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In Two South American Cities

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 2, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 18.

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In Two South American Cities

By William A. Spicer

OUR brethren in South America have heard the call to work the cities, and slender as their resources are, they are going at the work. And the Lord is blessing. Six years ago I met, in the tract society office in Buenos Aires, with a little company of ten or a dozen believers. This year I found in the great city a company of seventy-five or one hundred; and the work in the city, the brethren feel, is but beginning.
The cities of South America present even greater difficulties to the evangelist than do those of North America; but the third angel’s message is winning hearts here. Buenos Aires is indeed a vast city. It is about the size of Philadelphia, and growing rapidly. It is the fourth city of all the New World—New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Buenos Aires. Yet the staff of laborers is now only Pastor C. E. Knight, who as Argentine president must divide his time with the general work; Brother E. Tulin, a new recruit, whose labors the Lord is blessing; and Sisters C. E. Knight and Cassie Wilson, Bible workers. Truly it is a little band to go against such a great multitude.
Out in Florida, a suburb toward which the city is rapidly growing, there is a little settlement of workers associated with the union conference office and the publishing house. The circulation and influence of the publications are growing, and the workers are of good courage. Brother G. E. Hartman, who came from Pennsylvania, is union treasurer and manager of the publishing house; and Pastor E. W. Thomann, and Sister Lydia Oppegard, who found the truth in South America, are the office editorial staff for the publications. Brother Arthur Warren, who came from our British printing-house, is superintendent of the factory. Thus laborers gathered from various nations join in working for the multitudes of many nationalities to be reached here by the Spanish tongue.
Across the mighty stream of the River Plate, eight or ten hours’ journey by steamer, is Montevideo. It is a city of half a million, a clean and bright city, but one more than ordinarily given to irreligion and gaiety. It aspires to be the Monte Carlo of South America. Our brethren have longed to see work done in this city. Four years ago Pastor J. V. Maas, then superintendent of Uruguay, made a call for nurses to enter Montevideo as pioneers of the message. This led to the sending of our first city missionary nurses to South America. They have had good experiences, and we believe that their work will surely prove a preparation for the public effort which Pastor F. L. Perry now plans to open in Montevideo. Sisters Meda Kerr and Frances Brockman, who worked alone in the city for two years, saw many a threatening barrier removed as they went forward. Now the way for the nursing work is wide open. Miss Kerr has been called to the school in Argentina, and Sisters Elnora Davis and Maud Carner are joining in the work. Brother and Sister A. G. Hammerly, of Switzerland, are also engaged in nursing in this field.
Uruguay has for years been a strong field for us in local finance. The truth was planted years ago in the Protestant German-Swiss colonies; and these four or five churches and companies and the few separated believers have held steadfastly to the faith, and have been loyal in giving the tithe. They have longed to see the work carried into new parts. But the lack of permanent laborers has kept Uruguay at a standstill. Now all hearts are full of hope as Pastor Perry settles among them to lead out in the work.
We held a general meeting at a point twenty-seven miles from the railway. The brethren came in with their families, some driving from even yet greater distances. About seventy adults and children were in attendance, the largest meeting ever held in the field, the brethren said. And it was a good meeting. We thank God for the providence that sent Protestants with an open Bible to settle in Uruguay, to be the soil in which the truth of this advent message might take root; and now these brethren hope to see the vine of truth spreading among the Spanish peoples.
W. A. S. Buenos Aires.