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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 19, 1903

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 46.

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Mexico

By A. G. Bodwell

SAN LUIS POTOSI.— The work in this place was begun by canvassing for our Spanish paper. One of the first persons whom I canvassed was the governor. He treated me very courteously, but I failed to obtain his subscription. However, I secured a subscription from his secretary, and from the secretary of congress, and quite a number of subscriptions from other employees in the palace building. The leading merchants were then canvassed, and several millionaires subscribed for the paper. I had many precious experiences in canvassing among this people.
One afternoon I entered a large commission house, and asked for the proprietor. He came forward, and after shaking hands with him, I began to canvass him, but as soon as he saw the nature of the paper, he remarked that he did not believe in God, or any such foolishness, and had no time to do anything but make money. I was in the act of leaving, as I was very tired, and did not feel as if I had strength enough to say anything more to him, when something seemed to say to me, Don’t go yet. I turned to him, and repeated his words, “You have no time to do anything but make money?” I told him that it seemed like a very foolish statement for a man of his education and standing to make. Then I gave him quite an animated discourse on the second coming of Christ, showing that the wealth of this world will be valueless then, but that clean hands and a pure heart will be of true worth. During the talk several of the clerks left their desks, and came forward to listen. An elderly gentleman asked me a number of questions regarding the nearness of Christ’s second coming. He subscribed for the paper without any urging, and the attitude of the proprietor also seemed to be much changed. This is only one of many instances where the Lord turned seeming defeat into victory.
About one hundred and twenty subscriptions were secured in the business part of town. I began to give Bible readings to some who were interested, and it was not long until I had two congregations to preach to in private houses. I preached to one congregation every Monday afternoon, and to the other every Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. The congregation that I spoke to every Sunday and Wednesday was as intelligent a company as I have seen anywhere in Mexico. There were usually from twenty to twenty-five present. They are not of the lower class, but are from the middle class. Two of the men are merchants, one man is a cigar maker, one young lady is a bookkeeper, another is taking the teachers’ normal course. The last Sunday I spoke for about one and one-half hours on the cleansing of the sanctuary, and had almost perfect attention. They all not only seemed to understand the subject, but to enjoy and appreciate it. There were two young ladies who select the songs before service, giving me a list of them, but at the close of the sermon they gave me a song on the mediatorial work of Christ, thus showing that they understood the subject. At the close of the service a merchant came forward, and said he had been taught that the law originated at Sinai, but that it was clear that the law was from the beginning. He asked other questions, which I explained. I regretted to leave, but I had received word to come to Mexico City to attend a board meeting. At the home where I held the other meetings the lady told me how the people were making fun of her and her companion for keeping the Sabbath, and working on Sunday, and of the Bible answers that they gave their neighbors. This was the first intimation that I had of their keeping the Sabbath.
The night before leaving, I had a talk with a man who sells mines and mining stocks. I had been laboring with him, and supplying him with literature, and he told me that there was no use to try to get around the fact that the seventh day of the week is the Sabbath, and that he was going to keep it. The morning that I left, a woman came to the place where I was stopping, and asked me for one of the tracts that I had written on the law and gospel. She had seen a copy where I had been holding Bible readings. She then asked me to visit them, and give them Bible readings. This I promised to do on my return from Mexico City. In order to reach this people, it will take steady, patient labor; but where are the consecrated workers? A. G. BODWELL.