The Gospel in Peru by A. N. Allen

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 20, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 24.

The Gospel in Peru

By A. N. Allen

IN the north of Peru, about forty miles from the coast, there is a large sugar plantation, with its mills and refineries. Every day over one hundred thousand pounds of sugar is sacked ready for market, besides large quantities of alcohol. On this "hacienda" and others controlled by the same company some ten thousand people live. All live in houses belonging to the hacienda. Only such families as have some member employed by the company are allowed to occupy these houses.

Condition of the Laboring Class

The laborers are nearly all "mestizos" and pure Indians. They are brought from the highlands of the Andes, and are secured by agents whose methods are perhaps legal in this country, but are often far from being moral or just. Twenty or thirty dollars is loaned or advanced them, and a contract is signed. This contract is to the effect that the debt will be paid in labor on the sugar plantation.

For his work he is allowed a house to live in, with one and one half pounds of rice and one pound of meat, with twenty-five cents a day. Then there is a company store where clothes, groceries, and liquors can be had on credit, but at high prices. Thus they are ever kept in debt, and while owing they are practically slaves. Many come to old age and die still owing.

This in a few words describes the condition of the laboring class on the tillable coast lands of Peru. There are some places where higher wages are paid; but as the laborer is almost without exception a consumer of alcohol, his wages are usually spent before they are earned. Food, clothes, and liquors are advanced him, and he works to balance the account, but is ever in debt to the store belonging to the company. He receives from twenty-five cents to one dollar in cash each pay-day, which comes every two weeks.

The people living in the highlands of the Andes handle even less money than those working on the sugar plantations. They have, however, their lands, and have plenty to eat and wear, but see scarcely any ready money.

What the Gospel Will Do for Them

But what relation has this condition to the spread of the Gospel? First, as the seed of truth is necessarily first carried by the colporteur, the people, handling almost no money, can scarcely buy the Scriptures. Second, being in servitude, obedience to the Scriptures is rendered difficult except to the very strongest characters. Some, however, receive the Word with joy, and by leaving off their vices, are able to redeem themselves from servitude.

Deposit and Consignments Bank, Lima, Peru

A Notable Case

As I write, I am sitting in the house of one Lisandro Vargas, who struggled five long years to liberate himself. In the day he worked on the "hacienda," and at night braiding hats or making bricks. There were eight in the family to start with, now there are four. The other four died during the time of struggle for freedom. But having gained freedom by almost superhuman effort, his health was broken, and he was no longer able to work on the hacienda; and had his children not grown to size for service, he would have been sent away.

Obtaining a little credit, Mr. Vargas opened in the front room of his house (there are two little rooms) a grocery and liquor shop. About two years ago Casar Lopez, one of our colporteurs, visited the "hacienda," and sold him a Bible and a "Coming King." Soon after, I received a letter telling of the great change that had been wrought in his life. Mr. Vargas had not only given up the use of liquor, tobacco, tea, and coffee, but he had ceased to sell them. His friends said he would starve, especially as his door was always closed on the Sabbath (Saturday).

But God's children do not starve. Mr. Vargas has more stock in his store to-day than ever before. He is working on his own capital. As I write, his little daughter Jane, of twelve summers, is tending the store and working in the kitchen, the mother sits on the ground with a hand sewing-machine sewing shoe tops, and Mr. Vargas is fastening the soles on them.

In this humble home of two rooms are combined a shoe shop and a store. There are no floors or windows, no carpets or pictures except a few cut out of newspapers and one picture of our mission workers. Their only literature is such as comes from the mission. And it is a praying home. Last night, after reading the first week of prayer reading, we bowed in prayer; and even the children present raised their humble voices in earnest petition, asking God to hasten to send the Gospel to all the world. How many more homes are waiting for the Gospel just for the lack of what little you might help?