PORTO RICO, once the “Pet of Spain,” with its million of inhabitants, consisting chiefly of three classes, the Spanish, negro, and the Porto Rican, a mixture of the two, came especially to the notice of the missionaries in 1898 at the close of the Spanish-American War. Since that time the different denominations have worked faithfully to scatter the darkness and superstition that brooded over this fair island, and to “lift up a standard among the people,” for they certainly seemed to have none.
As in all Spanish Catholic countries, the work has moved slowly and sometimes very discouragingly.
This “Gospel of the kingdom” began to be preached here in the year 1901 when Brother Fischer and his wife came to the island; but they had only been here nine months when Brother Fischer was cut down by the dread fever, and the work came to a standstill, save what his faithful widow could do alone with no knowledge of the Spanish language.
We landed here in January of 1903, and the following March sent out the first number of El Centinela de la [[FIGURE]] Verdad, the first Protestant paper published in the island. We know that nothing but the special blessing of the Lord, which we sought earnestly with tears, could have made the paper a success, for the people were opposed to anything religious; but for three years and a half now the little paper has gone out with its message of truth, until it has reached13every village in the island, and interested ones here and there are inquiring to know more of what this message may mean for them.
Our faithful canvasser, C. N. Moulton, has scattered tracts, papers, and books all over the island, and we have faith in God that in His own good time and way He will give the increase of the seed thus sown.
We now have companies of believers in San Juan, Mayaguez, and Arcebo.
