The Washington herald., 1914-04-19
BY BISHOP F. J. MCCONNELL,
OF the Me,hodist EpiscOpsl Church.

having visited some of the more impor'
tRnt points of our mission work there and
having held the conference at Pachuca
II Is needless for me to say that the
country IL in very great disorder. TraV'
cling about is especially dangerous. AL
of our Methodist territory lies within the
district at present controlled by Gen
Huerta. The larger cities are well gar
risoned and protected. The work in the
cities goes on very comfortably, but
movement from place to place is frausht
with danger. Only one railroad line. that
called THE Mexican" from Mexico City
to Vera Cruz, has been free from serious
damage and assaults have been made
upon that line five or six times. If one
does not have to go about the work can
be carried on with a fair degree OF
safety.
LawIcssness May Re Expected.
The general Iawlessness throughout ;te
country is what may be expected when
police control is withdrawn from a popu-
lace as ignorant as the masses of the
Mexicans are. Any one who has read of
Mexican conditions in the days of Porfirio
Diaz will realize that Mexico has. for tie
time being, fallen back into her old ard
customary conditions of disorder. Dia=
organized a splendid system of rural no
lice, which kept the country under con-
troll But all of these "rurales" have
been called in for service in the army.
so that the bands roam over the country
especially at night-robbing houses. carry
of women. seizing wealthy men for ran
som. tearing up railroad tracks, and
burning bridges. The end no one can as
yet foresee. The principal danger is from
the bandits. Gen. Huerta has thus far
protected foreigners with all available
power. l do not think Huerta's feeling
government will affect American citizens
living in Mexico. nor do l think that
Americans are in any particular danger
from mob uprising
Because of the bandits, however, the
women and children ought to be in the
larger cities. # they 90 not go to Vera
Cruz, or return home. The man can re-
main on the field. know that the Presi-
dent Of the United States has practically
ordered Americans to withdraw from the
country, but a missionary is justified in
taking some risks that the ordinary
citizens ought not TO be expected to run:
and, as / have said, do not think that
the risks for the missionary are great
Even the most ignorant of the natives
know that the missionaries are not in
Mexico to enrich themselves. They know
that our churches and schools exist for
he benefit 0f even the lowliest. On the
occasion of riot some months ago at
Pachuca, when stores were looted and
burned. rioters surged past our church
building crying out that the church was
not to be disturbed.
Influence of DIR. Butler.
1t would be hard to overestimate the
power of DIR. Butler at the time of crisis
II any uprising in Mexico City should
occur, I am sure that DIR. Butler would
have more influence than any one out
side the official classes in protecting all
foreigners in the city. Brother J. F.
Houser has Travelled continuously all u ese
months of disturbance. While he was
Upon one occasion so close TO an attack
upon a railroad train-in which eighteen
persons lost their liVes-that he arrived on
the scene in time to aid the wounded. he
has not himself suffered any harm. The
work of the district is in good condition.
Brother F. F. Wolfe, who is at present
discharging the double duty of pastor OF
the American Church in Mexico and SUI
perintendent of the Orizaba district. mas
also been near enough the centers Lf
distress TO bury the dead killed in bandit
raids. but has not himself been attacked.
Brother Lawyer, of the Puebla district.
has gone in and out over bandit-infestef
country without being molested. Eduardo
Zapata. of the Oaxaca district. has trav-
eled 1000 miles on horseback through tie
His wife. however, was once arrested
during the absence of her husband De
cause she bore the name Of ''Zapata' 1t
was supposed. until investigation was
made. that she was the wife of the rebel
leader. Brother Velasco and Brother
Chagoyan have each done faithful work
on their districts without serious inter
ruption. Our little church at Azatlan Nus
burned by marauders about two months
mt WAS
Petroniile Constantine, one of our hardest
working ministers, was robbed by he
Zapatistas some weeks ago of practically
everything that he possessed. One of or
day schools for girls in an out-of-the-way
place was broken up. This is about all
the direct damage that has been DON.
during the wear. Men like Cara, Mer-
dosa, Epigmenio. Velasco. Herrera. Adam
and many others have done excellent
work throughout the entire twelve
months.
school system FIouurishInE.
Our schools have fiourished spIendidly.
II is an ill wind that blows nobody good.
The more well-to-do Mexicans have
moved into the larger towns for safety.
and in many cases have sent their chill
dren to our schools. The schools have
benefited thereby. 1t will be gratifying to
has, in a large measure, recovered from
his illness of some months ago. The in
stitute at Puebla has had "A prosperous
year under his guidance. Special atten-
ton is being given to the theological de-
partment, which has just at present
corps OF unusually well-equipped instruc-
tors. Levi B. Salmans of the medical
work at GuanajuatO continues abundant
in labors The doctor is doing an ex-
cellent educational work throughot the
country by means of illustrated lectures
on Disease and Its Causes" With a
set of scientifically prepared slides. he is
giving instruction as to the best way
to prevent the diseases so common in
tropical lands.
Last year returned home full of
praise for the work of the WOman's
Missionary Society, and my admiration
TOR that work has increased. At Mexico
Tity, Pueblo. Pachuca, / saw the thor
oughness Of the work done. and heard
he very finest things also Of the school
Inder Miss GLADDEN. at Guanajuato. /
rave been asked as to whether these