GEO. W. CASEBEER by GEO. W. CASEBEER

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

GEO. W. CASEBEER

By GEO. W. CASEBEER

Ecuador

POSORJA.—Besides studying the language, we find many friendly people, and a few who like to study Bible themes. A short time before removing from Guayaquil, we had a very encouraging experience. Brother Davis and I were walking along one of the main streets of the town when we met a man with a hand satchel of books, besides some under his arm. We were curious, of course, to find out what kind of books he had. Upon inquiry, we found that he was a member of one of the Protestant churches here, and was selling Bibles and books for them. As he did not seem to be having very great success, Brother Davis offered to show him where he might sell a Bible. As they walked, he began asking about the truth. He became so interested that they studied all the afternoon and evening. He seemed ready for the message, and accepted the Sabbath, and kept the next one with us. As we presented the other points, he soon grasped them, and with the reading-matter—Senales de los Tiempos and Spanish tracts—he seemed quite well established, and is now selling small books for us, also talking to the people.

We expect to keep in touch with him by correspondence, and occasionally a visit, and I believe if he continues faithful, he will soon be a great help to us here. He is very poor, but has the true spirit of sacrifice. The first week he gave us fifty cents gold, and the next $2.40, for First-day offerings, although he had scarcely enough to live on, and had no work in sight. We truly thank God for this token of his guiding hand, and are assured that this message will soon reach the utmost bounds of this dark land, although now just beginning.

The revolution through which this country has just passed has changed the government somewhat, and it, perhaps, is now more liberal than ever. In nineteen days from the first battle, the country was in the hands of the Revolutionists, but not without hard fighting and much bloodshed, nearly one thousand being killed, and many more wounded. Guayaquil was the last place taken. It was assaulted Friday afternoon

noon, January 19. Our house, also Brother Davis's, was situated close to the strongest fort in town. The other four barracks were taken in the evening, but this not until morning, so we had fighting around us all night. Many were killed near our home, and several stray balls entered the house, but none in our departments.

The second story of the bamboo houses here is built protruding over the sidewalks, so stray balls had a good opportunity to strike. But the Lord's protecting hand was over us, while many were shot in their homes.

We find that the people in the small towns are more under the hand of the priests. As Brother Davis was sick, my wife and I came down one week ahead, to find quarters for both families. We made arrangements with a man for a house, paid something down on the rent, moved in, and were well settled when he received word from the priest that there was another family wanting the house. We at once received orders to move out. But as I had a receipt for the money, and witnesses to the arrangement, he could do nothing. He finally said that if we would live very tranquilamente, and not play the organ, or practise our religion in any way, we might stay there. He was informed in a very kind way that we believed in liberty to every one, and that wherever we lived, we would serve God as we believe to be right. We saw, of course, the feelings that would exist if we should stay, so we told him that if he would find another house, pay back our money, and move us, we would go. In order to obey the priest, this was done quite willingly.

The majority of the people here, I believe, are breaking away from the power of the priests. But this does not destroy the effects of their training, and they are very hard to reach.