Guatemala by Walter E. Hancock

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 23, 1909

Guatemala

By Walter E. Hancock

GUATEMALA is a land of opportunity. We consider the countries of Central America as about half-civilized. This conclusion is warranted to some extent by the general conditions prevailing throughout the countries. There are about two million inhabitants in Guatemala, three fourths of whom are unable either to read or write.

Religion is professed by nearly all, but it is a form and an expediency, and not a conviction. One man said, “We are all Catholics, but we do not practise it. I have not been inside of a church for ten years.” Many of the government officials do not attend church at all. One must not conclude, however, that such persons are seeking for the true religion. On the contrary, they are interested in other things more material. It seems that in their minds all religions are simply matters of form, and that one is about as good as another.

There is an awakening among the leading classes, but it seems to be an awakening similar to that of Japan. The country is suffering from an unstable money system, which retards its material prosperity. It welcomes anything which gives impetus to financial prosperity. The government even encourages Protestant missionaries, no doubt believing that their work will add to the general prosperity of the country. But as yet there is a lack of religious and moral awakening, which must follow to make effective the mental awakening.

This awakening can take place only under the efforts of faithful Protestant missionaries. There are a million and a half of Indians in this republic, for whom practically nothing is being done by Protestants, and nothing educationally by Catholics. It seems to me that we as Adventists shall neglect a great opportunity if we do not open mission schools among them, and carry on work similar to the mission work being done in Africa. It is not English that the people here need, but they do need to be taught to study the Word of God in their own language. I believe that mission schools would be favored by the government. The government is very favorable to the English school, and I believe that if we should care to take the necessary steps, appropriations could be secured to add to the facilities of the school. Though the attendance is not large, the school is doing good work, and is laying a foundation for future success as an English school. We have the support of the leading paper of the city.

The privileges of the church have been very much curtailed by the last two administrations of the government. Her property, except churches, has been confiscated, and she is prohibited from conducting monasteries, from holding land or dealing in property. Jesuits and friars have been driven from the country, and are not allowed to return. It is said that the church is very poor; and outside of a few of the largest cities, the church buildings are much dilapidated, and have but few priests. Why there are not more Protestant missionaries working here is a question I have not been able to answer. The republics of Central America have very few Protestant missionaries, compared to the number which South America has, in proportion to the population, yet South America has been called the “Neglected Country.” Accordingly we must call Central America the “Abandoned Country.” The efforts being put forth by our own workers in South America are being blessed with ample fruit, even in republics where the Catholic religion is the authorized state religion. Had we the workers to preach the truth, there is no reason why similar results should not be found in these countries, where the Catholic Church has less influence.

The Indians of this country are not lazy. Both the men and the women work hard. Many of the tribes are clean and frugal. Some, I have been told, forbid spirituous liquors to be brought among them. A great many of these people, however, spend nearly all they earn for liquor. It is pitiable to see the poor Indian bring in his scanty pack of produce on his head or on muleback early in the morning to the market, and by noon to find him staggering around drunk, having thus spent all his money. But his soul is surely as precious as that of the white man, and his need is certainly not less. Shall we not work and pray that God may help us reach these people with the truth? Do not their needs appeal to us? WALTER E. HANCOCK.