THE NEEDS OF PORTUGAL by J. E. Budgett Meakin

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 26, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 33.

THE NEEDS OF PORTUGAL.

By J. E. Budgett Meakin

As yet there are only two centers of evangelical work in Portugal—Lisbon and Oporto—for, tho there is a growing desire all over the land for more Gospel teachers, the supply is almost nil. Very little is known abroad of the needs and opportunities there. Even Coimbra, the university town, is yet unoccupied, notwithstanding all the advantages of work among the students, and numerous applications received from residents there. In the country districts work is still difficult, as there is not yet legal liberty to convert Romanists, to attempt which is a criminal offense. But in the cities public opinion is so far with the Protestants that the Romanists dare not enforce the law.

A most promising feature of the work in Portugal is the success of the primary schools, in the face of much opposition. In Oporto, tho the Romanist schools are free, and a penny a week is charged at the Protestant schools (accommodating 180), sixty-five are waiting for admission to the latter. In another, which accommodates eighty-nine, there are 109 applicants.

In Lisbon the work is chiefly divided between the Lusitanian and Presbyterian Churches. There are also two or three independent workers here and in neighboring towns. Among the native pastors there are several who were once Romish priests, one of whom continues in his old parish. All these agencies pull well together, and denominational walls are overlooked, even to the extent of both using the same hymn-book.

A peculiarly promising branch of the work, with a strongly unifying tendency, is the circle of Young Men's Christian Associations established some two years ago, in connection with the Swiss center. In Oporto, where they were first established, there are three branches, in connection with as many churches.

Priestcraft stands in but poor repute in Portugal, where its representatives lack the respect of most, tho in the villages they still hold sway over the minds of the women. In place of faith, tho side by side with hard-dying superstitions, there is a growing spirit of indifference, which must inevitably absorb the majority of the half-enlightened young if more is not done to bring before them the truth.

One hopeful sign is an increasing readiness to purchase Bibles, altho their circulation without authorized “notes” is prohibited. There are several small evangelical publications in Portuguese, some of which come across the Atlantic from Brazil. A Portuguese merchant returning from Brazil has offered to build a new Protestant church in Lisbon.

In Lisbon and Oporto there are Episcopal and Nonconformist services for the considerable colonies of English to be found there, and at both places seamen's missions exist, doing excellent work. At Oporto, too, there is a small German service conducted by a layman; but except at Portalagre, where Mr. Robinson conducts evangelistic services at the cloth factory, there is practically nothing done as yet to spread the Gospel in Portugal.—J. E. Budgett Meakin.