The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-11-20
From the Methodist.
THE REFORMATION IN MEXICO.

q The remarkable success OF fToGestdhLsn
r in the land of the Montezumas is attracting
universal attention. 1t is being discussed
: not only by Christians, but also by philan
D thropists and statesmen. All classes arr
7 astonished at the grand results of missionary
3 effort in that Papal country. When th'
character of the field, the limited means em
, ployed, and the brief period devoted to tn
} work are considered, this religious reforma
ton may be regarded as the most wonderful
} of modern times.
For more than three hundred years, Mex
leo had been cursed with Romish despotlsm
and Spanish rule, and hence the ignorance
superstition, and crime that have prevailed
1t had been the darkest and most degraded
of all Papal lands, and though on this con-
tinent, and SO near our enlightened nation
yet it was, until recently, closed against Pro
testantism and true Christian civilization
During the war in 1916 door was opened,
and many of our piouS soldiers carried Bi-
bes into Mexico, and from that small begin
ming, the sacred Scriptures in the Spanish
language have slowly been finding their way
to the homes of the benighted people.
About the close of the war in 1847, Miss
Melinda Rankin, then residing in Mississippi,
ascsrtaned from the returned soldiers the
miserable condition of the Mexicans, and
she resolved to 60 as a missionary. 1t was
not, however, until 1852 that she could COM
mence operations. The laws of the country
forbidding the introduction of Protestant
Christianity, she settled at Brownsville,
Texas, on the Rio Grande river, opposite
Matamoras, Mexico, where a large number
of Mexicans resided. She soon gathered
the children into a school and gave them
daily instructions in the Bible.
While engaged in this noble work, she
learned that seven Jesuit priests and fifteen
nuns from France had reached Brownsville,
and intended to erect convent. Hence, in
order to compete with this strong force, she
determined that her small school should be-
come seminary. Early in 1853 she came
to the United States, visiting the principal
cities, and endeavoring to secure aid. After
a laborious effort of fourteen months, she re-
turned in April, 1854, with the small sum Of
two thousand five hundred dollars. In No
vember of the same year the seminary was
opened, and continued in successful opera
ton until 1862. During that time, two hum
dred girls of Mexican, and one hundred of
American parentage, were instructed, and
through many of these pupils, and their
friends, hundreds of Bibles and Testaments
were carried in.o Mexico.
\ In 1855, shortly after the erection of the
seminary at Brownsville, Miss Rankin be-
came connected with the American and For
eign Christian Union, and is still in its en-
ploy. Her educational work was interrupted
in 1862 by the civil war in the United States,
she not being in sympathy with the Confed-
eracy, and the school property was confs'
Gated. In 1865 she went to Monterey and
organized another seminary, but was COM
PEELED to visit the United States and solicit
funds She obtained fourteen thousand dol.
lars, and erected fine building.
AS converts from Romanism began to
multiply, Miss Rankin, through the aid Of
the American and Foreign Christian Union,
sent out seven native colporteurS to labor
among their countrymen. In 1868 a large
number of Mexicans were converted at Villa
de-Cos, town in the State of Zacatecas,
and since then the membership of the society
has increased to one hundred and seventy.
A commodious edifce has been built, and a
regular pastor supplies the pulpit. There
are fourishing churches in Monterey, Cade-
reita, and many other places in Northern
Mexico.
In January, 1869, the American and For
eign Christian Union sent Rev. II. G. Riley
to the city of Mexico to organize Protest
ant mission there. He was peculiarly quail
ifed for the work, having been born in Chill,
and being familiar with the Spanish Ian
guage. On reaching his destination, he
found about thirty native Evangelical Chris
tians, who had been holding regular meet
, ings for worship and the study of the Bible
, This small flock had received the instruc
tions of Roman Catholic presbyter, named
, AQuilar. who was converted to Christ through
the reading of the Holy Scriptures. Il
was extremely poor, suffered cruel perseCu.
} ton, and finally died from the debility
brought on by his poverty.
, The success of DR.. Riley is unprecedented
) in the history of modern missions The
latest report shows at least sixty organized
: congregations with thirty-fve persons il
3 charge In the city of Mexico several prom
e inent priests have been converted, and are
now preaching the doctrines of Protestant
: Christianity. Manuel Aguas was one of the
: most earnest, talented and influential priests
= in Mexico. Hence his remuneration OF Ro
8 manism created an intense excitement among
g the Papists of that country. The Arch
4 bishop communicated him, and, in return
s Aguas wrote lengthy letter, reviewing tn,
: doctrines and usages of the Romish system
: 1t is very able production, and has beer
' published in the Christian World, the organ
r &c tho American and Fnreirn Christian