Portugal by C. E. RENTFRO

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · May 4, 1905

Portugal

By C. E. RENTFRO

LISBON.—I have often thought, when reading reports from other places, how signally God is working, that I wished I could report such for Portugal. But I have nothing of especial interest to report, except that the Protestants here are fighting the truth, both speaking and writing against the Sabbath, and advocating first-day worship.

The Sunday after Christmas I went to the Scotch Presbyterian church, and found that, on account of the Christmas dinners at 7 P. M., no one came to meeting. The minister came out, and invited me into his study, where I was questioned by him and his wife. This enabled me to give him the evidence on the near coming of Christ. However, two men came in, cutting off the conversation, but we had prayer together before separating.

Of course we have not been away from this city, so can not tell of anything outside. There are about one thousand English people here, scattered pretty well over the city. These make up the Episcopalian and Scotch Presbyterian churches. There are not twelve Americans. French is spoken by a great number of the people, and I have been advised to make that language part of my accomplishments. We have our three Portuguese lessons a week, and apply ourselves closely to its study. We attend Portuguese services in the Methodist Episcopal mission, as well as in the Episcopalian and Plymouth Brethren mission, in order to become acquainted with the sound of the language, as well as with the people.

We have no tracts in our language on the near coming of Christ, so of necessity must distribute the Sabbath tracts and the Brazilian paper, which gives prominent attention to the Sabbath question—more than to the coming of Christ. These have aroused the Protestants, and they have presented the Sunday side, and have asked me to kindly find other territory in which to work.

I was told by the Presbyterian preacher that the main mission established by them and assisted in by the

Methodist Episcopal people, was begun in 1866, and still the missionary is supported by money raised in England by the English people. The Portuguese people surely need the third angel’s message. C. E. RENTFRO.