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C. F. KNOTT

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 20, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 3.

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C. F. KNOTT

By C. F. Knott

Brazil

C. F. KNOTT

At the last conference held here, the brethren decided that the time had come when the message, which had largely heretofore been confined to the Germans living in the state of Santa Catharina, must now more fully be carried to the Brazilians. Therefore, it has been decided that we locate in Florianopolis, the capital of the state, and learn the Portuguese language as soon as possible.
The city of Florianopolis is very beautifully located on a large island, but a great deal of its beauty vanishes on entering the place. The streets are narrow, the houses mostly old and low, and in the dark evenings a few kerosene lamps are burning in the streets to give light to the wayfarer. There is no waterfurnished by the city as yet, and it is being sold by the pail. Transportation as a whole is very poor, there being only about three short railway lines in the state. The city has no railway connections. The colonist brings his products by pack-mules. Sometimes this requires several days. This makes everything he brings rather expensive.
The Catholic Church has full sway, generally. The Presbyterian people have been carrying on missionary effort here for a number of years, and have a church and a good school.
The people live in superstition and darkness. Their religion consists in going to mass and processions. On Good Friday evening a large part of the city was out “burying the Lord.” The streets were well lighted with candles as the long funeral procession advanced, several religious orders at the head, every man carrying a large burning candle. Finally the coffin came, followed by the priest and the bishop of the state. The virgin Mary came next, and a brass band rendered solemn music. Easter morning, early, amid rain and wind, while it was yet dark, the crowd started out “to find Jesus,” who had been stolen.
On the Sabbath between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, Judas was hanged. Effigies were hanging in several parts of the city, and as the clock struck eleven in the forenoon, the boys took them down, and began to drag them through the streets, beating them with sticks, crying aloud, “Judas is hanging on a pole!” O how these poor people need the message, which will bring light, love, and peace to their darkened souls!
As some of the churches and companies had not been visited for more than a year, it was thought best to first make a trip among them. With one of the brethren, I started on the twenty-fifth of May. The road led along the beautiful shore of the south Atlantic, then through beautiful valleys, and over high mountains, where we had to climb nearly on hand and foot, till finally we reached Brusque, where is the oldest church in the state. Here the mission school has been carried on in the past. We are now planning to transfer it to some place near Florianopolis. We had good meetings here. Love and peace were restored to many.
From Brusque we went over the mountainous road seven hours further, to Blumenau. We had to stop en route; for the people had heard of our coming, and met in the house of one of the brethren, and were waiting for us. We stayed long enough to have a good meeting, and then we went on and held two more meetings the same day. The Lord came very near, and several who had studied the message for some time surrendered to God, and determined to walk in his ways.
Luis Alves, where a few of our brethren live, was next visited. From here we proceeded to Massaranduba, where we have a strong company of believers. The enemy had done his work here, so that it had been necessary to disfellowship some. But the good Spirit of God wrought mightily on all present, and many consecrated themselves anew to God, and promised faithfulness in all things. Two were baptized, and six were added to the church. Others are waiting until we come again, to receive the rite.
From Massaranduba we had a one-and-one-half-days’ ride to Joinville, where we had blessed hours, and where many young people consecrated themselves to God. Two and one-half days more of riding along beautiful rivers and long valleys, and around mountains, higher and still higher, until we left the palm forest and the banana and orange trees, for the rolling highland, brought us to Sao Bento, where we have another company. Here the Indian still has his stronghold, for whom nothing has been done as yet to bring him the “glad tidings of a Saviour.”
We had now reached the farthest point of our journey; and, after riding for about half a day down the long, steep grades of the Serra, we found ourselves again among thriving patches of sugar-cane and the golden fruit of the orange tree. Two and one-half days farther homeward, and we were among the brethren at Rio Cunha. And, although it was raining most of the time, the meetings were well attended, and God’s rich blessings were felt by all. We next visited Timbo and Benedito Novo, and from the last-mentioned place we had three and one-half days of hard riding back to Florianopolis.
We find the people not so well-to-do here as in the United States. When we are obliged to stay overnight, we are sometimes glad for a piece of matting made of palm-leaves to sleep on, and pirong — a flour made of a root — with a little something added for our meals. It took us about seven weeks to make the trip; but we improved the time to study the Portuguese language while riding. We hope the time will soon come when we shall be able to do progressive work in the new language.
I am now at home for a short time, and soon shall start on a visit to the churches in the southern part of the state. We are of good courage in the Lord, and are daily praying that he may make us a blessing to the people for whom we labor. We ask an interest in your prayers.
Florianopolis.