The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-02-17


servant hire in Rio fifty milreis per month,
in Sac Paulo twenty-five; beef in Rio ten
cents per pound, in Sac Paulo five or SIX
cents.
MISSIONARY EFFORTS IN BRAZIL.
1t will not be impertinent to this report
to subjoin brief history of missionary ef-
fort and success in Brazil.
Bibles, at various times and in consider
able numbers, hav been sold and distributed
gratis over different parts of the country.
AS early as 1886 Drs. Kidder and Spauld-
ing, of the Methodist Church, were engaged
in selling Bibles in Rrazil. In 1855, the
Rev. J. G. Fletcher travelled over great
portion of the country leaving Bibles behind
him as he went. These men were followed
in 1856 by three colporteurs from Great
Britain In the same year the Christisz-
Union sent out Mr.. Collins, who travelled
over nearly the whole country. The Rev.
DIR. Kalley, in conjunction with his other
labors, has sold in the empire over nine
thousand copies of the Scriptures. The mis-
sionaries of the Northern Presbyterian
Church have also been the means of intro
ducing great number of Bibles. The Scrip
lures used are of course in the Portuguese
language. A well informed gentleman, with
whom travelled in Brazil, very kindly give
me the following information with regard to
the history of the different versions in that
language. 1. The Almeida version, by
Almeida, converted priest of BATAVIA, Java,
was published nearly two hundred years ago.
1t is translation from the original Hebrew
and Greek, but its language is antiquated
and not easily understood by the common
people. The Roman Catholics object to it
because it does not follow the Vulgate. This
is the version issued by the American Bible
Society. 2. The Figuereda version is by
Figuereda, Romanist priest of Portugal.
He was acquainted with the original lam
guage of Scripture, but translated from the
Vulgate. 1t was published little more
than seventy years ago. In the New Testa.
ment it uses the word "penitence" instead
of repentance. This version, with notes,
was approved by the Pope 8. The Rev.
Demattos translated the New Testament into
Portuguese. This gentleman was one of the
Madeira converts, and his rendering is said
to be accurately and well done. His Testa-
ment is also published by the American So
ciety. 4. The Trinitarian Bible Society,
London, issues in Portuguese each book Of
the New Testament separately in the form
of tracts. A good version of t le uYha> 81:
BILE is very much needed. ~
In 1860, the Rev. R. Holden was sent by
the Protestant Episcopal Church of the o.
States as missionary to Para. There he
labored until 1868, but with no visible sue
cess. He then removed to Bahia. In 1864.
he left Bahia for Rio. Since that time no
effort so far as can learn, has been made
to establish mission in any of the Northern
cities.
In 1856, the Rev. DR.. Kalley commenced
his labors at Rio, and has gathered large
congregation of about three hundred people,
with membership which numbers over one
hundred and fifty persons. Mr.. Holden is
now laboring with him.
In 1859, the Old School Presbyterian
Church, constrained by your advocacy Of
the field, sent out Rev. Ashbel G. Symington
as missionary to Southern Brazil. He was
afterwards Joined by Rev. A. l.. Blackford.
This mission has been remarkably successful
1t now has seven ministers and four pros
porous churches. Four young Brazilian
converts are now prosecuting their studies
at Rio with view of entering upon the
work of the ministry. The usual number
which attends divine worship at Rio is one
hundred and fifty; at St. Paurs City, thirty
or forty; at Brotas, one hundred; and at
Lorena, eighty. A large proportion of those
who attend are members of the Church.
One of the most active members of the mis-
sion is the Rev. ]. M. de Conceicao, con-
verted Catholic priest. It is said that he
was reckoned while priest one of the most
eloquent in Brazil.
Besides these direct efforts to evangelize
Brazil, many Christian men and women,
flying from the disasters which have over.
taken the South, have sought new homes in
that distant land. Some of them, as Dr..
J. McFadden CASTOR, of South Carolina,
are not inactive in distributing tracts and
sowing the seeds of truth.
1t is true that missionary labors have not
been without some opposition. On several
occasions, the priests have melted the mob
and ignorant under. officers to disturb Pro-
testant meetings and imprison Protestant
laborers. But in every instance, the gov
ernment has been prompt to put down the
riot and relieve the prisoners.
l have thus endeavored, my dear sir, to
present you witha candid report of the con-
dition of the various points l have visited.
l hope the facts herein presented are sufi-
cient to guide you in the selection of field
for our future labors. Whatever predilec.
tions Mr.. Lane or myself may have for any
particular position in that great empire, we
| do not wish them to trammel Ynur choice or