Experiences in Mexico by G. W. Caviness

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jun 13, 1912

Experiences in Mexico

By G. W. Caviness

WHEN traveling in Mexico, I am frequently reminded of a selection that I used to read when a boy going to school. It was with reference to the Indians, and began something as follows:—

"Not many years ago, where you now sit, encircled with all that exalts and embellishes civilized life, the rank thistle nodded in the wind, and the wild fox dug his hole unscared. Beneath the same sun that shines for you, the Indian hunter pursued the panting deer. Gazing on the same moon that smiles on you, the Indian lover wooed his dusky mate. Here lived and loved another race of beings."

When one leaves the lines of railroad travel for a short distance, he finds himself almost entirely out of civilization. Instead of rank thistle, it is the cactus and other thorny vegetation that meet his sight. Within a very few rods of where one of our companies meet for religious services, I saw two foxes trot down the path, leap over the wall, and disappear; and in the near-by mountains the Indian hunter still pursues the panting deer; and venison is found for sale in many markets. The Indian lover still wooes his dusky mate, and it has been my privilege to perform the marriage ceremony for a few of them. This brings us to the most common difficulties we have in Mexico.

Here lives and loves another race of beings, with other customs, practises, and ideals, many of which are not in harmony with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The state does not recognize ecclesiastical marriage. The Catholic Church teaches that civil marriage is no marriage at all, and that those who live together married only by the state are living in adultery; and yet it charges so much for its services that the poor are unable to pay, and so thousands of them live together without any ceremony, either of church or of state. Of course, under such conditions, if those so living together desire to separate, there is nothing to prevent their doing so. Frequently we find that those who accept the truth were married in earlier days, and having separated for some cause or other, are now living in harmony with neither the laws of God nor of man. Neither church nor state admits divorce for any cause, but the people separate just the same, and then go and live with some one else. Some of these cases are exceedingly difficult to arrange in harmony with the Word of God.

The charges of the church are high. We know this is true from the fact that a servant girl of our acquaintance desired to be married by the church. She asked the priest how much it would cost, and he told her twenty-two dollars. Very few of the poor people can possibly get together this sum of money, their wages being so low that it requires almost every cent for their daily living. This girl and her intended husband could not pay the price, and so got along without any ceremony whatever.

Many of the poor people that live in the country are honest, earnest, and sincere; but they certainly have to encounter many difficulties. It is a great pleasure to preach the gospel to them. Many times recently I have thought of the words of the Saviour, "And the poor have the gospel preached to them." There is a great deal to be done among the poor in Mexico. It will have to be done under difficulties, and at some expense. The financial returns will be very small, for these people are unable to give much for the support of the work. Yet in the providence of God, this last message will be preached even to these poor, ignorant Mexicans who live in the remote parts of the country.

G. W. CAVINESS.