Colporteur Work in Mexico by W. F. Mayers

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Apr 18, 1912

Colporteur Work in Mexico

By W. F. Mayers

VILLADAMA, NUEVO LEON.—Once more the minds of many are turned toward this republic on account of the revolution headed by Vasquez Gomez. The workers here are watching with interest the outcome of the present conflict, and, I am sure, are praying earnestly that the gospel may have free course. As there are twenty-seven states and three territories in Mexico, we have been able to work without interruption, and with good success.

I came to Mexico last August, and began working with our health book “Salud y Hogar.” After about a month, I took up the periodical work. We club the Spanish Life and Health, Little Friend, and the Signs together, and take yearly subscriptions at three dollars, Mexican money. It was a splendid thought to combine our religious papers with the health journal published in Buenos Aires, and since it has been carried out, the subscription list has grown rapidly. With the blessing of God, I have been able to secure over four hundred subscriptions for each of the three papers.

After the institute last November, I went to Tampico with Brother Nicholas, and in eight weeks we placed over one thousand pesos’ worth of literature in that thriving city. Tampico is an important deep-water port, and offers excellent opportunities for ship mission work. The climate is somewhat unhealthful, but we were blessed with reasonably good health while there, although many of the people were suffering from attacks of malarial fever.

Leaving there, we went to Victoria, the capital of the state of Tamaulipas. This city is located near the mountains. In fifteen days we placed about 260 pesos’ worth of literature there. We then went to Linares, the place where General Reyes surrendered to the government. Business was rather dull there, but we did what we could to make it better, by obtaining about 200 pesos’ worth of subscriptions.

Our next stop was at Montemorelos. The Presbyterians have a good membership here. Their meetings were so well attended that they had to enlarge the church in order to accommodate the people, a very unusual thing in Mexico. They have a nice farm located near the city, and their large building for industrial work has machinery for woodworking. They have gone to great expense in order to give their students a good training in industrial work. After placing a goodly number of subscriptions, we left for Monterey, from which place the other workers went to Matamoras, while I went toward Laredo.

Arriving at Villadama, I learned of another town seven leagues distant from the railroad, and decided to canvass it first. A ride of about four hours in the coach brought me to Sabinas Hidalgo, where I found a room to live in, which had no window but two heavy wooden doors. There being no way to ventilate the room when the doors were closed, I left them open at night to get the air. The inhabitants are quite peaceable, so there was little danger of robbers. The people in this part of Mexico are much more advanced than those in the interior, and life and property are about as safe as in the United States. I understand that President Taft has advised all Americans to leave those districts where there are uprisings; and in planning the work here, we have left those places for future labors. In Sabinas Hidalgo I stayed eleven days, and took thirty-seven yearly subscriptions.

At this writing, I am in Villadama. During the last four days I have canvassed the town, and am now ready to make my delivery. I wish to be faithful, and to do all I can to prepare the people for the soon-coming Saviour. The work goes forward amid trials and temptations, and opposed by the powers of darkness. Here where Rome has ruled for so long, one needs to be as wise as a serpent and as harmless as a dove. I am thankful that the gospel has already done much to break the power of Rome here, and let us pray that many workers may soon enter these dark lands with the great threefold message. The few workers who are here need the prayers of God’s people that they may be kept by the power of God, and preserved amid the perils incident to the work in Mexico at this time. W. F. MAYERS.