North Brazil Mission by F. W. SPIES

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jul 11, 1907

North Brazil Mission

By F. W. SPIES

YESTERDAY I visited in Nichteroy a man of some sixty years, who had been a Catholic all his life, and who only recently began reading the Bible. Upon my asking how he was getting along, he replied: “Very well, thank the Lord! I have found the one true God. I have all my life been worshiping clay [he had a goodly number of images and saints, some made of clay, that he formerly worshiped very devotedly], but,” he continued, “a few days ago we had a great burial. I told my son [a lad of about twelve years] to break into pieces and bury the whole lot of them, and he [the young lad is also interested in the gospel] did it well. Then he filled his little wheelbarrow twice with the pieces of the once precious idols, some of which, on account of their great antiquity, had been considered especially valuable, and buried them all together in a hole he had dug for this purpose.”

A SHELL MOUND IN SANTA CATHARINA, BRAZIL.
Stone implements, axes, hammers, etc., are found in them. These mounds are thought to have been made by aboriginal tribes centuries ago. The shells are now burned into lime. — A SHELL MOUND IN SANTA CATHARINA, BRAZIL. Stone implements, axes, hammers, etc., are found in them. These mounds are thought to have been made by aboriginal tribes centuries ago. The shells are now burned into lime.

“Yes, I thank the Lord that we have come to the light. All my life I called upon the vain and useless things, but now I pray to and worship the living and only true God. I am happy in this knowledge, and want to do what I can to impart it to others.”

This, dear brethren and sisters, is what the third angel's message is doing here in Brazil for the poor heathen who thought they had a hope. They are thus learning to know Him who is “the way, the truth, and the life.” In the place of worshiping dead clay, they are turning to the living God. But, O how few are there here who can go to teach these poor souls! for,—

“What though spicy breezes Waft o’er Brazil’s mount and plain; Though every prospect pleases, Still, lost man’s hope is vain. In vain with lavish kindness The gifts of God are strown; The heathen in his blindness Bows down to wood and stone.”

But shall it thus remain? We believe all our brethren will be touched by this simple story, and then remember that there are twenty-two million such poor souls in Brazil.

Shall we help them? We need help, need men and means. And we believe the Lord will send them, and thus help us bring the blessed gospel to many others so that they with us can be made happy in knowing and obeying the true God. F. W. SPIES.