p. 4 | The Mexican Meeting by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 3, 1907

The Mexican Meeting

By William Ambrose Spicer

THE conference just closed in Mexico City has been a successful meeting. Naturally, with the growth of the last year or two, it was the largest meeting we have ever held in Mexico. In the closing session, workers and believers dedicated themselves to more earnest service, and separated with words of courage and thankfulness. On the last Friday of the meeting, just before the Sabbath, seven souls were baptized by Professor Caviness. It gladdened all hearts to see the sight in Mexico, where it means a large number to go forward at one time in baptism.

At the ordinance meeting Sabbath afternoon several stood up with the testimony, “I was a Catholic.” How earnestly and touchingly these and others bore testimony to the great blessing and joy this truth has brought to them. The broken and contrite spirit among these believers in Mexico shows that the message is bringing forth the same fruit in Mexico as in all the world.

Mexico is a difficult field, and we have found it so in our work, even as other Protestant societies have done before us. But there are signs in recent growth that may well cause us to rejoice, and to resolve never to faint nor be discouraged with any field while waiting to see this message win decided victories. To hear these brethren and sisters tell what the truth is to them, and to see their earnest interest in carrying it to others, may well bring satisfaction to our workers in Mexico, who have toiled long in sowing the seed.

With the coming in of Mexican believers able to do good service as colporteurs and Bible workers, the sowing and the reaping must surely go forward more rapidly from year to year. Brethren Colunga, Godinez, Harzman, and Schultz have been pushing the literature in many parts.

The need of schools for children and of training facilities for workers is already pressing upon this mission. Well may the field and its needs draw upon the sympathies of our churches in the States. The work in Protestant lands can not be finished until the message has been carried through the dark Catholic and heathen fields.

The small printing house, equipped by a little company of brethren in Mexico to supply the mission literature, was able to report its year's work done without a deficit.

A good number of medical workers were present, and helped strongly in counsels and discussions of all phases of the work. There were the Drs. Swayze, from Guadalajara, who were among the pioneers of our work in Mexico, Dr. J. W. Erkenbeck and his wife, from Ameca, Mrs. Dr. Colunga, of Torreon, Dr. John, of Cuautla, Dr. Fattebert and his wife, of Celaya, and Dr. Myers, who plans to continue a medical dispensary and mission in Guadalajara, in co-operation with the Mexico Mission. Brother Paulson, who has a bakery business at San Luis Potosi, and Brother Cooper, who has a fruit-canning enterprise in Mexico City, aided in the councils in a way that emphasized how great a help the influence of brethren in business may be in such a Catholic field. Every earnest

believer engaged in business, living an upright, honest life, is a light that shines most helpfully where workers are few and the darkness is dense.

I found a spirit of unity in all the work, and Elder Brown, the superintendent, has the support and co-operation of all. Earnest hearts are bearing the burden of Mexico before the throne of grace, and faithful workers, Mexican and American, are searching to find the Lord's lost sheep over these mountains and valleys.

W. A. S.

Mexico City.