p. 27 | South America by J. W. Westphal

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Oct 30, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 44.

South America

By J. W. Westphal

By Superintendent J. W. Westphal

LONG after Africa, China, Japan, India, and other heathen countries had been entered by the activity of the nineteenth-century missionary spirit, no Protestant missionary effort had been put forth in behalf of South America. Hence it has been appropriately called the "Neglected Continent." Discovered, explored, and colonized by Spain and Portugal at a time when Protestantism was making itself felt in the Old World, these strongholds of Catholicism determined to prevent by every available means the Gospel and the Bible from taking root on South American soil. The colony of refugee Huguenots which sought an asylum at Nictheroy, across the harbor from Rio de Janeiro, in the early Brazilian history, was soon destroyed. The inquisition and other cruel practises came hand in hand with Catholicism to stain the virgin land with the blood of any who desired to serve their Saviour.

But the sword and human might can not always stay the progress of the word of God. The spirit of liberty born in the Gospel, nurtured and brought to the attention of the world by Protestantism, has entered these lands until in one after the other the middle wall of partition has been broken down. To-day there is not a country in South America where the Bible may not be brought to the people with more or less freedom.

Along with these open doors for the Gospel are open hearts to receive it. Many are tired of worshiping images of wood and stone, tired of meaningless ceremonies and traditions, and are longing for the comfort of a living God and a living word. Many, it is true, losing faith in empty forms, are turning toward infidelity or Spiritualism, but by no means all. Many are hungering for and eagerly partaking of the Bread of life when it is brought to them.

Since much the larger portion of the field is still unentered by active, aggressive workers, while in many entered places comparatively little is done, it is clear that thousands still long for the Bread of Life. Shall it be in vain? Many who might be helped and saved go into hopeless, Christless graves annually. What a responsibility rests upon every Christian to snatch as brands from the burning these precious, blood-bought souls! What an awful award awaits all who have lived selfishly, who have spent their means and strength for self, who like Cain say, "Am I my brother's keeper?"

I have seen as appreciative souls among these people as I have seen anywhere. They are as true to the truth and their convictions as can be found among any people. When in Brazil only a few months since, I was told that the most earnest, devoted Christians in Brazil are the Brazilians themselves. Why should not a people who in the past have hazarded their lives for gain or glory make strong men in Christ when the Gospel is once received? The fact that as a rule they are less educated than those of some more favored lands, and possibly less moral, only emphasizes their need, and the change of heart and life will be only more apparent.

The mute appeals of 40,000,000 needy souls in South America call loudly for help. Brazil has a large negro element as ignorant, superstitious, and needy as any that can be found in the Southern States or Africa, who up to about seventeen years

ago were the slaves of cruel task-masters. A large portion of the South American natives are mixed with Indian blood, while there are still hundreds of thousands or even millions of pure blood Indians, some domesticated, while others are still wild and in their native haunts. From their professed Christian brethren of Europe they have received only cruel treatment and slavery. The result is that the descendants of the subjects of the Incas, who at the time of their conquest by Pizarro numbered as many as the whole South American population to-day, have dwindled to a handful. A remnant has been preserved that they might share in the blessings of the Gospel as it goes to "every nation, kindred, tongue, and people." The Saviour's hand must be extended to help them. More favored lands and more favored people certainly are debtors to this lost, needy, perishing people. Perhaps nowhere in the Macedonian call, "Come over and help us," more distinctly and loudly heard.