Argentina by Arthur Fulton

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · May 19, 1904

Argentina

By Arthur Fulton

CASCARANA, SANTA FE.— The law here compels all teachers, both of public and of private schools, to pass the public examinations, and a refusal to comply may cause the school to be closed. Accordingly, I attended a two months' institute in the city of Gualeguaychu, at the other side of the province.

School is held every day except Sunday and feast-days. When I registered, I spoke about being excused on the Sabbath. As I did not attend on that day, after a few Sabbaths' absence I was questioned about the matter, and was told that in no wise would I be excused; that if I was called upon to recite on that day, I should be marked zero; that the daily classifications would count one half on the examination.

I went home, and wrote out a petition, stating my reasons, and asking to be excused on that day. From the first, the whole school took an interest in how the matter would turn out, and I had many opportunities to explain why I could not attend. Some advised me to go to my pastor and lay the matter before him, telling him how much I would lose, and ask him to pardon me the fault. As the time neared for the final examinations, the professors, four in number, became more strict. Once during the course each candidate for a diploma must give a practise lesson to the children, before the whole school. The practise days were Sabbaths and Tuesdays. One Friday I was called in, and assigned work for the following day. It so happened that the director was sick, and his sister had taken his place for the day. Finding I would not yield, she changed my name for that of another. The director seemed angry when he found it out, but at last let me give the class on Tuesday.

The examinations were to be on Thursday, Friday, and Sabbath. I made a last petition to take the work in the two days, and Thursday evening I was refused. That night came a telegram from the capital, setting the time for the next week, beginning Wednesday. I at once wrote a petition to the superintendent of the province, stating the case, and asking permission to take the two branches assigned for the next Sabbath on the other days. Wednesday came the answer, and I was told my request was granted. One of the professors asked me if I had not been praying for this. I said, 'Yes, indeed I have.' As he turned away, he said, 'He will be more set than ever in his heresy.'

Out of the forty-five present, only twelve were successful in everything. So I have abundant reasons to be thankful for the way the Lord helped me in it all. The branches were only the common ones,—pedagogy, history, grammar, civil government, arithmetic, biography of eminent Argentinians, geography, agriculture,

and stock-raising: It was quite difficult for me, however, in the Spanish language and the local studies, also more memorizing is required than I am accustomed to.

If I had failed in the examination, the improvement that I have made in the language would be more than the worth of the time spent in the school. I have also been able to form some friendships that I hope will be of use in missionary correspondence. O for more of that spirit to work! for the time is fast closing, and so little is being done here in this dark land.

ARTHUR FULTON.