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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 27, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 39.

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Cuba

The following is a translation of a letter recently received here in Cuba, from a native Baptist pastor to whom copies of our Spanish papers and some tracts had been sent. He is one of the ablest workers in the Baptist church on the island, having raised up large churches in many places and baptized hundreds of souls. The letter is as follows:—
“My dear brother in the cause of the Saviour: After saluting you and desiring that the Lord will pour out his richest blessings upon you and your work, I desire to manifest it that I opportunely received your postal-card, and also the literature that you so kindly sent to me, for which I give you thanks, and wish to say that I am much pleased.
“I have not replied before, because I desired to read and study the tracts that you sent me. You have awakened in my soul something that I can not explain. You speak of the day to be observed, or the day of rest. This impressively drew my attention, because I have always noticed that when it speaks of this day, it says Sabbath, and not Sunday. Not understanding the dead languages in which are found the eternal truths, it is clear that I could give it no other interpretation than that it was a lie calling Sunday the Sabbath, but the Lord well knows that the fault is not mine, but that of the men who have preferred a piece of metal to a piece of spiritual bread. I preach my Lord for a true vocation. I am a Baptist because I have believed that to be the only church that taught the purest truth, and I still think so; but not because of this do I shut myself up in a vicious circle, but I believe in the divine word, “Search the Scriptures,” and, “Hold fast that which is good.” This is what I am doing to find the truth in all its purity, and for this reason I turn to you that represent another denomination, that in fulfilling the sacred duty that you have to proclaim the most pure truths [Italics his] you help me with your advice and with the works that you have that will help me to save not only my own soul, but also that of others. I beg of you to send me all the proofs that you can submit that I may not have my soul in suspense. [Italics his.]
“I desire to serve the cause of my Master; I desire also to preach the message of salvation to men, and not to look at the name of the church. I seek only the truth, and if you have it, you must give it to me. Consider yourself Paul and me Timothy. Perhaps, my dear brother, the Lord sent you to my church that you might give to me the direction to find the true way of salvation. I hope that in obedience to him, you will do all in your power to aid me in reaching a more elevated grade of spiritual knowledge.
“I am not an ordained minister of a theological seminary. My faith and perseverance in the Holy Scriptures are what have enabled me to reach the little knowledge of so sacred a subject that I have. I have had no one to teach me, but my Lord has been my Master, and the experience of twenty-six years that has been accepted by him.
“So great has been my desire to verify the truth, that I procured a Portuguese dictionary, and I have seen with surprise that they count the first day of the week as Sunday, and call it such. This will prove that I have been much occupied with this, to me, very important subject. I trust that you will write to me, and I retire from you with all sincerity.
“Your faithful brother in the Lord, “J. R. O. HALLORAN.”