El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-02-20
PROTESTANT MISSIONS IN MEXICO.
Rev. DR.. Butler Gives Information
Showing Their status.

leo, has long letter in the Mexican
Herald in which he gives valuable his
torical information relative to the
fourding and growth of protestant mis-
sions in the republic. In his communi-
cation the doctor says:
| Professionalism is not yeta generation
old in this country. A few little groups
here and there gathered around an
open bible left by chaplains or colpor-
tours of the French or American army,
which groups maintained for long years
a private or even secret character.
Some of them assumed public char
acter in the sixties but it was not till
| the early seventies that Protestant
| mission began organized work in Mex
| leo. 1t should also be borne in mind
that this effect on the part of Evangel-
ical churches was made in response to
| earnest and repeated appeals from ma
| tive MeXicans, who on one occasion
manifested the sincerity of their pur-
pose by sending a commission to New
York to press their claim-it was a
genuine Macedonian cry.
Can any one after rejecting, insist
| that over 600 Protestant congregations,
| 1000 children gathered into day schools,
| 1000 in Sabbath schools, Is, 900 com
muniCants and $4,000 adherents is a
Every poor success for about twenty
years labor. especially when it is re-
membered that the first few years were
necessary to acquire the language,
manners and customs of the people
among whom we labor. Then, again
it was necessary to create our evangel-
zeal literature and train native teachers
and preachers before schools and con-
gregatiODs could be established in any
great mum Der.
Francis Xavier spent years in his
preparatory work for Japan and China.
nft n tn, n +, doll,
and finally the disastrous consequences
of his Japan scheme, the Roman Catho-
lie church today regards him as one of
the greatest missionaries of modern
times and places him high in the list Of
it's saints.
In speaking of church architecture
the doctor says: The Protestant
churches 10 Puebla, Guadalajara, Oh i
huahua and other places which for size
and architectural appearance are every
way worthy, for they have been built
during the past five years. The Roman
Catholic church was generations work
ing in Mexico before its magnificent
cathedrals were erected. By order of
Felipe III the superb cathedral of this
capital was begun in 1888, but not fin
ished and dedicated till Dec. %, 1867,
occupying 81 years in its construction
and making it just 136 years after the
missionaries began preaching in this
city.
Professionalism has never insist ed that
it needed great church edifices in
which to carry on its work. The genius
of Professionalism does not lie in this
direction. And especially does it not
lie in this direction in the operation of
its missions. The primary object of its
missionary societies is to preach. the
gospel and leave the building of school
y L.
dlgenuous resources of the people
among whom they LABOR. AS their
people are educated. lifted up, and, as
result, improved in their condition,
they will build such churches as Will
accommodate their operations and in
many cases adorn the towns and cities
where they are built. Atpresent their
are fully commensurate with
their circumstances and God grant that
the Protestants of Mexico may never
60 beyond them selves in this direction.
1t may be noted that missionary ope-
rations all over the world and repre-
presenting both the Protestant and
Catholic cOmmuniOnS have alike felt
the financial depression of the past few
years. Official statistics recently pub
lished show clearly that the income of
the propaganda (Rome's great society
with headquarters in the vatican) was
it has now nearly twice as many foreign
missionaries to support as it had four
teen years ago.
This financial stringency has been |
felt keenly in the United States and |
Europe. Under such circumstances |
the voluntary contributions by which |
our benevolences are sustained are |
among the first to suffer. So that it is |
a fact that our Protestant Missionary |
Sh IA
missions with about the same appro-
prlatlons as they made ten or twelve |
years ago. The growth of the work |
from year to year has had to be met |
largely by the contributions of the PEG
pie in the mission fields, while pressing
opportunities beyond the territory at
present cultivated must be left to bet
ter times which will bring enlarged
contributions.
Recent reports show that the Meth
odist church in this city alone received
new members INTO its CON-
munion in 1896. Our church in Pa
chucha sixty, and in Guanaiuato about
the same mum Der. In this last named
place new departure along the line of
medical missionary efforts brought
thousands under the preaching of the
gospel. All these were 1.-The Lords
poor" who received medical advice free
and medicines at cost price and in some
cases less than cost price. A similar
work has been started in Guadalajara,
so that increasing thousands are being
to in their physical and
spiritual wants by the faithful agents Of
him who went about doing good to the
souls and bodies of men.
Professionalism in Mexico as every
where. stands for freedom of speech and
worship. education of the masses and
the exalting of the nation, weekly
rest day and an open bible.
Something to remember, if you're
weak and ailing woman-that there's
only one medicine so sure to help you
that it was for years sold under a
positive guarantee. It's DR.. Pierce's
Favorite Prescription. In building I'D
overworked, feeble delicate women, or
in any female complaint" or weakness,
it never fails to benefit or cure. It's an
invigOrating restorative tonic,
soothing and strengthening nervine.
or nerve food, and safe and certain