THIS field consists of four republics, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador, thus extending from the equator to Cape Horn, four thousand miles in a direct line, varying in width from one hundred to eight hundred miles, containing one and a half million square miles, and more than eight million people. Among all these millions true Christianity has done but little. But the larger part of the people are Roman Catholics.
Over these millions is the Roman hierarchy, composed of four archbishops, nineteen bishops, thousands of priests, monks, and nuns, financially and otherwise supported by the civil governments. Many are sunken in worse than heathen darkness. With what but the power of God through His preached Word, can it be hoped to accomplish anything against such a stronghold?
In this field the people are taught that they are Christians, having been made such by unconsciously receiving baptism during infancy; hence it is rather a Gadarenian than a "Macedonian cry" we usually hear. However, there are some genuine exceptions, and for these we thank God, and labor, and pray.