C. E. KNIGHT by C. E. Knight

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 27, 1915

C. E. KNIGHT

By C. E. Knight

Ecuador

It has been about five months since I wrote my last report for this field, but as it has not yet appeared I conclude that in the irregularities of the mail service since the war began, the letter must have been lost.

My wife and I arrived in Quito from Argentina on June 27 of last year, and in a short time were able to begin public meetings and to make the acquaintance of a goodly number of persons. We have not found it difficult to become acquainted with the people in a social way, but they change their attitude as endeavors are made to acquaint them with the truth. We have had interesting conversations and Bible studies with many young people who have come to our meeting room, but evidently they were prompted largely by curiosity to know something of our belief, as they would cease coming after two or three visits. In the young people of Ecuador I see more hope for success in our work than in the older ones, as they apparently are more liberal in their views, and perhaps less attached to the prevailing Catholic religion.

The question of employment is a great hindrance for some in keeping the Sabbath; but notwithstanding this, six adults have manifested their faith by obedience. Two of these, the wife and the son of one of our colporteurs, were baptized in December. Two well-educated young men are now canvassing, and there is good reason for believing that they will develop into effective workers. Two others are a woman and her daughter. The daughter is a school-teacher. In this family are also a number of children.

I have just learned that a family in Ambato has begun to keep the Sabbath through the efforts of a brother living in that place. As the latter has been alone in the truth for a number of years, this is a great encouragement for him. With these hopeful cases the outlook has

brightened somewhat, and I expect that in the near future these new believers, with those in Quito, will be baptized.

Since the coming of Brother Enrique Mangold from Argentina the canvassing work is being pushed; several are now selling our books with fair success. But they have had trials and losses; as, for instance, recently two of them went to a small town to make a delivery of books, but because of an article written by a dissatisfied subscriber and published in a daily paper a month previously, they were taken before the police officials and were obliged to explain the nature of their work. They were able to deliver only two books, but were told that if they could get a recommendation from the Archbishop of Quito all would take their books. Necessarily they have been greatly inconvenienced, but we have no hope of any favor from the archbishop.

Recently another daily paper has twice published articles stating that the special war issue of our missionary paper is only a blind for introducing more literature of a dangerous character, and urged the clergy to be alert against such efforts. Under these conditions the work goes very slowly, and it is difficult to make any perceptible advance.