The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-11
THE BRAZILIAN PEOPLE.
REv.z.C. TdrLOR DISCUSSES THEIR
CUSTOMS.
He Has Spent Twelve Years ihere rs
Remarks About '"'
stltutions and Cbaracteristics'

stitutions and Cbaracteris'c''
Rev. T. C. Taylor has been spending
several davs I'm Richmond as the sues'
Of DR. J. X. Willingham. a., rr..,o-
FOR ,hx mast twelve years Mr.. Taylor
has baon engaged in laDoring as ms
sionary in the city Bahia, STATE OF bailld,,
Brazil. His account OF ms IRE an WIN
there Is Interesting In the extreme;
The FIRST efforts in the line or religious
work he said. were made by twelve MS
sicneg ries sent out by Johh AVN u, ~
OF these. John Bowles. was imprisoned
for EIGHT years. and finally sentenced anu
hung. The remainder OF these men
passed through the severest trials. Iney
ncrgevered however, and now there are
at least 1900 Protestants IN the Nepupii0'
Az HISTORIC STRUCTURE.
The building occupied by the Mission
Of which Mr.. Taylor Is IN charge, Is
relic OF the days Of the Inquisition. IL
is a huge and strong structure OF grim
and forbidding aspect. and has stood,
Gefving the march OF time. for two CEN
turtles and r half It's walls are OF mas
sive thickness and its windows reseinS,
bic those Of the fOrtresses OF the days OF
chivalry. But there the resemblance
10 those dark and bloody ages ceases
and the corridors that once resouhesu
with the walls Of the victims or the
rack and thumb-screw, now echo tach
the laughter and cheerful voices OF young
scholars In the great school of Chris
tianity. while from the basement Whe.e
were once located the dungeons pr I'M
happy prisoners is heard the whir or
printing-presse3, where thousands OF
tracts are being prepared TO dissenlha'e
the word Of God throughout the land.
RrPuBIIc EsTABIrsHEp.
What has tended 20 greatly aid the
progress OF Christianity was the eslau-
lishment Of a Republic which took pa
on November H. 1889 Cndet these
changed conditions a broader spirit mas
manifested itself. and the people having
tasted the sweets OF liberty. are more
disposed 20 accord them 10 the strangers
in their midst.
CORRUPT COUNTRY.
Despite the years of earnest labor Of
these good men. the whole land, Win
tho execution OF a faithful few, Is cor
rrpt TO the core. The people seem 10
have no moral perception OF the diner
ence between right and wrong. faruc
ularlv noticeable IS their utter dlsfeSein
Of the marriage laws. Consequently three.
fourths Of the population are OF mixed
blood-a blending of the Indian. Dacks'
and whites
1HFIR HABITS
Much drinking IS INDUCED IN by the
people but as they drink a kind ~ rum
much weaker than our whisky, drunk
erness Is much more rare. Ihe% ate
has the strongest kind OF hold upon
them. They chung closely, said Mr.. Iay-
Tor. 10 their idols. and az flrst IL seenheu
almost impossible 10 wean them put per
slstent efforts have begun 70 win their
reward. and the worship Of craven images
Is gradually being abandoned. Inc Rom
ish church has strong hold IN the
country. and priests abound there.
The police I'm the city OF bania, sala
Mr. Taylor. are "a regular band on free-
hooters In is a common occurrence
for them o. knock "a man down and ROB
him on dark night. and the people say
they much prefer the thieves 10 the po-
lice for II they are attacked by thugs
they can call Cor aid. but II by the police
ro One viii interfere.
Amo ng the converts who have been
baptized this year IS Canon Horauo Is.
OftOni. a man distinguished for his learn
ing. Tie was baptized by Mr. Taylor IN
Bahia church. and is now the pastor OF
a Baptist church at Rio. Canon Ottoni
is now engaged I'm writing story ot MS
lie. IL VIII be entitled Twenty Years
Of Priesthood
NEEn OF pRINTEEs IN BRAZIL.
MI Taylor says that he has Cotton TO-
gether materials and machinery sufficient
10 print one million tracts during the
coming year. but there is n great need
for printers there. lie especially needs
a good man 10 overlook the business.
lie had no practical knowledge Of print
for the establishment OF a plant TO get
out religious literature, that he was forced
90 enleav0r 10 learn the business, and
now be- has many boys learning. In the
State Of Bahia there are papers of every
denomination, but the art Of printing IS
yet in "a very crude state among the ma
tive printers.
Tho methods Of travel I'm the city OF
BAHIA are Of the most primitive kind.
the locomotive power being the time
nUU0TfI H.
car. running upon wooden rails. AT one
time said Mr. Taylor there was an at
tempt made TO run an electric line IN
Rio, but the first car which passed over
The line ran over and killed man and
a woman. and the pOpulace promptly rose
en- masse and abolished the enterprise.
The common people there seemed 10 be
under the impression that the car ran
by the direct agency Of the devil.
AFTlR POLITICAL OFFICES.
Tn one thing. Mr.. Taylor said. Brazil
had kept pace with and almost oufstrip-
ped Christian countries, ana that was
ln the grand rush for governmental Of
Hees. And position under govern
lnent I'm that country Is more Of "a plum
than 10 is I'm the United States, for after
twenty years of service a man can retire
ON pension sufficient for all his needs,
and Should he hold Office for thirty years
inc pension ne received WOust bee much
larger As In our country, the methods
try is much better morally. as "A Rcpub-
Tic, than IL had been as an Empire.
Even now, the missionary said. with
many schools which had been established
about tho country the igIorance Of the
people Is excessive. oniy about one IN
thirteen being able TO read The per-
ctntage Of the unlearned however. Is
slowly but surely decreasing. There is
a school there established by the Pres
hyterians, which has at present 200 stu
dents, and applicants are turned away
every day. IL is found impossible 10
provide teachers enough TO Instruct all
the pupils who offer.
THE MAeONs
Mr. Taylor said that Masonry which
has obtained a fOothold in almost every
country IN the world. IS well represented
there, and that 70 had been the expert
enco OF himself and colleagues that il
was most valuable ally 10 Christianity
Tho minds of the people had been pre-
pared and enlightened by the ABSORPTION
Of the teachings Of Masonry 70 accept
the Gospel II Christ.
Everything IN the line Of commerce
is on boom there. declared Mr.. Tav-