Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1915-10-27
an outpost of civi'ixation. It
dates from the conquest of Mexico
by the Spaniards. From it con-

". eAo OPaulhIUS. = rom IL con-
querors and missionaries went
forth into the great unknown
country stretching to the north
and west. The oldest churches
In this part of North Caroliua
date from about 1850. The oldest
church in Saltillo dates from 1874.
"You think of Mexico az bar.
barous country. And the de.
scendsnts of the aborlgines are
still III a barbarous or semi civil.
lied state. Mexico is, however, a
land OF. religion and churches
The religious life of the people 10
shown by the frequency of Bible
names, the name Jesus being as
common in Mex! 100 as John. Why
are we called upon to send mis-
sionaries to Mexico, this land Of
religion and churches? Because
in Mexico the form of religion has
been magnifed and emphasized,
and the spirit has been left out.
Mexico, 1t is contended, should
have the opportunity to know and
decide whether it will sccept . re-
ligion of spirit rather than form.
Therefore missionaries have been
in Mexico for years until they
we're withdrawn following the or.
der of President Taft. Does it
pay to try to evangelize Mexico?
Following the recall of the mis-
sionaries the work has been taken
up by thu native Mexican preach.
ers. and they are carrying it for
ward 1 recall the funeral service
of an English lady in Salt;llo a
short tim. ago. No English !.
speaking minister was in Saitillo,
and Mexican evangelist oondno.
ted the service in Spanish.
NINETY per cent. of the Pro-
testant Christians in Mexico are
revo1utionists. and with the
changes which have come they
have suffsred many hsrdshlps. A
short time ago Protestant Mex
loan preacher was arrested and
imprisoned Hs hsd nc influen-.
tial friends, and there seemed to
bs little prospect that he would
escape with his life. After scms
time he was liberated, however,
and recall that when he came
into the Sabbath school, in VIII ich
I have been a teacher for yee re-,
on the following Sabbath, and
was asked to offsr prayer, he re-
peatsd the twenty.third Psalm.
"Your missic naries in Mexico
have been fne and devoted band
of Christian workers, and they
have done a good work Your
investments in missionary work in
Mexico has been worth while.
During the disturbances in
Mexico the churches have in many
instances been profaned and vio-
lated. In one State a Governor
issued a decree abolishing all
Catholic forms of worship and
forbidding the priests to ooaduct
worship unless they first 60 before
the civil authorities and engage
not to take part in politics. There
have been exoesses. such as al
ways come with revolutions, but
the revolutionisss in Mexico claim
that their efforts are directed not
against religion but the abuse of
religion, They charge that the
priests have been on the side of
despotism and tyrancy. And it
is claimed that in certain respects
the Church has violated the laws.
The revolution is clearing up the
situation. For an excellent state
ment of the case from the point
of view of she rev volutionlsts I re.
fer you to an article IN the Sep.
te mber Forum.
"Our country could not let the
situation continue indefinitely,
and the recognition of Carranza
has beea necessary and proper.
We have satisfactory guarantees
as to religious freedom. And it
has been agreed that the priests
can return if they will not engage
Ill politics.
II have not been in q church
like this in years. I have broken
my return journey to Mexico by
stopping at Salisbury Yesterday
and visiting old Thyatira Church
where my ancestors worshipped