"ARISE, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising." It is hard for us to grasp the meaning of this text when associated with an enlightened class of people. But since coming to this field, our thoughts have turned to it repeatedly, especially during the latter part of January, when Mayaguez, a city of fifteen or twenty thousand inhabitants, celebrated her most important "fiesta," or feast. The whole city was in an uproar for nine successive days. I will quote from the leading paper of the island:—
On the 23rd Mayaguez commences the Fiesta de Candelaria, which lasts until Feb. 2. A very complete program has been prepared. There will be balls at the theater, casino, and centro Espanol; receptions at the city hall and elsewhere; concerts and fireworks every night, athletic contests, and other things. The committees are striving to make this celebration eclipse any of the past.
The athletic sports on the 24th will consist of an obstacle race, gymnastic and boxing exhibitions, and several American games of skill will be introduced. This takes place on the 24th on the plaza, assisted by the band.
On the 25th a thousand school children will parade. A program will first be rendered at the theater; then each pupil will be treated with dulces [sweets] and refreshments. The procession will form at four o'clock and march to the plaza, where patriotic airs will be sung and appropriate remarks made by the professors.
On the 26th bicycle races will be held near the plaza.
On the 27th the scene of diversion will be transferred to the plaza.
On the 28th the parade of masqueraders will take place on the plaza.
On the 29th there will be games and amusements, and fireworks at night at the upper town, or Balboa.
On the 30th there will be games at the plaza in the afternoon. At 10 o'clock P. M. a gold medal will be awarded to the best local poet and writer.
On the 31st there will be a grand procession of horsemen and racing. Various prizes will be awarded.
Feb. 1st a charitable commission will visit the schools, and a dinner will be given to the inmates of the poorhouse. In the afternoon a firemen's drill will take place with prizes to the best squad.
Feb. 2, Diana; 9 o'clock high mass; at noon six sewing-machines will be given to widows and orphans of the poorer class. In the evening there will be a concert at the plaza, with fireworks, a society ball at the centro, and a dance at the casino.
MISSIONS
Citizens are asked to assist by decorating their houses, and a cordial invitation is extended to neighboring towns to come and help in the merrymaking.
"For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people." Ever since 1509, darkness has covered this part of the world. Since Porto Rico was founded by the Spaniards, these "fiestas" have been celebrated in honor of the patron saints of the different towns and cities. Each town or city has its own patron saint, who is supposed to have a special care and protection over the town he represents; and aside from this each individual has a patron saint.
There are over two hundred fiestas in Porto Rico. Not only the natives of this island take part in the festivities of the church, but the Americans are falling into line with them. What greater compromise could be asked for, when the public schools take part in them? Invitations have been issued to missionaries of different denominations to take part, and not only have one or two sanctioned this festivity of the Roman Church, but all the missionary teachers of one of the leading missions were present.
A boxing contest between two American soldiers was exhibited. This was so repulsive to the people that the alcalde of the city refused to let the second one come off; the one in charge of this part of the program was an American in good standing here.
The public-school program was superintended by those having charge of public-school work.
Is it any wonder that the natives feel no need of a change of heart? They say, "I am as good as the Protestants. They believe in many of our feasts; what is the need of a change of religion?" Only the other day, in talking with a doctor about their feast-days, he said, "We have the same feast-days that they have in the United States,—New Year's day, Christmas, Washington's birthday, and Fourth of July. And there is Sunday; this feast-day is recognized by all the Christian people of the world; so we are just the same as other people."
I said, "I beg to differ with you there, doctor; for there are some people who do not attach any importance to Sunday whatever, but consider the seventh day of the week, Saturday, according to the fourth commandment, still binding."
"Well," he said, "I know, the Jews."
"O, no," I said; "they are not Jews; for they are followers of Jesus Christ."
He soon dropped that question. Many other points were talked over, and finally he said, that, altho a stanch Catholic, he would read. Boarding at the same place is the Catholic priest of the town. The doctor wanted to know if he should return the tracts I gave him, or pass them on. I told him to pass them on, only so he didn't burn them or give them to others to burn. I am confident that the priest will read some of them, if only from curiosity.
In talking with a native about Jesus' coming soon, he stated that he was ready for Him to come. These people can not or do not seem to realize any of the glory associated with God or His Son. This of course is because of a lack of the study of the Word of God. Some are reading, and seem to grasp what they read. You have to work with them as you would with small children.
An instance comes to my mind of a woman of middle age, with a fair education for Porto Rican women, who was reading "Patriarchs and Prophets" in Spanish. She had reached the chapter on Israel receiving the law. Several times she laid the book down, but could not leave it; there seemed to be a power drawing her to it. She read a few lines aloud in reference to the Sabbath and Jehovah, then she asked me who Jehovah was. I told her, and asked her if she understood what she read, and if it was plain to her about the Sabbath and which day was God's day. She said it began Friday evening and lasted until Saturday evening.
It became well understood along the street where we lived that the Sabbath is different from other days. As the sun sank in the West Friday evening, our little girl was called in from her play; her toys were laid aside, and we were then ready for worship.
Her playmates sometimes came, and asked for her toys even if she did not play; but she would tell them, "No; in the evening you can have them." This alone was a constant reminder to the people of the requirements of God's law.
At the present time there is but little Spanish literature circulated among the people. Aside from works on Spiritism, "Lives of the Presidents," and a paper on evolution, published in the States, the majority have but little reading matter. The other denominations are doing nothing in this line. We have an open field before us. The canvasser just about has his own way. It is true that there are many obstacles in the way; but in a short time one can gain enough knowledge of the language to enable him to sell books.
In a short time the American people will take advantage of the open field, and all kinds of Spanish literature will be placed upon the market. And besides fighting the superstition and ignorance of Rome, we shall have to battle against the terrible evil that is sapping the life and intellect of the enlightened nations—the novel and immoral literature. Are we awake to these things? Where are the canvassers who will enter this open field, and put up with the hardships that are found in all countries where darkness exists? Are we to sit idle, and let others enter these fields?
This is not saying that we do not need other workers, for we do. This is a needy field in all lines; but, brethren and sisters, we must push our literature forward, and while we are doing this, other lines of work will open before us. We earnestly trust and pray that the Spirit of God may move upon the hearts of some to offer themselves for this work, that they may know for a certainty that God has called them to this field. Then when hardships and perplexities arise, they will not doubt that they are pressing forward in the line of duty.
Pray for the work here, that the Gentiles may come to the light, and kings to the brightness of its rising. Isa. 60:1-3. MRS. IDA M. FISCHER.
Mayaguez, Porto Rico.
