p. 18 | Experiences in Catholic Mexico by N. Z. T.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 9, 1909

Experiences in Catholic Mexico

By N. Z. T.

LIVING as we do in a Christian land, where Protestantism is in the ascendancy, and where Roman Catholicism has so adjusted its external methods as to court the favor of the people and the government, there is danger of our being misled as to her true character and aims. The experiences of our colporteurs in Mexico, as well as in other countries where the real methods and purposes of the papacy are seen and felt, should be both interesting and instructive to us. The following incident, reported by Brother J. A. P. Green, general agent of Mexico, speaks for itself. Brother Green says:—

“The enemy has put forth his hand which is to hinder our work. Last week Brother Gutierrez encountered one of the real difficulties in Mexico. A leading Catholic paper had already published a full description of ‘Coming King,’ in order to warn both priests and people against it.”

“In the regular course of his work, Brother Gutierrez accidentally called upon a priest, and canvassed him for this book.” After listening to the explanation of ‘Coming King,’ the priest asked for a pencil and the prospectus, so that he might subscribe for the book. As soon as he had the book in his hands, he walked away with it, saying, “This is a Protestant book, and I am going to burn it.” Brother Gutierrez said, “If you do not return my prospectus, I will call the police.”

“The canvasser was as good as his word, for when the priest refused to surrender the prospectus, a policeman was called, and the priest was taken to the police station. The chief of police told the priest if he did not return the prospectus, he would give him thirty days in jail. The prospectus was found at the home of the priest and taken to the police station.”

“The chief of police asked Brother Gutierrez to explain his book to him. In the presence of the priest Brother Gutierrez gave a full description of his book. The magistrate was impressed with it, and immediately signed his name for a copy. His secretary also signed for one. Then the policeman who had arrested the priest and taken him to police headquarters, also requested that he might be permitted to sign.”

“The magistrate now told the priest that his fine for interrupting the canvasser would be either five dollars or fifteen days in jail. The priest paid his fine, and went home a sadder, if not a wiser, priest.”

“We rejoice that God can give victory under such trying circumstances. Evidently nothing can be done against the truth, but for the truth. If the church had its former power, our lives would be in jeopardy; but God can protect his workers. Remember us in your prayers.”

Front row, from left to right, Brethren Yarnell, Town, and Brown; back row, from left to right, Brethren Robinson and Green.

Although a young man, only twenty-one years of age, Brother Gutierrez has already had an interesting experience as a colporteur. Seven years ago, when only fourteen years of age, he began work as a Bible colporteur for the American Bible Society. Having been engaged in that work, he has learned how to endure hardships as a good soldier. He has been arrested and imprisoned for selling Bibles, and knows how to sleep out in the open fields. At one time a mob, evidently inspired by the leaders of the church, stoned him, and left him for dead in the road. His Bibles were taken from him, and his horses stolen. His brother-in-law, who was with him in the same work, was mobbed, tied to a tree, and stoned to death. Our Brother Gutierrez, who through the providence of God had been spared from death at the hands of the mob, took his brother-in-law down from the tree with his own hands.

These incidents smack very loudly of the days of the Reformation, when Luther, Melanchthon, Calvin, and other men of God were translating the Word of God, and sending it out through Europe by the hands of colporteurs. It was a common occurrence at that time for young men to be seized in this way, and burned at the stake, with their own books and other merchandise as fuel. But it is almost startling to us who live in this enlightened age, to learn that within the past seven years, in a great republic adjoining the United States, young men should be stoned for selling the Word of God.

Brother Gutierrez, who is an intelligent young Mexican, recently learned of the truth through conversation with one of our Mexican sisters and through reading El Mensajero. The last Sabbath of the institute he came to our meeting and offered himself as a canvasser, saying he was ready to go out with the other agents. We arranged to help him what we could in the little time that remained, and at an early hour the next morning he presented himself for instruction. In our study together he manifested an excellent spirit. Brother Green reports that during his first week, one incident of which is narrated above, this young man’s sales of our literature amounted to fifty-eight dollars Mexican money, equal to twenty-nine dollars, gold.

N. Z. T.