Experiences in Chile by H. F. Ketring

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 5, 1903

Experiences in Chile

By H. F. Ketring

H. F. KETRING

Nov. 27, 1902, Elder J. W. Westphal, of Argentina, reached Santiago, Chile, and the following week arrived at the home of the writer in southern Chile. After spending a week in Pua, where we are endeavoring to establish a school, we started south to visit some companies of Sabbath-keepers.

Reaching Nueva Imperial the twelfth of December, we spent Sabbath and Sunday with the company of believers at that place. Monday, after a horseback ride of fifteen miles, we boarded a little river boat, and reached Bajo Imperial. At this place we visited the two families that I baptized last year, and found them firm in the faith. The following Friday the two brethren accompanied us back to Nueva Imperial, where on Sabbath we united all the believers in that part in a church organization of twelve members. The next day we returned home to attend to some things before starting on a more extended trip in the north.

We started north Tuesday morning, December 30, reaching Valparaiso, Wednesday evening, the 31st. Quickly the few believers there were notified of our arrival, and all met together, eager to hear the blessed Word. There we remained, instructing them, until the following Monday. Sunday I baptized two in the Valparaiso harbor. Others desire baptism later.

Monday evening, Jan. 5, 1903, we took a German steamer for Iquique, the headquarters of our work on the west coast, arriving there Friday, a distance of about nine hundred miles. There we were sorry to find Sister Ogden sick in bed, but before we left, about ten days later, she was able to be around again.

During our stay in Iquique, we talked over the plans for the coming year, and we believe that the Lord helped us in reaching decisions. Evening services were conducted regularly in Spanish, to which we had a good outside attendance.

Our hearts were made sad to find the church in that place much distressed, as the result of losing eight of their believers. A short time before, a man had gone there who was formerly an Adventist, and as the result of their not being thoroughly instructed on the sanctuary and the twenty-three hundred days, he was able to confuse the minds of some, and lead them off into heresy and fanaticism.

For several years our work here has been opposed by this same fanaticism, which, if all were thoroughly established on the sanctuary and the three messages, would have no effect whatever. Since coming to this field, my work has largely been to instruct and teach our people these things, that they may be able to resist such doctrines.

We left Iquique for Valparaiso on a freight steamer, Tuesday, January 20, and were nine days in reaching Valparaiso. After spending a day in Valparaiso, we went to Santiago, the capital of Chile, where we have a church of forty or fifty members.

On Sunday, February 1, desiring to hold the business meeting of the church, we called for the reading of the names, but found that there was no authorized list of members, neither was there any record of the organization of the church. It therefore seemed necessary to organize the church. We examined each one thoroughly, and received forty-two members. There were a number who lived in other places who were not present. Several whose lives were not in harmony with the truth, and who were bringing a reproach on the church, remained outside.

In the evening services we had a large outside attendance, the greater number having to stand. Considerable interest was manifested, and a modern Demetrius, a Catholic priest, determined that the exposition of the untruthfulness of the doctrine of purgatory and other like Romanistic teachings should cease, lest their traffic in souls should suffer.

Accordingly, he banded together a hundred men to attend the meeting the following night to cause a disturbance. Being notified of their intentions, we were not taken by surprise. The police headquarters, also hearing of it, sent seven mounted policemen, four ordinary policemen, and two of the secret police force, so that order might be maintained.

The Lord gave me courage in speaking the truth, and as the message was urged home to them, some sneered, while others looked thoughtful. As soon as I had finished speaking, the “temple keeper” rushed forward with the Catholic Bible in hand, declaring that he would prove the existence of purgatory from it. At that the mob from outside filled the room till there was no standing room. I told him to sit down, as the service was not over yet, which he did. I then motioned to the crowd to be silent, and we announced and sang the closing hymn.

After the song he rose again, while the crowd cheered him. But his mind was so confused that he could not find the text he wanted to read. At times he searched for five or ten minutes for a single text. I then improved the time preaching to the people until he found it and read it, after which I continued speaking. They manifested a good degree of respect, and listened attentively. Finally, seeing that their champion was unable to prove anything, they turned against him, and made fun of him. After more than an hour spent in that way, I asked him if he was ready to close the meeting, and the poor man was indeed glad to do so. After singing, we were dismissed with the blessing of the Lord. Thus the Lord gave us the victory. To him be all the praise. Pray that the good seed may find root in some hearts.

Brother Westphal had gone home the day before this meeting, but I remained until the following week. Pray for our work among these priest-ridden people.

Pua, Chile.