The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-08-12
SIDE AND CONDITIONSM
MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA
tBy Church News Association

new u august J.-A1OSC people |
would imagine Mexico to be, at the
moment, a poor market for Bibles.
Yet the American Bible Society, that
great supplemental agency of the mis-
sionary societies and pioneer in Bible
work, finds it possible to sell Bibles
there. The difficulties Of doing SO,
however, are many. Description Of
some OF these difficulties throws a
vivid light upon conditions some Of
which President Wilson and his Cab
met, and u National Government.
must deal with in al attempt to pro-
tect American interests and, if posi-
BILE. TO save human life and property |
that are Mexican and Central Ameri-
IAN. Who would care to be a Bible
agent under the following conditions?
One result of the earthquake oc-
curing in the western part of the
state of Mexico, as may be remem-
bered by newspaper readers, was the
disappearance of water from wells
and streams. At San Andres the only
substitute for water was found in the
small green pumpkins in fields and
gardens. Hunger, thirst, and cold
caused intense suffering among the
poor people, and as if their cup Of
misery was not full, bandits descend
ed on some of the hamlets and car
ried away whatever they could find
of value. Relief expeditions were
sent out and help brought as soon
as possible, but no one who lived
through that experience will wish to
repeat it. Our colporteur did what
little he could to relieve the sufferers
where he had passed the night, but
returned as soon as possible to his
home in the city.
Another day, when just at dawn he
set forth for the town of Tulancingo,
he ncountered a band of %brigands
who smashed his boxes, scattering his
books over the ground, and look his
extra clothing. However, they left
him such wearing apparel as he had
on at the time, a consideration not
always accorded to the victims of the
"Zapatistas."
Senior Nedel undertook one little
trip from Santa Lucrecia to a neigh
boring town, hoping to dispose OF
some of his books. On the way he
met W men to whom he offered a
Bible. They informed him that they
did not want his books, but needed
his sarape (the blanket carried by
Travellers, serving as overcoat by day
and covering 1T nig1il. AS the men
drew their knives to enforce their de-
mand, Medel was obliged to part with
his blanket and the small sum O.
money he carried with him.
Another colporteur was told by
NNll-tO-uO ClllZtu lHdI THAI ~
presumably a representative one
would like to burn him.. Here is hi
own account.
In Jalisco q rich merchant toll
me to bring all my books and h
would buy them at ten dollars a Kill
and then burn them in the street.
told him he did not nave none
enough to buy a single copy Of God
Word in order to burn it, and | mean
just what 1 said.
Down in Chiapasa a fellow said h
would like to have a Bible l was OF
fering in order to burn it. l sale
To read this ooh you would hav
TO pay only a hundred cents. but I
burn it you couldn't get it for a hur
dred dollars He replied that h
would like to burn it and me too.
told him that if he wanted to bur
me l was at his disposition, but tn
book was not for any such purpose
Noises Flores, a young Indian Wit
flashing white teeth and an irreslstlo
smile, persuade the most iMposslDl
people to buy his books and rea
them. In one of his recent letters I
relates the following incidents:
IN Ajusco. theate Of Ell Zapiti
mo- encountered a hcndlt as he WI
leaving the town. be earned a ca
bine and was covered with cartridge
Offering him a Bible, he respOndt
that he was no lawyer to need tn
sort Of book. Though l was terrlh'
by his appearance, l talked to hi
Of Christ ard read various passag
of Scripture, until, much moved,
bought a Bible and babe me good
with much friend1iness.
Another day l met a demondel
one who, with the image of the Vlrs
of Guadalupe in hand, goes 1ro
house to house collecting money I
her great festival. Beginning to ia
TO him. he manifested his abhorren
of the Protestants, but as he conse1
ed to listen, l read him portions
the Scriptures relating to idolatry,
all of which he listened with lnter'
and finally bought a Bible, taking
money from the Virgins treasure D.
He accompanied me to the next Y
lage, and recommended my lit
miscalS, &c o. cnlNel lem. so tn