The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-21
CULTIVATE FRIENDSHIP
WITH MEXICO, is PLEA
) OF BISHOP AT LIBERTY
fsnecia1 10 The Palladium

LIBERTY, Ind, June 21.-CloSer re
Iations with Mey.icoLa more industrious
effort to understand her problems and
assist in their solution. more charity
and a friendlier feeling for the Mexi-
cans. were asked by Bishop Thierkield
in an address on rOur Chance in Mex
leo" before the Fpworth League con-
vention in Liberty, Tuesday afternoon.
Mission work has paved the way for
2 greater friendship, said the speaker,
whose bishopric Includes Mexico, Pan
ANA, Costa Rica and Peru. Where po-
litical, military and economic con-
quests have failed to gain friendship.
missionaries have overcome native sus-
picion. Further mission work will not
only pay big dividends, but is bound
TO progress with ever increasing speed
az 1t is becoming more and more self
supporting, instead of continually abb
sorbing the efforts of foreign. mission
aries.
In the heart of, Mexico City, said the
sneaker. the Gante church. with
membership of 1900, which includes
an increase of 500 within the-last two
years. has been assuming an ever in
creasing share of its own support since
he first observed it. In 1919, the con-
gregation paid $500 pesos Isl 250) In
1920, G, 000 pesos, while in 1921 the con-
gregation assumed entire seH-support,
raising 1000 pesos. For the year end
ing in 1922, 1880 pesos were raised.
This congregation now supports its
pastor and Bible readers, and a num-
her of students in schools. The congre-
cation also has established 80 prayer
meeting sections throughout the city
instead of holding one general prayer
meeting at the church, and one OF
these centers already has become a
self-supporting church.
Help Themselves
Another example of the way In which
the Mexicans are contributing to their
own aid now, said the bishop, is in
the action after the destruction by fire
of the huge church and school at Pue-
bla, which was the center of the WON.
ems foreign missionary work. There
were boys and girls school, each
accommodating 500 pupils. After the
fire 10000 pesos were subscribed fol-
rebuilding, a record unmatched on any
mission field, and mostly given by very
pcor converts. One trained nurse gave
all her savings, amounting to 800
nesos, while many examples were
found of barefooted peon women who
gave as much as 90 pesos.
Evangelical work, concluded th'
speaker, is limited in Mexico only b!
the men and money available, as ap
peals for new missions are comint
faster than they can be established.
That Mexico is urgently in need o
educational facilities as the first essen
tial to economic development. was EN-
phasized by the speaker Eighty pc
cent of the population cannot read O.
write, he said, and the poverty of TIL
poems is shown by the fact that four
fifths of them live in mud huts with
out chimneys or windows. Living II
misery they are prey to all diseases
This in spite of the fact that Mexic'
is the richest undeveloped country Il
the world.
Key to Latin America
Cultivation of friendship with Mex
leo will be a key to closer relation
with all Latin America, Rev. Thier
kield predicted 1t is the countr.
closest to us, and easiest for us to III
derstand and cement in friendship. It
allegiance will guarantee the friend
ship of South American countries
while its antagonism probably vii
mean also the suspicion and dlstruS
of its neighbors.
A good opening has been made b
the mission work which is heartily al
proved by public and officials alike
Warm commendation was given by til
Costa Rican president at the openin
Of a new school at San Jose, while tn
opening of new hospital the mos
modern on the Pacific coast, at Linn;
Peru. was distinguished by the pc
sonal attendance of President Legui
and his full staff ObTegon in Mexico
also watches educational and soci;
program of work with great interest.
In Mexico City, the mission worker
have opened the first social center
its kind TO be operated in such a fell
equipped with boys and girls clu
facilities, a dispensary free hospit
care. and accommodations for mot
ers. This is the first social cent?
formed by any mission in the city.
No strife with the Roman Cathol