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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 20, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 25.

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Mexico

By H. L. Rawson

H. L. RAWSON
APPRECIATING as I do the good news which the dear old REVIEW brings me week by week, I shall contribute a little, in the hope that it may be of interest to others. After I had been in the republic of Mexico for some time, I answered a call for help which came from a few isolated believers in the city of Monterrey, state of Nuevo Leon. My first visit was in the month of July, last year. On that occasion I remained only about ten days. I held meetings each evening, and visited during the day. The few believers were confirmed in the truth they had already received, and four others began to keep the Sabbath. On my return in November, I found them all firm and alive in the work, with the addition of one family, who began to keep the Sabbath through the efforts of our German colporteur, Brother Schultz.
ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ A helper in the gospel in Mexico.
ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ A helper in the gospel in Mexico.
The night I returned, I held a meeting with fifteen persons, assembled by prearrangement of the brethren, who were expecting me that day. Since then the evenings that have not been occupied with small meetings or family Bible studies have been few indeed, and the days are spent visiting among the people.
For a time our place of worship was a hired house near the outskirts of the city, where the greatest interest existed. Having gathered a few more believers, and the interest having become more general, we moved into the center of the city, opening a mission on one of the most frequented streets. Many pass the door every day, and as we have the show-window filled with an attractive display of our books and smaller literature, there is an almost continual opportunity to distribute tracts and papers to those who pause to look. This also gives opportunity to extend invitations to the meetings. Through what they read in the windows and the literature distributed, many who perhaps would not get the message in any other way receive at least a part of the precious truth we have to offer them. That the literature has effect is evidenced by the fact that those who have read some of it come to the services, and also by the strong opposition that soon arose from both Catholics and Protestants. But this only served to advertise us the more.
At present Brother Juan Robles and family, the pastor of three of our congregations that are located in the revolution-stricken district of afflicted Mexico, are giving me valuable help, as is also Brother Carlos S. Nicolas, who speaks in the services and helps in a general way. Brother Butka was also here for a time in the colporteur work.
The mounted man in the accompanying illustration is Brother Antonio Rodriguez, the first man to accept the message in this city, and the man to whose activity much of the progress of the work here is to be credited. The trade by which he supports his family may be correctly guessed by what the picture shows in his hand (a shoe). I must not fail to state also that all the dear believers are true and active supporters of the work in the midst of strong opposition.
Since we opened our work in the present location, fifteen persons have signed a covenant to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and by their influence and otherwise, to support the work of the message they have learned to love. There are several applicants for baptism, and a good prospect that the Lord will raise up a company of believers here to help proclaim the last message in this important center.
After speaking on the “Beast and Its Image” to an appreciative audience, an invitation was given for all those to arise who believed that the law as given on Mount Sinai was still obligatory on all, instead of the mutilated law as taught by the Papacy, and sixteen persons responded. Nearly the whole congregation arose to testify to their firm belief in the holy law.
The message is onward here, and the conviction that we have the sympathy and prayers of all the REVIEW family is a source of much comfort and strength.