p. 14 | Untitled article by William Warren Prescott

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 17, 1916

Under South American Skies — No. 1

By William Warren Prescott

The interests of our work demanded that one or more members of the General Conference Committee visit the South American field, and from the time of the last General Conference it had been understood that Elder A. G. Daniells would make this trip. However, as the time for the visit drew near, it became clear to the members of the committee in Washington that, all things considered, it would not be advisable for him to carry out the original plan; and at the council in Loma Linda, Cal., held last November, I was asked to take his place. On our return to Washington the advisability of having Elder N. Z. Town also visit the field was considered, and decided upon. His former residence in South America and his acquaintance with the German and Spanish languages would enable him to render very efficient help. We sailed from New York on the steamship “Verdi,” of the Lamport and Holt line, on Dec. 11, 1915. Elder O. Montgomery, the president of the Southeastern Union Conference, who had been invited by the same council to take the presidency of the new South American Division Conference to be organized, sailed on the same ship, accompanied by his wife and daughter.

The voyage as a whole was a very good one. After the first three days the weather became warmer, and a little later we were in the tropics. The sea was quite calm, and we encountered no storms, and yet there were some days when there was considerable longing for land and a steady abiding place on the part of some members of our party. It is always so, but when the sky is sunny, the weather comfortable, and we are occupied with more agreeable things, we soon forget the bad times.

After a voyage of sixteen days we arrived in the harbor of Rio de Janeiro, having called at one port only, Bahia, on the northeast coast of Brazil. We spent two pleasant and profitable days at Rio, and on the third we came by train to Sao Paulo, the capital of the state of Sao Paulo, a journey of about three hundred and forty miles. This gave us our first glimpse of the country and of country life. As it was next to the last day of December, it seemed rather unusual to see tall Indian corn waving in the breeze, but it reminded us of the fact that the seasons had been reversed during our voyage of nearly five thousand miles, and that we were now in the Southern Hemisphere. Although the sun is directly overhead in this latitude at this season of the year, yet we were quite comfortable, as the day was rather cloudy and recent rains had laid the dust, which in a dry time may be rather disagreeable.

We arrived in Sao Paulo at about 6:30 P. M., and immediately took a suburban train for Sao Bernardo, a few miles out on another line. Here we were taken to the home of Elder F. W. Spies, the president of the Brazilian Union Conference, who had met us at Rio and had accompanied us on our ride to Sao Paulo. The change from life on board ship and at a hotel to a hospitable Seventh-day Adventist home was a most agreeable one, and we shall long remember the kindness of Brother and Sister Spies during our stay of four days with them. The cordial spirit with which they received and entertained our company of six persons was most refreshing.

At Sao Bernardo is the publishing house of the Brazilian Union Conference. About twelve acres of land were purchased, upon which have been erected the buildings required for the printing office, and several homes for workers. All the buildings are neat and substantial, and the office is supplied with such machinery and appliances as are necessary for the production of periodicals, pamphlets, and bound books. As Brother Town will make a detailed report of the product of the office, I will simply state that the literature sent out would be a credit to any of our publishing houses. Personally I was agreeably surprised at the number and character of the publications. The manager of the office, Brother A. Pages, has set a high standard, and has been very successful in attaining it. But, best of all, the literature is being placed in the homes of the people, as is proved by the fact that the office is printing editions of from five to fifteen thousand. The canvassers are working the territory systematically and successfully.

Some authorities state that only twenty per cent of the men and ten per cent of the women of Brazil can read and write, while others affirm that the number is still smaller; but the canvassers treat all alike, and sometimes sell to those who cannot read, persuading them that they can get their more fortunate neighbors to read the good things to them. It will, however, be at once evident that this large percentage of illiteracy is a serious matter for the canvassers.

Furthermore, there are in some parts of this country immense coffee plantations where one may ride for hours upon the land of one owner, and when he and possibly one or two of his leading employees have been visited, the canvasser will have a long journey to the next plantation. But the canvassers are meeting this difficult situation bravely and hopefully, and the Lord is giving them success. With heavy packs upon their backs and with a tropical sun over their heads, they go through the country, carrying the message of life and health to the homes of many who sit in darkness. An experience related by Brother Town in one of his articles tells of the remarkable results which sometimes attend their self-sacrificing labors. We are thankful that we find the publishing work prospering in this union conference in Brazil.

After our stay at Sao Bernardo we came to Santo Amaro, another suburb of Sao Paulo, on the opposite side of the city. We rode out over a well-built electric line, and noticed that the roomy car was made in Philadelphia, Pa. At Santo Amaro will be held the workers’ meeting, and the session of the Brazilian Union Conference, which immediately follows it. A dining tent, a meeting tent, and some small tents, made by one of the brethren here, and creditably made, too, have been pitched, and a very neat church building recently erected will also be used. We have a pleasant room at the home of Brother G. Conrad, the field agent, while Brethren Montgomery and Town are comfortably provided for at the home of Brother John Lipke. We all dine at the tent. The cafeteria plan is followed, and we are sometimes perplexed at the strange names on the menu in the Portuguese language, but there is always some one at hand who can help us out of our difficulty. Brother Henry Haefft and wife are in charge of the dining tent, and they render most acceptable service. Brother Haefft will be remembered by some as a former student at the Foreign Mission Seminary.

In view of the demand for facilities for the training of workers in this field, the brethren have undertaken to establish a school, and we gladly accepted an invitation to visit it. As full information concerning this work has already been furnished to our people in the United States in connection with the call for a Thirteenth Sabbath Offering in its behalf, I do not need to write the history of this enterprise, but I will give some personal impressions of the place and of the work being done. The property, which consists of between three hundred and four hundred acres, is six or eight miles from Sao Paulo, and we rode out in a large wagon drawn by four mules. The country is rolling; the road is better than the average road in Brazil, but with some room for improvement, and the views are very fine. We were favorably impressed with the school property. There is good land for cultivation, there is plenty of pasturage, and there is a quantity of wood suitable for making charcoal (a paying industry in this country), and some good timber for building purposes. A good start has been made in constructing the buildings, which will be erected on high ground where the refreshing breezes will temper the tropical heat of the sun. Although work was begun only last May, yet a large garden of several acres, and corn, peanuts, and some vegetables peculiar to Brazil are now under cultivation, and we had some of the products of their own land for our dinner. About six hundred banana plants have been set out, and an orchard has been started. More banana plants will be set out later, and a vineyard will follow. The ground lies very favorably for these purposes.

A school of about twenty students has been conducted in a house which was on the property when it was purchased, the students helping in the work on the place. Elder John Lipke, the superintendent of the Sao Paulo Mission, and Brother Paul Hennig, the secretary of the Brazilian Union Conference, have done the teaching. Brother Hennig was formerly a student in the Clinton (Mo.) German Seminary.

Elder J. H. Boehm and wife, who came to Brazil from the State of Kansas about three years ago, are carrying the leading responsibility in preparing the way for the actual work of the school.

Brother Boehm is general manager of the business, and superintends all the operations, while Sister Boehm has charge of the temporary home and the boarding of the workers, and they are rendering most valuable service. It is no easy task to establish an enterprise of this character in this country. Tents were first pitched, and they all lived in them while they were getting something more substantial built. A road was made, bricks were burned on the place, lumber was drawn, a hydraulic ram was installed, and water was thus got upon the high ground, and then buildings to be used later for a barn and chicken houses and other such purposes were first built. In these buildings they are now living while the school buildings are in process of construction. Such pioneer life is rather strenuous, but we heard no word of complaint. All seemed to be thankful at the prospect of having a school where workers could be prepared for carrying this message to the people of Brazil.

If those who have contributed to the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering which will provide the funds for this school could be here to see the simplicity and economy practiced, and could with these workers enter into the spirit of the plans for this training school, I am confident that they would feel it a privilege to aid such a worthy enterprise. I must not forget to add that brethren here who are able to do so, are giving liberally for this work, and are thus sharing with their brethren and sisters in the United States in carrying the financial burden assumed in starting their union conference training school.

Of the workers’ meeting and the session of the Brazilian Union Conference which are to be held here I will speak in my next report. W. W. PRESCOTT.