The Great Feasts of Bolivia by F. A. Stahl

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 7, 1910

The Great Feasts of Bolivia

By F. A. Stahl

I AM constantly reminded of the scripture, Matt. 24:37, 38. Since December 8 till the present time there has been one feast following another in rapid succession, and this will go on until the middle of February, 1910. Not a day has passed that we have not heard and seen from our door demonstrations of these feasts, and night after night we can hear the beating of the drums, many times at our very gate. The people do not mind cold or rain. It seems to be all the same to them on these occasions. Many do succumb, however, to the effects of exposure and excesses.

Every feast is in honor of some saint named by the Catholic Church, and the people believe they are serving God in all these things. On these occasions the people wear masks of the most hideous kind, likenesses of demons and creeping things, that seem to be of Satan’s own designing.

A MASK USED IN RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL PARADES, AND WELL STYLED AS OF “SATAN’S OWN DESIGNING”

But in all this there is still much to hope for in this people. I have often thought if they manifested the same endurance and persistence when they received the truth as they do now, they would indeed form a stanch church in Bolivia. Our prayer and desire is that the Lord will grant such a company soon, from which native laborers will go forth to proclaim this precious message. Remember Bolivia at the throne of grace. F. A. STAHL.