Where by William A. Spicer

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 15, 1916

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 43, No. 32.

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Where

By William A. Spicer

SUGAR

Is King

*Fishing for Souls in Thriving Cuba—For a Readier and Quicker Evangelization*

By WILLIAM A. SPICER

HAVANA, CUBA. Nearly as large as San Francisco, and as fine a city as any in the World

MR. AND MRS. E. WILLIAMS Who are sent on to Honduras by the Cuban Mission

JUST now Cuba seems the liveliest island country in the West Indies. "Sugar is king" in Cuba. And in war time, the demand for cane sugar has filled the little republic with activity. The mills run day and night grinding out the cane juice.

In normal times — regardless of the war — Cuba claims the largest trade per capita of any country in North or South America.

This visit to our missions in Cuba was my first one. Thirteen years ago, I passed through the island, but then we had no mission work there. Now I am meeting workers and believers in all parts, though our work here is but just beginning. In other ways, the field is changed.

Thirteen years ago, there was no way to Cuba from the islands southward save by schooner — nearly three days' wear- ing trip it was from Jamaica to Santiago. Now we make it in comfort in eight hours, by the United Fruit Company's serv- ice. Then it was three days' trip by rail from Santiago to Havana, the train running only by day. Now the express puts one through in twenty-four hours. These things are but items in Cuba's development in many ways, all making for readier and quicker evangelization.

They Make People Think

THE thing that impressed me most in our own little work was the sturdy band of young people who are anxious to do some- thing to carry the gospel message through Cuba. The pro- portion of young people gathered out, in our work in Cuba, is large. It explains the earnest pleas our missionaries in Cuba have made to us for school facilities, which to train these youth into evangelistic service.

Cuba has proved a good field for the colporteur. Thousands of copies of our larger Spanish books have been sent there by the Pacific Press Publishing Association. Colporteur Roman told us, at our workers' meeting in San Marcos, that he had sold a copy of a health book, Salud y Hogar ("Home and Health"), to a man who later told him he threw it into his trunk, saying, "There is three dollars thrown away." The man became sick, and started for the Canary Islands to se- cure a change. On the way, he read the book that was in his trunk, and found that the way he was living was what made him sick. He reformed his manner of life, and his ail- ments disappeared. Now, re- turned to Cuba, he tells all his friends of what the book did for him. "I want every Span- ish book," he says, "printed by the Pacific Press."

YOUNG PEOPLE AT A CUBAN WORKERS' MEETING AND INSTITUTE

So the books of all kinds are making people in Cuba think. One man saw the book "Com- ing King" in Spanish translation. "Is that book published by the Seventh-day Adventists?" he asked. "Then bring me one," he continued. "I knew their books in the United States, and I want anything they print." It is the message in the books, the word of fulfilling prophecy in this generation, that makes the appeal to minds. Thus the message wins its way.

The conference on house-to-house Bible work was an interest- ing one, in this Cuban workers' meeting. One young lady, last year a student in the training school, told of experiences in Catholic homes. She is herself just out of Catholicism. But with the word of God in hand and heart, she is able to bring the message of life to those who will receive it.

"One lady," she said, "gave up praying to her images. She burned them all. But then she did not know how to pray. Al- ways she had repeated her prayers before these images. So she began to say, at night, 'With God I go to rest.' And in the morning she would say, 'With God I rise to work.' So she prayed until, in the studies, she learned about praying direct to the Lord in heaven."

It is good, is it not, to think of souls coming out from the mists of ceremonialism into the sunlight of the Saviour's grace, to find that no mediator stands between Christ and the sinner? Blessed the ears that hear His voice saying, "Come unto Me."

Again, Sister Aneita told us of a lady of culture who had heard, in the readings, that the papacy, represented by the "little horn" of Daniel 7, was to "think" to change the time and laws of the Most High. Dan. 7:25. "Which commandment has the church tried to change?" the lady asked. "The fourth," was the reply. "The fourth commandment says the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord; but the church enjoins Sunday, the first day." "But Sunday is the seventh day, is it not?" "No." Then the Bible was studied on the point. Still the lady was mystified. "Well, we will go to the dictionary," said the Bible worker. The Spanish dictionary was brought out; and there, sure enough, Sunday was defined as the first day, and Saturday as the seventh.

"The lady opened her mouth in astonishment," said Sister Aneita, "and could say noth- ing for a moment." Then she said, with convic- tion: "Now I see why our church has all its service in Latin. It is so we people will not find out what the church has done."

The Bible Lets in Light

THERE are many reasons that might be given, as to why the Church of Rome conducts so much of its service in an un- known tongue; but one thing is sure,— in these Catholic countries, the Scriptures, translated into the common speech, are letting in the light.

One of our experienced Bible workers, Sister Burgos, told us how she often gains access to the people. Calling on the lady of the house, she says: "I have a very important question to ask you. Have you a copy of this Book in your home?" showing a copy of the Bible. Thus in many homes, she secures an opening to talk about the word of God and to study it. It is truly fishing for souls, as the Saviour said — this house-to-house work in Catholic cities and countries.