G. W. REASER by G. W. Reaser

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 13, 1910

G. W. REASER

By G. W. Reaser

Mexico

G. W. REASER

It devolves upon God to open doors for the proclamation of his world-wide message. This preparatory work he has now almost universally accomplished. His hand has swung wide open the doors of China, India, Africa, Japan, and Korea for the preaching of “this gospel of the kingdom.” His all-powerful hand was laid upon the iron door of Russia, and by special decree, authorized by the czar of all the Russias, hindrance to the progress of our work in that vast empire has been greatly removed. And now Turkey has become more tolerant to Christianity, and even the sealed kingdom of Tibet is gradually opening its doors to the outside world.

The eye of faith, comprehending the fact that man can not work the mighty miracles necessary to carry the last message of salvation to all the world in a single generation, sees clearly the power of God, working upon the hearts of kings and potentates, in thus performing a series of miracles in behalf of modern missions.

The Power of the Inquisition Broken in Mexico

Until a very recent date the door of Mexico was sealed against Protestantism. The power of the Inquisition was not broken in this republic for a third of a century after public executions had ceased in the Old World. In order to bring about religious liberty in this nation, God must take the government out of the hands of the church party, and place men over governmental affairs who would see to it that there should be such complete separation between church and state that true Protestants might have full liberty in preaching the everlasting gospel in Mexico. For nearly a century Jehovah has been at work in Mexico, to give the affairs of state into the hands of men who would not be hostile to the last work in the plan of salvation in this land.

Forty years ago no man’s life or property was safe in Mexico. The men in power have established law and order; all the property of the Catholic Church has been confiscated by the state, the church being permitted to use only such places of worship as are necessary to accommodate its members. Convents have been abolished, and the buildings used for asylums, libraries, and for state and municipal purposes. Such an era of progress has been inaugurated in railway

building and in postal and educational systems as few countries of the world have experienced during the same period.

Our Needs

STANDING, BEGINNING AT THE LEFT, BRETHREN BANNY, ACKAH, DAHARTY, SAKEY. SITTING, BEGINNING AT LEFT, ELDER D. C. BABCOCK, EVANGELIST C. E. F. THOMPSON.

It is our high calling in Christ Jesus to step into the open door created in Mexico by the miracle-working power of our God, and give the fifteen million people of that republic the everlasting gospel in this generation.

We are cherishing strong hopes that the Lord of the harvest will raise up more consecrated workers.

We have divided our territory into five districts, each having an average of three million people. Our hope is to have one minister, one Bible worker, and two self-supporting colporteurs located in each of these districts. Are our hopes set too high? Are we thus asking too much of our people for Mexico? I fancy I hear a general response from the world-wide congregation of commandment-keeping people, saying, “Your request is a modest one.”

A Training-School

Then, too, we feel that there is great need of at least one training-school for the twenty-nine million Spanish-speaking people of Latin America, north of the equator. Think of it, brethren, we have not a single school in North America where we can take one of the children of these twenty-nine million people and give him a training in his own language to become a worker in God’s cause. When you consider this fact, does it not occur to you that we are very slow in following up God’s great miracle in opening the door of Mexico?

Converted young people from Catholic families plead with us eloquently and earnestly to give them opportunity to receive training, that they may be messengers to their own people. It rests with our people to whom God has entrusted means, to answer these appeals. How long must they go unanswered? Who will respond in helping us with funds to establish our work in this republic?

Tacubaya, D. F.