Central America by H. C. Goodrich

Pacific Press Publishing Association

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 47.

Central America.

By H. C. Goodrich

LAST night a clergyman connected with Protestant missions in this country said to me, "I suppose you have some churches in Guatemala?" "No," said I, "we have not a single worker in all that republic." I then asked him of the workers of his denomination in that field, but he told me that it was a field which they as yet had not entered. He had lately returned from a short trip into Guatemala by the new railroad which connects the two oceans. He said that it was an interesting field and one in which missionary work could be most successfully carried on. Referring to the superior race of Indians in that country, he declared that their spiritual condition impressed him because they were very much "dissatisfied with their religion;" and this has been ringing in my ears ever since. The few in number, these Indians have always held to the ancient religion of their people. Now they are reaching out for something better, and there are millions of Spanish people who are in the same condition of heart-longing. They do not know what it is they need, but they do know there is a lack, a void, which heathen religion can not fill, nor the Church of Rome satisfy.

What is true of Guatemala is true of all these Central American States, with the exception of a few mission stations dotting the coast line of Spanish Honduras, the Bay Islands, and British Honduras. Roman Catholicism is preeminently given to the exaltation of the human. For instance, the Bishop of Guatemala visited Livingstone last year. Fifty children were confirmed. In the morning, as he left the town, a chair was placed for him on the deck of the little steamer. Hundreds of people, mostly women and children, passed before him, kneeling, kissing his hand, and receiving his blessing with the sign of the cross, which is all the Church of Rome has to give those who are seeking God, instead of pointing them to the sin-pardoning Saviour who can take away their sins.

It is not a discouraging field in which to labor. Wherever truth has gone it has found responsive souls. For instance, there is one case of where a gambler got hold of a "Bible Readings." He gave up his gambling and accepted the truth, supposing that he was the only one in all that country. Another, a woman, was found idle on the seventh day. She was asked the reason and told them that lately she had gotten a Bible and had read that the seventh day is the Sabbath; her simple faith led her to observe it. Another man stopped in a restaurant, entered into conversation upon religion, purchased a few books, and in a short time he and his whole family were rejoicing in the truth of the Gospel. Another, a lawyer, received the truth of the Gospel and began to observe all the commandments of God. He now hires a printer to publish the truth.

Do not all these things appeal to us, dear friends, who have in our hands the open Bible with a message from God for this very time? Can we rest satisfied, knowing that we have the very food that meets the need of the longing souls who are in darkness? Does it not appeal to our young men and young women to prepare themselves for the great Spanish field? Will you not join with us in praying that God may speedily open the way that you may come and help us?

H. C. GOODRICH. Belize, Br. Honduras.