The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-02-20
The Republic and the Gospel in
Brazil

Messrs. Morris and Kinsolving. who
went from the Theological Seminary at
Alexandria, in August lust, as mission
aries to Brazil, in a letter to the South
esqs Chasrchnsaaa say of the Republic and
its influence on the Gospel
In the first place, there is not much
doubt that the Republic is come to STAY.
1t is true that the whole thing was most
uneAi ected- Indeed, it seems lot to
have been entlieiy fOreseen by its chief
actors 1t seen that certain reg iments
OF the army refused to leave Rio for the
provinces, and that they had been i'll
treated by the government Baron ONO
Preto, tue head OF the deposed govern
ment, was most cordially disliked man
and perhaps deseryeGly SO. AT any late
from this apparently insignificant meet
ing, the declaration OF the Republic
arose. Marshal Deodorlo got up from a
sick bed to lead the movement; the min
istry was forced to resign, and at once
new government formed composed of
the leading republicans of the country.
Now though the revolution thus appears
to be huge accident, there is no doubt
that the people as a rule support it, and
that it has this support and specially
from the most intelligent and vigorous
element OF the population. So that the
movement is net mere meeting of sol
diers and based upon the caprice or
tickieness OF anotoriously dissolute army.
The provisional government is allowed
by the most skeptical to be composed of
men high both IN character and pubic
estimation. This State of ST. Pedro has
at its head three men of distinguished
abilities and of known integrity Tie
whole nation north and south have ac-
cepted the change; in the most progress
i've province, like st. Paulo and Morias,
it has been we coined with unusual en-
thusiasm; and even in Bahia the most
monarchical of all the cities, there seems
to be ready acquiescence in the new
state of things and the Archbishop there
has given his blessing to the Republic.
But what of results-it is on all sides be-
lieved to be a decided advantage to true
religion. The Protestants here = and
there are a GOOD many in st. Pedro,
Morias and Rio de Janeiro are all
mostly to a man republicans; and this
sudden move has made them highly
respected element of society instead of a
despised and ill used sect. The papers
tell us that civil marriage. secularization
OF cemeteries, and separation OF church
and State are all soon to be decreed, and
all intelligent people seem glad to hear
it. In any case it seems foregone Goa
clusion that the superior privileges that
have been given heretofore to the Ro-
man church and that have fostered it's
corruptions and fed it's arrogancy, must
soon be swept away. Brazil is from this
time open to the preaching of Gods
truth fairly and freely, without let or
hindrance; every church will be com
PEELED to stand not on privilege but on
merit. The wide field will be ready for
harvesting With the obstruction of the
State Church, will go many men who
pursue the trade Of priestcraft solely for
money, and in hundreds of places there
will be not only freedom to work, but
absolutely no workers.-Now is the time
to concentrate forces and prayers to win
this great nation to true Christianity.
God has opened the way Will the
Church enter it?