Portugal-A Newspaper Publishes the Truth by C. E. RENTFRO

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 29, 1907

_Portugal—A Newspaper Publishes the Truth_

By C. E. RENTFRO

C. E. RENTFRO

I AM sending you a copy of a daily of the greatest circulation in Portugal. This issue contains an interesting article, written by one of the editors, entitled “The End of the World — A New Religion in Lisbon — What Is the Seventh-day Adventist Church? — The Sabbath Must Be Kept — Christ to Arrive upon the Clouds of Heaven.” A photograph of the writer and his prophetic chart is given: “Mr. Rentfro in his pulpit — at the back the chart with the symbolical animals of the prophecy of Daniel and the Revelation.” We read:—

“At the same hour in which, yesterday, in various temples of Lisbon, divested of their galas — from the sumptuous official church of the seat of the cardinal to the aristocratic and elegant churches of the Inglezinhos and Corpus Santo — a numerous clergy intoned the solemn offices of ‘Dark Wednesday,’ there was being preached, in a small house in the street of S. Bernardo . . . a new religion, though old in some fundamental points, which teaches expressly and principally the coming of Jesus Christ in the clouds of heaven, to resurrect the just dead, and to carry them, with the living righteous, to the splendors of heavenly eternity.”

Two paragraphs follow to show the people that we are not Mormons, though we come from the United States of America. Then a short report of the sermon is given, and several paragraphs mentioning the various signs of the end of the world.

Under the heading: “What Is the Adventist Church, and What Does It Teach?” a short exposition is given of the beginning of this people, with the principles, doctrines, and organization, and its branches of work.

The article reads further: “Every Adventist Christian must read and study the Bible, and take it as guide and rule, following its precepts, according to the clearest comprehension he shall be able to obtain from it. For adults there is baptism by immersion. They celebrate the Lord’s supper, in which they eat unleavened bread and drink unfermented wine; but for this ceremony there is no fixed date. A touching ceremony of their worship consists in the commandment of humility, that is, a mutual washing of feet. Each member has for a duty to help his coreligionary in everything that may be possible. The Adventists defend also open liberty of conscience, combating the intervention of governments in religions, and recognizing the right of each individual to believe or not to believe, but never impede others in believing.”

“It was in September, 1904, there arrived the first Adventist preacher. In June of 1906 disembarked the second, coming from Brazil, who followed to Oporto. In the capital Mr. Rentfro reunited around his pulpit, in a small room in the street S. Bernardo, some ten proselytes, if we are not in error. In the improvised temple — at the same time modest drawing-room — is not erected any religious symbol. Only extended on the walls, beside a small American banner, are curious charts of unbleached muslin, on which are inscribed names and number, for the elucidation and comparison of Bible texts; at the side of the pulpit (a small table, with a box covered with brown cloth, on top) a small harmonium; in the center of the room a dozen chairs.”

“Every Wednesday and Sabbath the Adventist worker reads and explains the Bible, comparing passages of Daniel with those of Revelation. . . . Fervently they sing the hymns, while he accompanies with the harmonium, then invokes the help of God. They hear constantly the minister of Adventism reminding them that Jesus Christ shall not delay in coming in the ineffable light of Omnipotent grandeur, upon the clouds of heaven, to assist at the destruction of the globe, that shall be annihilated with frightful noise, in the midst of burning flames.”

Although the editor put in his own thoughts on the matter, especially on the end of the world, yet on everything he wrote carefully and gentlemanly.

Yesterday being a holy day, many people passed the house, stopped, and tried to look in to see the curious place. As we are allowed to publish notices, we had placed in the hands of this editor a notice of our meeting, with the subject, “At death where do the dead go — to heaven, purgatory, hell, or where?” but he changed it to “The Destiny of the Dead.” The little room was full, with twenty-four, including an Episcopalian preacher. That day I had been out of the city with the colporteur, distributing the literature and selling the Arautos, and was very tired; but the Lord helped me to present the subject clearly.

We thank the Lord for this privilege to place before so many some of the truth; for the article was quite extensive, and the journal goes to Africa, Brazil, India, America, England, and every place where are Portuguese, and the readers will have presented to them the truths of the Sabbath, coming of Christ, the signs of his coming, the obligations of the Christian, the ceremonies of the church, the nature of man, etc. May God open hearts to come, see, and believe, is our prayer.