South American Growth by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · May 3, 1906

South American Growth

By William Ambrose Spicer

The world recognizes the fact that South America is forging ahead. The attention given by the United States to the Pan-American Congress, appointed at Rio de Janeiro, is a recognition of the growing influence of these republics. On every hand here one may see signs of substantial progress.

This is an encouraging outlook for us, for, with more settled political conditions, and with fair industrial prosperity, we know that the time has come for the third angel's message to go to these peoples.

The ship on which I came out from Europe carried over five hundred emigrants, mostly from southern Russia. This is an indication of the tide of immigration setting in toward the fertile lands of the River Plate republics. Foreign capital and foreign settlers are coming freely into these fields.

We in North America hardly appreciate the rapid growth of South American cities. For instance, who of us has stopped to think of these cities as we have talked of the importance of evangelizing the great centers of population? Yet of the five greatest cities of all the New World, North America has three and South America two. They come in the following order: New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Buenos Ayres, Rio de Janeiro.

I stopped over one night with Elder Spies, in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, and caught a brief glimpse of this growing city of nearly a million. Little has been done for it, though we have a few believers there as the result of that little effort. It is a great city, and a growing one. Large areas have recently been rebuilt, and improvements made in sanitation. The brethren whom I met are anxious to begin a more direct and public campaign in Rio. And surely the fifth city of the New World ought not to be passed by.

GROUP OF WORKERS ATTENDING THE SOUTH AMERICAN UNION CONFERENCE

In Buenos Ayres, the capital of the Argentine Republic, we have the metropolis of the continent. It calls itself, sometimes, the Chicago of South America. Its population is nearly one and a quarter million, almost equaling Philadelphia. And it is truly a fine city, comparing well with any in Europe or North America in up-to-date appointments. A few days in the city must impress one that there must be great agricultural and other resources in the country for which Buenos Ayres is the distributing center.

We have a small church in Buenos Ayres. I was met by Brother Town as our ship arrived Sabbath noon, and went directly to the meeting room where Sabbath-school was in progress, with Sister Town in charge. It was a blessed haven to get into after a long voyage. The language was Spanish, but the study in progress and the whole tone of the place were thoroughly Seventh-day Adventist, and I was immediately at home.

We had a little service after the Sabbath-school, followed by a social meeting. Brother Town translated the testimonies for me as they were borne by the little company, every one of whom took part. These believers love the message. The language of their lips was strange to me, but the language of their hearts was the same old familiar third angel's message. It is one blessed hope the whole world round, and the hearts of the believers beat high with courage for the new time that is witnessing the rising of the message.

It touched my heart to see nearly all weeping tears of joy as we spoke of the progress of the work in various lands and of the courage with which our people everywhere are taking up the finishing of the work. These brethren and sisters of ours in South America are heart and soul with us in this closing work.

No special effort has ever been made in this great city, and the company here is one of the smallest in the River Plate Conference. Naturally and logically the chief effort has been put forth in country districts where the people are more accessible. But with the times of trouble before us in the great cities, we surely ought erelong to do more to give this fourth city of the New World an opportunity to know more of the message. When trouble begins in the cities, we may expect to see difficult times in these South American centers. Revolutions have followed one another in quick succession in these countries in years past, and all the elements of tumult and strife are here, for the time being held in check by the commercial expansion and prosperous times. Let reverses come, and our way would be made very difficult.

Our society's office is located on the edge of the business quarter of the city. Rents are very high, and they have but two rooms in a private dwelling, but well located, one room being used also as the meeting place. Brother Town, secretary and treasurer of the South American Union, has charge of the office. He lives about ten miles south of the business center, while Brother Oppegard and his wife, our other two workers in the city, live about nine miles north of the center. One day, with these latter workers, we visited a Spanish lady who has just accepted the truth under their labors. They were giving readings in an English family, the members of which were interested, but without the decision of character to take a definite stand for the truth. These, however, told what they had heard to a neighbor, this Spanish lady, who came to hear the readings, and later accepted the truth. Her sister and servant seem also with her. Years ago this lady became a Baptist in Spain,

being the only one in her town to accept Protestantism. What she endured then gives her the decision of character to accept further light now. Thus from home to home the truth is being carried. It is evident that there are many honest souls in this great city waiting for us to bring them the truth.

W. A. S.

Buenos Ayres.