The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1893-11-22

might destroy him and his ranch
for heresy if he accepted the gos-
pei.
The next day we crossed the sec
ond range of the Sierra Madre, pass
ing the deep gorge where few days
before a party of robbers had rob
bed some travellers, and left them
tied hand and foot. That afternoon
we arrived at Boquillas, village of
a hundred Inhabitants. We got
permission to preach in the house
of old Guadalupe, who is the found
er Of the village and another of the
same size across the third range of
the Sierra, called the Joya. This
is also preaching place. eyes,"
said the old man, "there was moth
ing here but mountain desert when
l came here with my wife fifty-six
years ago." These two villages are
almost entirely his posterity. He
remarked with more truth than ele-
gance, "we mountain people have
been spit out of the civilized towns
of the plains, because we were too
rude to adjust ourselve to political
conditions, and here we live like
brutes." He went with US to invite
the people to the service. About
thirty-fve came. After service he
said to the audience, "These people
preach to us the truth Of God" On
the next day he accompanied US to
La Joya where he has his other resi-.
dence, where we preached that night
to about thirty persons, and he
again observed to the audience
"These men preach the true doctrine
of Jesus Christ" After the people
had gone he unconsciously betrayed
the power that Rome still has over
him. He remarked, 81 had 10 pay
about $50 to have my grandson
here married to my granddaughter,
who is my househeeper. The priest
said 1 must pay $18 for the marri-
age ceremony, and $40 to cut the
blood, for they are first cousins and
it is a sin for first cousins to marry
unless the church cuts the blood. !"
| said: els 1t possible that you still
believe that the church can make
that a sin which Is not sin, and
then unmake it for 500" "I don't
know he said. "some say one thing
and some say another, but i know
that the Pope has great power, and |
fear he will some day put himself
at the head of the nations, and de-
stroy all the Protestants with the
sword" Two persons, man and
wife, who have been deeply interest
ed for two years, and had expected
to be baptized were deferred by the
wife's father, from the same fear
expressed by Don Guadalupe. We
have two members here and two
more are deeply interested.
The next day, on the way, we had
a service with large family The
heads of the family listened with
earnest attention, but 1 learned af-
terward that the husband is living
in horrible crime. That afternoon
we crossed the fourth range of the
Sierra. every one rising higher, and
at night, in deep canyon, we ar
rived at the ranch OF San Antonio,
where we were cordially received by
the brethren. We have five mem.
bers here, and held service two sue
cessive nights.
From San Antonio it is impossi
BILE to reach Lbarrla, which is the
center of the church organization.
As we must abandon vehicles at
Aqua Fra, for the bridle-paths, so,
at San Antonio, we must abandon
our horses and go on foot. The way
is through a deep canyon, with the
path, part of the way, cut into the
cliffs, at whose base is only the
dashing spray of the furious river
torrent. The walk and climb OF
four miles through this deep canyon
with its refreshing breezas from
rushing waters, wild and weird
scentry, and intrepid heights, is
seldom equalled. Lbarria is a fer.
tile, well-watered valley, or rather
cove 1t has a population of three
or four hundred. Our elder here
whose house is the church, is the
most intelligent man of the commu-
nifty. With the help of his breth
rem he is building a chapel. They
doated the pine logs for this pur-
pose down through the canyon
from San Antonio He is also
building a room for the preachers
when they come. 1t is very sad to
know that he is IN danger Of being
assasinated by the secret orders OF
the local authorities. Two weeks
before we arrived there a neigb bor
had been arrested by guards, and