On account of the loss of time and the expense incurred, general meetings in Brazil have not been very numerous thus far in the progress of the message. We have had only one meeting where all our workers were present, and that was in May, 1898.
THE BRUSQUE CHURCH.
It was then thought advisable to hold a general meeting for the workers once a year, but as time passed on, we have not found it expedient to do so.
A committee meeting was appointed at Brusque, in the state of Santa Catharina, to be held May 10-16, with the view of having as many as possible of our workers and others come in. The Brusque church is our oldest and largest church, and the special object of having the meeting at that place was to consider the advisability of starting a mission school there. This was arranged for; and a report has been sent to the Missionary Magazine respecting it; therefore I will not say more about it here.
I left Rio de Janeiro the first day of May, for the meeting; but did not reach my destination till the 5th. Brusque is an inland town, one-day's journey by stage from the nearest seaport; but as my boat did not call at this port, I went another day's journey further down, where I was met by Brethren Spies and Brach, who were laboring in that section. They brought a mule for my use, and the next day we continued our journey. The weather was fine, the roads were good, and we had a pleasant time, picking oranges along the way, camping by the roadside for dinner, and putting up at a country hotel for the night. We were rather hungry, but all the hotel supplied us was a beef roast and farina.
The second day we started out in good season. We had not gone far before we had to ford a stream, and my mule got into a deep place and gave me a bath to my knees. About noon we passed through the “New Earth,” and about 2 P. M. we came to the “Mount of Olives.” The remainder of the day we found the bridges nearly all gone, and had to ford the streams, and in some places make a long detour to go a short distance, but about 8 P. M. we succeeded in reaching the home of a Brazilian brother.
The next day we had an experience long to be remembered. Brethren Spies and Brach took off their boots, rolled up their trousers, and walked for a time to relieve their horses, whose backs were sore. My mule was standing the journey well; and as I was not used to going barefoot on such roads, I rode, except when climbing mountains, where it was dry. We started out by fording several streams, and finally the road and the stream became one. After wading for a time, we began climbing a steep mountain. The road was bad, and the mud knee-deep in places; but we finally reached the top, and then passed through a portion of the country which was quite well improved, lumbering and cattle-raising being the chief industries. In the afternoon we climbed another mountain still higher than the first, but the road was good a greater part of the way. From the top of this mountain we could see the ocean; and the valleys and hills intervening, dotted here and there with small plantations, presented a beautiful picture. About 3 P. M. we put up at the house of a German, fed our animals, and had lunch. After giving a Bible reading, we continued our journey, reaching the Brusque church at ten o'clock at night.
The first service was held Thursday evening, and the council began Friday morning. Several churches were represented, and four colporteurs were present. One brother and sister, who are in their seventies, in company with Sister Brach, rode seven days on horseback, through mud, rain, rivers, and over mountains, to attend the meetings, and felt well paid for their effort. They said it was good to be there, and we all felt that it was good to have them there.
We held two, and sometimes three, meetings each day, and the Lord blessed in them all. There were some questions that seemed quite difficult to settle, until we sought the Lord together, when all was made clear. Instruction was given in church work, Sabbath-school and tract society work. All manifested a deep interest, and many took part in the exercises by asking questions, offering suggestions, etc.
Each evening and Sabbath and Sunday there were preaching services; and during the whole meeting there was unity and a desire to know more perfectly, and to do more thoroughly, the Lord's will. He is prospering the Brusque church in its faithfulness. The brethren there have erected a building, 24 x 40 ft., for the use of the church and the church school. They also have another building, partly erected, designed for a home for non-resident teachers and students. Arrangements were made to complete the unfinished building, and to start a mission school.
There were several conversions during the meeting, and all were much encouraged to move on in the way of the Lord. The accompanying picture of the Brusque church, including a few persons from abroad, was taken at the close of the meeting. The dormitory was not completed; if it had been, it would have been photographed too.
The meeting proper closed Tuesday evening, the 15th, but Brother and Sister Graf and Brother14Schwantes, from Rio Grande do Sul, remained a few days longer, as they could not get a boat until a week later.
Wednesday morning Brother Spies and I started for home, one of the brethren taking us to the seaport. In the afternoon we had a hard rain, and the team tired out; so we stopped overnight seven miles from the sea. As the roads were very bad and the bridges gone, we rode in on horseback the next morning, expecting to find a steamer; but we had to wait until the next day. We arrived in Rio the following Tuesday, having had a pleasant voyage, and feeling thankful for the blessed meeting we had attended.
