FRANK S. BOND by Frank S. Bond

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 16, 1906

FRANK S. BOND

By Frank S. Bond

Spain

BARCELONA.—In my last report I referred to our experience in the city of Reus, in being refused permission to sell tracts in that place. From there we went to Tarragona, which is the capital of the province where we were working. We endeavored to obtain permission from the governor to work the whole province, but were also refused that. It seems that every avenue for getting our literature before the people of that part of Spain is for the present hedged up. We were invited by the chief of police in Tarragona to leave for Barcelona by the first train. In these experiences we learn to appreciate the keeping power of God.

During the past month we have been reading with a goodly number of promising listeners here in Barcelona, but during the past week several of these, upon being threatened with excommunication by their Protestant pastors should they continue to listen to these doctrines, have decided to remain in the old way, although they are aware that every week they are openly transgressing God’s holy law. The enemy of souls is hard at work, and wherever we go, we see evidences of his power over this people. The most conspicuous part of every town or village is its church, whose steeple towers far above everything else.

One of the most interesting things, in that line, which we have visited is what is called “La Sagrada Familia.” This is a magnificent ecclesiastical pile which is slowly rising in the northern suburb of Barcelona. It has already been under process of construction for twenty-four years, and as it is the product of “alms of the faithful,” it is probable that a great deal of time will yet be consumed before it reaches completion.

The picture [on the first page] gives some idea as to how it looks at the present time; but without seeing it, one can not appreciate the beauty of its exterior design. Its general architecture surpasses anything else we have seen in the church line, even including St. Peter’s and other fine churches of Rome.

It is said that “the entire cost of this

enormous work can not be less than a million and a half sterling.” Some distance away is a large convent where many nuns are stationed, and it is said upon good authority that this convent is connected with La Sagrada Familia by an underground passage, and it is also stated that underneath the church, cells have been constructed. It is further said that in another convent in this city are stored Mauser rifles and ammunition; so we can readily see that it would require no very great effort once more to establish the Inquisition in this fair land.

Here are eighteen million souls who must hear this message, and in order to hear it some one must carry it to them. Are there not some laborers in some of our home conferences who have a burden for Spain? We feel the need of an interest in the prayers of all God’s children.