The daily gazette., 1878-05-20

In the singing. II. f. Pickels conducted
the singing and Otto Becher presided at
the organ.
After the hymn the audience arose
while Bishop Bowman led in prayer.
hev. j.. B. Quigg then announced that
a collection would be taken up to defray
ine expenses of the meeting, the surplus,
II any, to 60 to the missionary work
The collection was taken up bv the
lishers, after which the audience united
IN singing ithe well known missionary
tains"
Bishop Ames then announced that al
the request of Bishop Scott he would
state that this meeting was held for the
advancement of the missionary cause,
and would be addressed by three MINIS
ters VINO had u,t returned from three
great missionary fields, Mexico, India
ana emma and Japan. He said these
men were eye witnesses of what they
spoke OF and no other church which
ever existed since Christ said at is fin
lshed," could give such direct account
from Its general superintendents, of the
word OF God in every quarter of the
globe. He then introduced Bishop Mer-
rill.
In opening his remarks Bishop Merrill
alluded to the population of Mexico
winch numbers about 10000, 0,000-of
which about 100000 are white people
mostly Spanish. The balance is of q
5000 900 OF the mixed people are known
as Mexicans, and 100000 are Indian
ond of Iniian descent.
For about $50 years the Roman Catho.
lie Church has had full sway in this coun.
try. absorbing the wealth of the nation
and controlling the religious characters
and feelings of the people and likewise
controlling the government, moulding
the civil as well as the religious institu-
tions OF the country.
1t is supposed that only one-sixth of
the people old enough to read are able
to do so, but books are not accessl BILE to
the mass of the people, neither are news
papers or general literature. There are
three or four dailies in the City of Mexi-
CO, with small circulations, which do not
extend into the country, and a few Ro-
man Catholic papers in the larger cities.
The result is that the people are depend
ent upon the teaching they receive from
their preachers for their general instruc-
ton. The only great assemblages are
The festivals and the churches, the bull
fights and the circus, and these are
equally profitable and pious to the peo-
greaa measure, for the prevailing ignor-
ance.
The great reason for this condition of
the people, is due to the dominance of
the Roman Catholic hierarchy, which
knowing of the great and enlightened
country lying just to the north, and feel
ing alarmed at its probable influence,
did all in their mower to prevent general
intercourse between the tive coun-
tries. .
The speaker next referred to the revo-
luton of 1857, when the new Constittl-
ton was adopted, the thraldom of the
Roman Catholic Church thrown off by
the government, and system of general
religious freedom and federation adopted
The present laws of Mexico, he said, in
relation to the profession and enjoyment
of religion, are just as good as in this
country, and far more rigidly enforced
The hindrance to the work of evangel.
izing this people did not, in his opinion,
lie in the prevalence of the Roman Cath.
Olic religion, nor in the general ignor.
ance, nor in the general lack of morality,
but In the great absence of home life,
and in the dragged out wretched exist
ence, muddled closely together in small
houses, and practising the same means
of work, habits of living, and stlye of ap-
parel that have been in vogue in the
country for centuries. The speaker
hoped, however, that the introduction
of railroads, now in gradual process
would tend to eradicate this primitive
system of affairs, and supply it with a
newer and more modern means of exist
ence.
Superstition was also alluded to as
another great obstacle to the evangliza-
ton of this people, together with their
past forms Of religion, which imbues
them with the IDEA that they are the
most pious and religious people in the
world. The cities are impregnated with
this religion, one of the leading avenues
of the City of NJ Mexico bearing the name
of the "Street of the Holy Ghost" Even
the saloons are religously titled, bearing
such names as the "Saloon of Divine
Providence" of "Inspiration," of the
incarnation" of "the immaculate Com
ception," and one, more appropriate than
the rest, is styled "Ei Perdita," or "Lit-
tie He'll"
Abiding to the work performed in
this benighted country by the Methodist
church, tha speaker said that in five
years there had been established II coa-
Rregations, each having a church organ
ization embracing from 10 to 100 con-
verted members, with Sunday Schools,
day schools, orphanages, and all the ma
ShhhohJ Va AOhSAouo WOih1 ANU WiOh %
religious paper in the City of Mexico,
having circulation larger than that of
any other journal in the country.
In conclusion Of Bishop Merrill said
that while the normal condition of the
government of Mexico was revolutiona-
ry, its power Is felt, and 1t is literally dis
posed towards the christian work. With
the introduction of railroads It would be
even more powerful in enforcing Its
mandates and assisting by its protection,
the great work. Other denominations
were at work, but considering the time
engaged, he thought the Methodists had
done grandly towards the great work of
eyangelizlng the Mexican people.
AT the conclusion of Bishop Merrill's
the audience, at the request of
Bishop Scott, sang two stanzas of "The
Morning Light IL Breakipg,' after
which Bishop Andrews was introduced.
Bishop Andrews alluded to his visit to
Europe, first in 1876, TO organize various
Interests of the NJ. e. Chui ch, and then
reverted particularly to his experience in
India. He described the number and
varied character of the population, its
into tribes anu classes, the
demon worship, idolatry, and particular
ly the general and strict Observance of
caste. SO minute was this observance,
and so strict the laws enforcing it that it
was the greatest obstruction to the intro
duction of the christian religion. He al
luded to many of the peCuliar character-