THE GOSPEL IN THE LAND OF THE INCAS.
By Frank C. Kelley
[Arranged from the Spanish by Frank C. Kelley.] LIMA, the capital of Peru, is, and has been for centuries, the most important center of the Andean countries. It was the center of the Spanish power. From it they extended over these countries their scepter. Its seaport is Callao, which really is a part of Lima. It is nearly thirty years since the gospel reached these cities and a church was organized among the English Protestants in Callao, where there is still a church and a school. But for a long time they had no pastor nor worship. Later a like organization was formed in Lima, which now has a church and a school, and supports a pastor. But he only works among the English, and entirely abstains from evangelical work among the people, considering that, in view of the laws and opposition in Peru, such a course is essential for the church's existence. The country is open for the presentation of the gospel in this manner. Other efforts have been made by abler, more heroic, and faithful men, yet one after another have failed, leaving the field still barren in that important center. In other places earnest efforts were made, all of which failed; so that in the year 1888 there was not in all of Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador a single active gospel worker. But from these true yet seemingly wasted efforts have come good results. The city of Lima is now the center of a work which has sent its messengers through all of Central America, and even to the frontiers of Mexico. It is the Lord's work, and it is marvelous in our eyes. First, there was only a small company in Callao, who lived under a load of the cruelest hostility, suffering persecution, their pastor, Penzotti, being eight months confined in prison. Recently another company was formed in Lima, which both its friends and foes said would never be allowed to remain, that, before it would be tolerated, it would be drenched in blood. But it has already stood for a year, and is still growing. There are preparations for the organization of other companies in various parts of the country. The work produces converts, whose hearts are regenerated. Much could be said upon this point. Last April Bishop J. P. Newman (M. E.) visited that country, and, although having had a long experience in missionary countries, was much surprised at the spirituality which he found in Peru, and left well pleased. Heroes and heroines are produced who know how to stand persecution. There are always cases of violence, imprisonment, and persecution, so that an adherent to the cause must be a man of valor. The English minister at Lima, Sir Charles Mansfield, recently said, in view of this fact, that the converts in Peru appeared to him to be more sincere than those in many other places. Once two Bible distributors, John Arancet and Joseph Illescas, were working in a village in the southern part of Peru, when a mob attacked them. Those who caught Arancet told him he must die immediately. He asked for time to pray, which was granted him, and while he prayed for his own soul and those of his persecutors (with a piety the like of which they had never heard), they stood with stones in their hands ready to stone him. Arancet, not knowing at what moment he was to be stoned, continued to pray. At last he heard the voice of an officer who came to save him; and, to pacify the mob, he was taken to the prison, as Illescas had been. That night they were in the care of the guards. The mob returned again, and the guards feared they would lose their lives, but Illescas spoke to the leaders of the mob, replying to their questions, and in the same street he preached the gospel to them, until at last the mob dispersed and returned to their homes. The following day the two prisoners were set at liberty and in peace left the village. Also two lady Bible distributors, Luisa Hurtado and Melchora Montenegro, who were working in the interior of Peru, were set upon by a crowd, or mob led by a priest, who laid hold of them with the evident intention of killing them. But they were met so bravely that the priest declared that it would be better to burn them alive. Nor was this a vain threat, because these women knew that in the mountains another priest had already burned a woman. Nevertheless, they replied to the threat with firmness, saying, if they were to die, if they were to be burned, they would furnish the fagots for the bonfire. This reply enlisted the sympathy of the people, and they refused to let the priest carry out his design. This is an example of Christian heroism seen in the unfolding of the gospel work in the land of the Incas. Laborers are produced who extend the work. The men who are actively working from house to house in Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador, are all native converts of these countries, with the exception of Penzotti and Arancet. These two are from Uruguay. During the long period of Penzotti's imprisonment, preaching was sustained by members of the native church, who did the work of the minister. Two preached regularly and kept up their theological studies, hearing each other's lessons in the absence of the missionary or his wife. The school work began in 1891 with one school; in 1892 it opened with two schools more, and in 1893 a fourth, and recently, 1894, another. Eight teachers are employed, and others are pushing their studies. To the poor the gospel is preached, and they, even in their poverty, sustain and spread it. Not many rich, not many of the mighty, have been called to join the ranks of the persecuted. Yet from the beginning of the good work you see it sustained in all of its departments. Two of the schools paid all of their expenses for the past year. The churches paid all of their smaller expenses and had some money left over. This is in the poorest part, and the most enslaved by the priests, on the Western Hemisphere. It is truly a triumphant victory. The gospel destroys caste and unites in one all classes. In one of our schools we meet children of European, Indian, African, and Chinese parentage. If there is another school in the world with such a mixture of races, I have no knowledge of it. The legal difficulties are disappearing. The long imprisonment of Mr. Penzotti, which resulted in giving him his freedom without condemnation or costs, was a victory that could not have been gained in any other way. This victory, which was the fruit of sufferings and earnest labors of Mr. Penzotti, was the beginning of an agitation for more religious freedom, which is growing, and will without doubt end successfully. The initiatory measure for freedom of religious worship was introduced into the Peruvian Congress during the imprisonment of Penzotti. This initiatory bill was rejected and its supporters burned in effigy. Since then a great change has taken place, and many public men are now favorable to the reformation. This shows us that the day draws near when freedom of religious worship is to be realized in the land of the Incas. The prospect for the future is encouraging and full of promise. And we prophesy that when the day comes for the first American Missionary Congress, there will be in that convention many from this, the darkest part of America, who have been rescued from the darkness and power of Satan to that of God.