When Peru Went Free by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Feb 3, 1916

When Peru Went Free

By F. M. W.

UNDER this heading William O. Stuntz, superintendent of the Peru District of the Methodist Episcopal Church, tells in the Christian Advocate of January 6, of the struggle for religious toleration in this South American republic. He states that until November, 1915, the statute books of Peru carried provisions making it possible to banish from the country for three years any one who held services of any other religious body save the Roman Catholic Church, the constitution prohibiting public worship except that of the state church. In the capital of Peru, Protestant churches dared not post their notices on their church doors.

Owing to the growing spirit of liberty and love of fair play on the part of many of the people, these rules have not been enforced to any large extent. Two years ago, when the bill providing for religious toleration was introduced, there were only four dissenting votes, three of them from Catholic priests. Very strenuous efforts, however, were put forth by the Catholic Church to defeat the measure when it should come up for second reading. But it may be said to the credit of the members of the house, that after two years of hard work on the part of the state church, only twelve opposing votes could be mustered against the bill.

Dr. Stuntz declares that “it was a red-letter day in Lima when the law was officially announced by congress.” An hour before the joint session of the senate with the deputies the balconies of the chamber were crowded with women, priests, and schoolboys. Of the scene attending the promulgation of the new law this writer says:—

When the leader of the reform movement, Señor Quimper, entered, he was greeted by the Roman Catholic women with shouts of “Renegade!” “Death to the child!” “Death to Quimper!” “Death to the heretics!” “Death to religious liberty!” “Traitors!” “Down with Pilate!” “He’s bought by the Protestants!” “Away with him!” “Away with him!”

A few university students had slipped into the center of the crowd of Roman Catholic women, and so occasionally one heard among the shrill voices of the women the husky shouts of these men in behalf of religious freedom. The president of the deputies had hunted up an excuse to stay at home that day, so the duty of presiding fell on the vice president of the deputies, Dr. Peña Murietta. His arrival called forth a storm of protests, and amid the noise of firecrackers he was showered with crowns of alfalfa. When the senators arrived in a body, they were greeted with “Traitors!” “Death to the representatives!” “Death to the reformers!” “Death to liberty!” and when the meeting was finally called to order, the tumult in the galleries was such that the presiding officer had to order that one of the balconies should be emptied.

In the meantime the priest, Sancho Diaz, the leader of the Roman Catholic forces, and a half dozen others were drinking tea and beer in the barroom adjoining in the hope of preventing a quorum, but finally, hearing Dr. Peña Murietta proceed with the business of the day, they rushed in shouting, “There is no quorum! There is no quorum!” The other congressmen laughed, and said that it would have been their fault if there were not. And so it happened that the very enemies of the bill were present and helped to swell the quorum that made possible the formal announcement of the law.

By this time the noise in the galleries was enormous. Women prayed and yelled at the same time, firecrackers were set off, and more alfalfa crowns were hurled at Dr. Peña Murietta as he arose, and with his bell in one hand (to call for order) and the official document in the other, shouted out, “The honorable congress being in session in order to formally announce the reform of Article IV of the constitution, I shall announce it!” Like a tiger Sr. Sancho Diaz sprang from his seat, ran to the table, seized the document, and tore it to pieces. Some of the congressmen tried to stop him, but were unable to do so. Dr. Peña Murietta, having ordered the offender to be detained, announced the adjournment of the day’s session. (A few moments later the priest formally apologized for tearing up the document.) And so closed one of the most extraordinary sessions of the Peruvian Congress.

F. M. W.