BRAZIL by The Rev. J. J. Taylor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 28, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 42.

BRAZIL.

By The Rev. J. J. Taylor

Serious Problems.

BY THE REV. J. J. TAYLOR.

(Missionary of the Southern Baptist Convention.)

No country, I suppose, can be found that offers more serious problems than does this “Southern Paradise,” as Brazil is sometimes called. Here the statesman, the politician, the social reformer, and the missionary are taxed to their utmost to solve the problems that present themselves on every hand. They call this a republic, “the latest star in the galaxy of republics;” nothing was ever much further from the truth. It would be but for two rather serious defects—it is neither by nor for the people. In the first place only about one man in a hundred takes any interest whatever in the elections, than which there can be no greater farce. Then the few who take part in politics are about equally divided between republicans and monarchists. In the third place, almost without exception, all who are interested are looked upon as office seekers—for the money there may be in the office. There is no public confidence either at home or abroad. “There is neither patriotism nor executive ability in the Brazilian,” said a man to me, who has had a long and useful life among them. Another said: “They pretend to copy and follow the Constitution of the United States; but they cut out all the parts that are disadvantageous to self-aggrandizement.”

Now let me add that one redeeming feature is that religious liberty is guaranteed here, yet, too, this is a great farce. No missionary has assurance that he will not receive a shower of stones from the howling mob that dogs his footsteps—that, too, with the knowledge and consent of the police.

We are walking over the partially hidden mouth of a smoldering volcano that is constantly giving forth signs of an eruption. Even now in several States a fratricidal war is in progress—in one of which mutual extermination seems to be the order of the day. In this revolutionary feature of Brazil the religious “seer” thinks there may be ground for hopefulness. Seeing that nothing stable remains, whether we look to the social, moral, and spiritual business or political feature, it is hoped that by the faithful presentation of the ever-abiding blessings of the gospel many may be won to lives worthy of the name.

The social reformer, too, has much to do. Insurmountable difficulties rise up at the very outset. Disregard, wholesale and complete, of the Bible as the authoritative voice of God declaring vengeance against all ungodliness, has led priest and people alike and together into the great pitfall of unchastity. If you preach purity, insist upon it, denounce unchastity, you are laughed at for your pains and denounced as a hypocrite, for “manly purity is impracticable, impossible, and not demanded.”

With all this cloud of darkness and death there is a silver lining. There are at least a few who do show the power of the gospel in the hearts and lives of those who by it do believe in God. Many places are sending Macedonian cries for helpers, many are hungering for the comforts of the gospel, many gladly hear the preaching of the gospel and express entire belief in the message presented.

—Independent.