The Neglected Continent by Thos. H. Davis

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 16, 1909

The Neglected Continent

By Thos. H. Davis

SOUTH AMERICA is quite well known among missionary societies as the Neglected Continent. Commercially, the continent has not been neglected, as all leading European countries carry on a large commercial business with it. Even the United States is making great efforts to establish closer business relations with this country.

The upper class and the young men from colleges are seeing the fallacy of the Roman doctrine, and are throwing off its yoke; but instead of accepting the Protestant religion, they are becoming infidels, being without any religion at all.

Many have a very vague idea of Protestantism. Now, as these people are without a religion, what is our duty? Is it not to offer them something worth while?

The other day, while reading about the burning of the church called the Comania, in Santiago, Chile, in the year 1863, I was quite strongly impressed by an incident in connection with the disaster. There were about two thousand people assembled at the early morning mass, mostly women and children. Suddenly the manto of the saint caught fire from a candle, and this great mass of humanity made a rush for the door, blocking it almost entirely. A few escaped naked, and they were mad with fright. Some of the great crowd on the outside, seeing these few who were fortunate enough to escape, without clothing, offered them their outer garments, so that their nakedness would not be seen.

Is not this a lesson for us? and should not we, on seeing the people of the large cities of South America without a religion, offer them the third angel's message, which is the only cloak of righteousness to cover their shame when Jesus comes?

As our books are being translated into Spanish, South America bids fair to be one of the most profitable fields in the world for the sale of our subscription books. As the people are not accustomed to buying books by subscription, it is a novelty to them, and works well. The Lord surely has this field prepared for the canvasser to enter and distribute our works like the leaves of autumn.

We need about four self-supporting canvassers from the States, to work the west coast. All the large cities have many who understand English, as for years English colleges have been established here. While these canvassers are learning the language, they can be working with our English books. Such canvassers would be a back-bone to our work here. Foreigners have easier access to the upper class of people than natives.

As the doors are open for our workers, we should enter at once, for we learn from the Testimonies that what we should have done, but did not do, in times of peace, we shall have to do in times of trouble.

THOS. H. DAVIS.