p. 12 | J. W. WESTPHAL by J. W. Westphal

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Oct 13, 1904

J. W. WESTPHAL

By J. W. Westphal

Brazil

J. W. WESTPHAL

It must be remembered that Brazil is a republic whose area is about the same as that of the United States. It is composed of twenty States, whose average area is more than double the average area of the States of the American Union. The population is not far from twenty million, located principally in the coast States and in the southern portion of the republic. As these States are gradually being filled with European immigrants, many of the older inhabitants are leaving for more sparsely settled portions, principally for Matto Grosso, a large State on the border of Paraguay, Bolivia, and Peru. There are many thousands of Indians, and of some of their tribes but little is known.

Only seven of the States have any Sabbath-keepers: namely, Minas, Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Parana, Santa Catharina, and Rio Grande do Sul. In the first named we have one church; in the second, two; in the third, one; in the fourth, one small company and one family; while in each of the remaining three States we have several churches. To go from the most northern church to the brethren most remote in the south will take at least one month, and it may take considerable longer. To reach intermediate points there will take a proportionately long time. Filling calls in new fields is also done already at a great loss of time. It is therefore clear that the work in Brazil must be carried forward at much greater expense in time and money than would be required in the United States. Indeed, many lines a laborer can not do more than one half as much as he can in the States, while the hardships and deprivations are multiplied many times.

In the State of Minas we have no laborer; in Espirito Santo there is one, Elder W. Ehlers. In Rio Janeiro we have our office, but there is no public laborer. Neither is there a laborer in Sao Paulo. In the State of Parana, Elder F. W. Spies, and Brother Emil Hoelzle, a licentiate, and several young canvassers are at work. As soon as Brother Spies can consistently leave the work in this State, he is expected to enter the State of Sao Paulo. In Santa Catarina, Brother John Linke, the former principal of the Brusque school, is to look after the work. The school is now being conducted by one of its former students. In Rio Grande do Sul, Elder H. F. Graf is the only minister. There are two canvassers, one of whom is now assisting Elder Graf in some public efforts. Our missionary paper, O Arauto da Verdade, is also published here, and the editor, Wm. Stein, is also translating tracts and books, and assisting in other ways. Here is also our second mission school, conducted by Brother Emil Schenk. Dr. A. L. Gregory is engaged in self-supporting mission work, necessarily devoting his time principally to medical and dental practise. It was only after many severe conflicts and discouragements that the doctor was able to establish himself in the midst of the opposition he has had to meet.

This is, in brief, the situation in which our work finds itself in Brazil. Only a few know anything about the message. At every step we are cramped for men and means to carry it forward. Should there not be at least two laborers in each of these States at once? The results already attained show that the Lord has many jewels not only among the foreigners, but among the native Brazilians. There are fields to-day where there are many ready to welcome the devoted laborer that can not possibly be supplied.

Opposition to the message is being carried on systematically and aggressively, and it seems to me is already far ahead of us. Sunday closing is even now the order of the day. This is not only the case in the larger cities, but is common in the smaller country villages. This is a condition developed in the last year or two. No doubt those who have been most prominent in the agitation that has brought it about have been the Protestant missionaries from the United States, and it is in imitation of the example of the world's greatest republic. Thus the United States is rapidly inducing these people to face about, again directing their steps toward Rome, and toward the worship of the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

There are other ways in which the enemy is working. Articles have appeared in prominent American newspapers to the effect that Germany has designs upon southern Brazil. This is strongly resented by many of the Germans of Brazil. In view of the aggressions of the United States in the Philippines and other places, and the position with reference to Panama, it is reported by many of them that the United States has designs upon Brazil, and the subject is argued in the public press. Since the American missionaries of various denominations are coming in contact with the established churches, and are taking some of their members, a bitter feeling against them has been aroused among many. The result has been that the American missionaries have been represented as spies sent out and supported by the American government. Not long ago a native minister who is now keeping the Sabbath was whipped by the authorities, and one of his flock, a little girl, was severely injured, because in a German paper he was represented as an American spy.

While I was sleeping under the hospitable roof of an Estanciarao, my traveling companion, Brother H. Mecking, was having a warm discussion with the proprietor. After he had learned that I was a missionary from the United States, he declared that I was a spy. No amount of argument could make him believe otherwise. He declared that he could not make an intelligent man believe otherwise. Thus the enemy is working to hedge up the way for the advancement of the message, and to make it as difficult as possible. It is clear that with every delay we are making our work harder. To the hardships and deprivations as they are in the field to-day will soon be added persecution. Will not our brethren remember this field in their prayers and with their means? and are there not some of our younger men who are willing to share in the conflicts, self-denials, and deprivations, and, both now and at the end, in its glorious triumphs?