The San Francisco call., 1895-12-31
DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE BY DR.. ". ". CASE,

parades for it military victory ana the Gov
ernment is a military Government. Ihen come
boatraces horseraces ana fight, paid Tor by
the city treasury 1t is the FIRST bul-fght ever wit
messed by the city Of Para. So yousee that Brazil
is making strides OF progress backward.
Yesterday they took another stride Inc ou-
preme Court of the State OF Para decided against @
my lawsuit, sentencing me to Jail for three months
and half. / present at the session OF tne
court. Two of the Judges had been Chlef OF fouce
in former years when L criticized the gambling at
the fiesta of Nazareth One OF them, DR.. Bezerra
de Rocha Moraes did most OF the talking, ana oc,
casonally rolled his eyes toward me as ne spoa.Ha
eloquence in favor of the outraged holy apostonc
Catholic church and against me. Though ms elo-
quence full of the backest injustice ana 1aise
hood against me, he saw nothing puI pieas@ihe
smile my face.
At the close of the discussion, which was all on
one side so far as | could hear it, sentence was
pronounced orally. and the vote unanimous, II
1 am mistaken. As there are two festa Gays
this week the next session of the Supreme Court
will be next Saturday, the 18th inst. AT tnat lllne
the sentence will be signed and the record OF pfo-
ceedings will be sent down to the lower court ZOE
the Judge, who acquitted me on the hrst trlal, 10
write the order for my arrest and imprisonment:
1t may be two weeks yet before l shall De caueu
for, but when the time comes l shall De READY.
Three months and half will soon pass II time
flies it has the past few years, and tneh "hn ~
get out again the devil will have TO suner-oou ,.
helping me. 1t is no personal fight count my
self as the smallest factor In the questlon.
1t is Brazilian law against liberty OF CON
science. expect 10 live TO see that lnlqultous Jaw
repealed by which it is possible to put gag on
theological discussion by the same means tnaV
were used bv the Roman Inquisition That lnstl-
tuition is stiI alive in the hearts of all true Catho
lies dear TO them as II was In the hfteentn anu
sixteenth centuries. But II Chrstlans 40 et .ne.t
to get out only one page OF the December numpeI
of the Apoogista this year, and then let IL
rest until March, when expect to come out agam
and take up the battle where1 IN part leave III oh
now.
CAIxA 31S, PARA, BRAZIL, Nov. %. 1892.
| In nv last | wrote of a decision OF the supreme
Court of Para which sends me to jail. Inc sen,
tence is little stronger than my lawyer calculated
it for me. In the documentary sentence II reads ;
INN
twelve hours, and costs" The costs are some
thing over 200 milreis, or about $6O at present
rates of exchange.
IL was two weeks ago to-day that the sentence
was pronounced and the order for my imprison-
ment is not yet written by the Judge. don
know what they are waiting for unless as my & Mliv
suggests, make it like roasting one over SLOW
fire, by long delay and suspense, not knowing at
what moment the officer may appear to take me 10
Jail. / ill continuing with my English classes
and every time l give lesson say, "1ooo.oy,
until if I am not in jail YETI q =
have Just made out statement of the case for the
Minister PIenipotentiary OF the United states at
Rio de Janciro and request for him to use his
utmost influence for the repeal of the iniqutous
law = I asked the Vice-Consul here to put
the consular seal TO a declaration that the state
ments made were correct, which he did Willingly.
CAIxA 31S PARA. BRAZIL. Dec. 6, 1892.
sent you note recently stating that on the
14th ult. had been sentenced to three months
and half imprisonment in the common lall OF
Para for publishing articles rejecting upon the
worship of the Virgin Mary, translation OF which
! sent you. The sentence, which has since been
published officially, with the reasons upon which
| The decision was based, makes the height of my
offense the fact of my calling the worship OF the
/ Virgin Mary .idolatry."
The order for my imprisonment delayed for
three weeks after the sentence, probably in order
/ to give a chance to leave che country, many
advised me to do and as the JesuitS hoped would.
Yesterday was waited upon by the Sheriff and
now am in jail TO spend four months two days
and twelve hours, instead of three months and a
half, as I stated incorrectly in my former note, a
/ month OF solitary Imprisonment being calculated
in Brazil as equivalent TO thirfy-five days or con-
finement by the herding system now in vogue
Besides that, am sentenced TO pay the costs,
which amount to about $75, and without dollar
! OF income to pay it or to feed my family. My wife
has to bring my food TO the jail every day. for the
Government does not feed its prisoners.
! The British Consul here-a nOble-hearted man
has promised to that the wolf is kept from the
/ door until some yet unnvented means is pro-
/ vded to do it Otherwise.
Our faith is firm that the Lord will not fail us in
this hour of unequal struggle for religious liberty
| in Brazil. Your brother in the Lord
Presiding Elder of Brazil District, New England
Southern Conference.
ST. JosEPH's JAIL. PARA. BRAzIL,1
Dec. "a, 1892. /
AS ! recently informed you, in this Bra
lillian Jail for four months and some DAYS to expi-
ate the crime of calling the worship of the Virgin
! he better class of citizens are waking up TO the
fact that 1t is shame to permit such Injustice
and friends are proposing to have pardon
at the next session of the State Legislature, which
opens next month: but by The time that is carried
through ifit carries my sentence will be nearly or
! entirely served out.
| have sent petition to the Minister pIenipoten-
tiary of the United States Rio asking him put
| in an energetic protest against the iniqutous law
that thus absolutely squelches all religious discus
| sion worthy the name.
| Our United States Consul here at Para has also
protested to the local authorities here and under
stand that he has also protest TO the Federal
Brazilian Government through our Minister Peni-
potentiary.
Ny treatment in Jail is most gentemanIy and
have nothing to complain of in this regard. have
the liberty OF the office and inner courtyard of the
Jail during the day, and can receive visitors twice
a week. But we are to have change OF warden
in few days, and the prisoners very long
faced since they learned OF the coming change for
/ the warden has been here before, and they tell
stories of very bad treatment at his hands. / ex-
pect that shall have less liberty when he comes,
| but as to the rest have no fears.
Income is stopped, OF course, as earned my llv-
| ing by teaching Our little pile is about used up,
but we are expecting that the kindness OF friends
and our heavenly Fathers will see us safely
/ through 10 March II, when l shall be ready to
Your brother in Christ, JusTUs IL. NELSON,
Presiding Elder, Brazil District, New England
Southern Conference.
As soon as the arrest of Mr.. Nelson was brought
took such action as was needed to provide for the
| financial wants of our minister and his family.
! Information of the situation was immediately
communicated through the proper church authori-
ties the officials of the State Department of the
/ Government. Bishop Foss wrote personal letter
| to President Harrison, who promptly responded
! that he at once forwarded ii to Secretary Foster
TOT llhneuia!e ., dlploInstic cGloh: ANY iurther IN
| formation will be announced 10 the public as soor
as it is received.
The following clipping from the Christian
| Advocate 1888, page 723:
/ LATER FROM PARA.
The following from the Rev. Justus n. Nelson
bearing date at Para, Brazil, January g. furnishes
the latest phase of the case fully explained in the
/ Christian Advocate of January l9:
To-day pletes my first month in Jail on the
| four to which was sentenced for calling the wor
ship OF the Virgin Mary 'idolatry.' Health is good
spirits in excellent condition, prison treatment gen
! tlemanly; have all the liberty and privileges con
sistent with prison discipline Anderson Fowler
| Richard Grant, relatives and other friends have
! already sent funds in abundance TO support my
family until regain my liberty. Our gratitude is
| unspeakable The Lord reward them all for their
splendid generosity and precious words OF SYM
! pathy and encouragement"
The following extract is from the New York
! Christian Advocate. 1898, page 72. 1t ex-
plains itself and shows conclusively that the
| Department of State at Washington recognizes
| the fact that Mr.. Nelson was imprisoned for
! condemning the worship of the Virgin Mary
| and that the proceedings were in accordance
with the law of the country. Pretty laws OF
liberty thosel How, low, about the malicious
! slander of Mr.. Nelson by one of the Pope's
! hiTelings, the infamous falsehood that Mr..
| Nelson was imprisoned for trying TO stop s
| religious procession in Brazil? Shame on any
! one Who will stoop to such damnable methods
10 defend the demoniaeal deeds of the devotees
of paganiZed Christianity. Read this extract
and ponder it WELL