AN APPEAL FOR PARAGUAY.
By E. W. Snyder
THE Third Angel’s Message in its work recognizes no territorial boundaries; hence all mission fields demand our attention according to their several needs, which may be governed by the number of population, or other conditions, social, intellectual, or religious. We are glad to note that the term “foreign” has been dropped from the name of our Mission Board, and we trust it may be unknown to us as a people in dealing with mission fields in general. In the light of the foregoing, an apology for our appeal in behalf of the Paraguayan field is unnecessary. It is now nearly nine months since we first visited the National Colony, which, according to the last census taken, numbers one hundred and nine families, the French and German elements predominating. The following is a summary of work done in the colony since January 1:— Sermons preached........................................ 25
Bible readings held..................................... 124
Periodicals distributed................................. 293
Pages of literature sold and distributed.............. 15,425
Subscriptions to periodicals.............................. 7
Number baptized............................................ 5
Tithe and offerings received........................... $12.57 Four persons previously reported as keeping the Sabbath have since ceased to do so; however, others are interested, and we hope for a good company to hold up the standard of truth. Those who have accepted the truth are walking in all the light, including healthful living and tithing, and are not only disposed to do their duty, but to sacrifice in order to hold up the light in the colony. This object will not be realized without a struggle, however; for one cannot fail to be impressed with the absence of all that tends to moral, spiritual, and intellectual enlightenment; in fact, one could not render himself unpopular in any more effective manner than by espousing the cause of Christ. Here the newcomer finds no church,—not even Catholic,—no Sunday-schools, no day-school worthy of consideration, no library, no literature of any kind coming into the homes (?) of the people. The children apparently are growing up with no stimulus to a higher ideal of living than their parents are accustomed to, which means, in the majority of cases, an existence but little above the level of the animal. If the untoward influences were only negative in character, the situation would not be so deplorable; but the positive are by no means lacking. Ten distilleries of caña, or native white rum, and the numerous saloons testify to the truthfulness of this statement. As their product retails at only six cents a quart, the cases of the debauched and degraded through this traffic are not few in number. One case that appealed to our sympathy was that of a French colonist who, during the season of grinding sugar cane, from which rum is manufactured, was able to make six barrels of molasses a week, for which he received forty-two dollars. But as he, his wife, and two grown daughters could neither read nor write, they were unable to account for the receipt and expenditure of their income, with the result that the father, following his usual custom of spending Sunday in the village, usually came out of the ensuing debauch relieved of the entire week’s earnings, with no corresponding value received. We are creditably informed that even the government police, like vultures, follow the poor unfortunate inebriate, ready, in case he falls from his horse, to relieve him of his coat, hat, and money. The question comes forcibly to us. Have we done our duty to this colony after having proclaimed the truth publicly and from house to house? In view of the many monuments to the honor of the prince of darkness, it would seem to be of the highest importance that we have at least a Christian school to arrest the great tide of evil that is sweeping the youth down to destruction. The school building would also serve as a place in which to hold religious services. Several features of the colony would seem almost to insure the success of such a school: First, the existing Spanish school teaches little else than the catechism; second, the majority of the better class of colonists, being nominally Protestant, will not support the Spanish school, but would in all probability give their support to a good Protestant school; third, there is no other school outside of the colony within a radius of eighteen miles. Already the government has granted us, free, one acre of land in the village on which to erect a school building and house for the teacher. Unfortunately those who are interested in the success of this enterprise are the poorest financially in the colony. However, they have quite generally responded with the means at hand, which consists in the main of labor, and lumber in the rough. Up to the present we have less than seventy-five dollars pledged. We have taken the preliminary steps in faith, believing that the needed funds will be forthcoming. About four hundred dollars will be needed for the purchase of materials, etc., unobtainable through the supporters of this enterprise. This amount we would gladly raise among those directly interested, but it is not to be found. One colonist, a fair case, showed me the account of every cent he had received for products sold from his small allotment, which indicated an average of $37.50, Paraguayan currency, per month, equivalent to about $4.40, United States money. This amount must provide support for a family of seven persons for one month. It is true that the cultivation of sugar cane is more profitable, some having realized a gain during the harvest season of $294, gold, in three months, but as the only sale available of the molasses made from the cane is to the rum distilleries, our people have from conscientious motives desisted from its cultivation, preferring smaller gains from a more honorable occupation. Circumstances having rendered it impossible for these unfortunate colonists to provide a Christian school for their children, is it just that they be left without assistance? The Lord has plainly said that in communities where a church exists, a school should be established, though there were only six children to attend. In the National Colony of Paraguay there should be several times this number to attend our school, since there are about two hundred children without school facilities. Who of our more favored brethren and sisters will feel it a privilege to assist us in this work? All such, if faithful, will have the joy of seeing souls saved in the kingdom from this darkened land. All donations, large or small, will be appreciated, and may be sent to the treasurer of the Mission Board, H. M. Mitchell, Battle Creek, Mich.