A
Quitanda

C
Número 47

M
RIO DE JANEIRO

Illm. Snr.
Miss Ruth Rouse,
C/o Mr T. I. Bordwell,
r. Pompplona 5 ou 7.
San Paulo.

My Dear Miss Rouse:

Mrs Shaw is very much interested
in having a goodly number of the English
speaking ladies meet you at a tea at the
Central Club. This is by all odds the best
place in the city for anything of the kind.
The English Consul has told her that his wife
will without doubt cooperate to the full in the matter. Mrs
Shaw is spending the day seeing others about the matter, and
she
IX' feelssure that we can count on at least a hundred XIXIXIX
ladies, the leaders of the American and English life here.

I wired you today thinking it might be possible for you to
arrive here Wednesday morning or evening so that you might be
Thursday.
rested for the afternoon. Those who have had the experience way
that there is little sleep on the Central. Then again it
would be a terrible disappointment to the ladies working on the
matter if at the last moment a washout or a wreck on the line
should make impossible your getting here.

We should have set a later date had it been possible, but
Thursday was the only date possible available, from the stand-
point of the English ladies and the Club as well.

Other dates we have for you are: Y W C A meeting, Friday;
Anglican Church in Netheroy, Sunday evening. General meeting in
Secretaria da Associação Christã de Moços,
Y M C A Monday night.

I am very sorry indeed your arrival in San Paulo was un-
announced. It must have been idisagreeable indeed. We had not
even given you the adress of the Association.

Peru I.

## III. 1. Geographical extent and estimated population.

The Peruvian territory, as a result of recent treaties, has been reduced to 1,382,832 square kilometres. Even so this is equal to the combined areas of France, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland and Italy. The population of the Republic, after discounting from the latest calculations of the Geographical Society (Lima) on account of dismemberments, may be estimated at about 4,000,000. The density of population varies very much: on the Coast 4.53; in the Sierra 5.32, and in the Forests 0.37 per square kilometre. This of course is due to the immense tracts of arid coast desert land, and the vast ranges of towering mountains, and not to the absence of populous regions. About 50% of the population is of Indians, only 15% whites, the remainder being mestizos of several degrees, negroes, and Chinese.

## 2. Adequate Occupation.

Any discussion of the adequate staffing of Peruvian Missions must take into account the geographical divisions, with the resultant isolation of districts from central superintendence and the impossibility of covering a large area from a given centre enclosed by deserts or mountains; so also the racial distinctions must be faced, not because of race antipathies, but because one and a half million souls can only be properly reached in the dialects of the Quechua language. Thus workers have to be multiplied out of proportion to the population, or other means found for disseminated influence. Another factor is the backwardness of the elements from which the native staff must be drawn. They demand more thorough training and constant superintendence. Workers in Piura would have no great populous district to work upon, for immense deserts surround the city on every side. Native workers might be considered sufficient for the permanent staff there. But the region is so isolated that workers must be placed there of a category not requiring constant superintendence. And Piura, with its port, Paita, the neighbouring petroleum region, and Sullana and Catacas, are of sufficient importance to call for immediate attention. Another and perhaps more important city in almost the same condition is Ica. The cities of Cajamarca and Huáraz are strategic centres touching a large population and with considerable movement. But they are cut off from the outside world by deserts and towering sierras, and their population is of different races. Cajamarca especially should be a centre for Indian work. In these centres we must therefore have effective and constant superintendence, and native workers who could preach in both Spanish and Quechua.

The Indians who know no Spanish are perhaps the greatest asset to the Evangelical movement, as they have not imbibed the Catholic-Iberian spirit. But although the language all along the sierra is one and the same, the differences of dialect between Run Puno, Cuzco, Junin and Cajamarca are not inconsiderable. This language, Quechua, is not easy either to learn or to pronounce. The only foreigners whom I have heard speak Quechua with a degree of freedom after a comparatively short apprenticeship were arabs.

Peru 2.

As to numbers and classes of Foreign missionaries.

There are at least ten cities, corresponding mostly to the State Church bishoprics, which ought to be occupied by men who are capable of organizing churches and superintending work over a considerable region. These men should not be tied down to local work in their respective centres in such a way as to impede their free movement over their district. The cities I suggest are: Lima, Trujillo, Arequipa, Cuzco, Cajamarca, Huáraz, Cerro de Paseo, Ayacucho, Puno, and Iquitos. The first four of these are Universityxxx cities. There are about twenty other towns in which a foreign missionary should be placed for preach-ing and pastoral work and to open new centres preparatory to placing native pastors. A small number of men of ample and ixxix thorough preparation is required in addition to these, and I should say more urgently, to undertake the training of the native ministry and other specialized work. If however a basis of sin-cere co-operation between the several Societies can be found, these needs might be met by two or three picked men placed in or near the Capital. According to this scheme, if the right type of men were forthcoming and a satisfactory co-operation obtained, a staff of 40 to 50 male missionaries would be adequate, even allow-ing for furloughs, for the direct evangelistic side of the work. If a capable native ministry could be provided soon even this number might be diminished; as this allows for placing one for-eign worker alongside each of the ten regional superintendents.

Deaconesses for work among women should be added to the staff on all important stations, preferably women of some culture who would win their way into the circles of cultured women in these places.

As to numbers and classes of national workers.

These are needed of two classes - pastors and school-teachers. A few are needed for colporteurs. A careful calculation based on strategic and probable location for adequate occupation leads me to the view that about 33% of these native workers should be bilingual, speaking Spanish and Quechua. I should place a native pastor besides another foreign worker, along with each of the ten superintending men and also with some ten of the other foreign missionaries. There are about twenty smaller places, which could be subject to superintendence, where the population and evangelical interest would warrant placing native pastors at once. Of course an adequate occupation would call for a much greater number of native preachers, a calculation of towns and districts to be served gives a number of 92 required for the coast and sierra, including the forty places already calculated. In the Capital and suburbs there is scope for 5 or 6 native pastors apart from the foreign workers who should be required there. But to deal adequately with the present state of the work, a staff of some fifty pastors, native assistants and colporteurs would be required.

As to number and kinds of educational institutions.

If the foreign staff mentioned were forthcoming, an adequate occupation would require some 8 or 10 High Schools, between

Peru. 3

between 40 and 50 Primary Schools and a Training School for the native ministry. A Women's Normal School would also be required, as those in the country are inefficient and under priestly domination. The national Men's Normal School is efficient and open to us.

### As to other agencies and missions.

The peculiar geographical problem set forth above makes the printing press an even more powerful arm in Peru than in most lands. This is facilitated by the law which gives free delivery within the Republic for all periodicals printed in the country. The isolation of great groups of population, with the distances, difficulties and cost of travel, restricts iteration as a constant means of widespread propaganda. This can be largely compensated by the printed page. Yet again, the social and political influences which keep whole classes out of our places of worship cannot keep our periodicals out of the homes of enquirers and sympathizers. The printing of frequent editions of Christian periodicals devoted to Gospel teaching and Christian edification ought to have preferential attention. At present there are three monthly periodicals: "El Heraldo", 4 pages, 12,000 monthly, for broadcast distribution; "El Cristiano", 16 pages, 1,500 monthly, and now running four years - both issued by the Evangelical Union of South America; and "El Mensajero", 12 pages, 1,000 monthly, which has completed its first year, issued by the Methodist Episcopal Church.

An orphanage in Lima would be a great boon, command the goodwill of the community, and bring a considerable number of children under Christian influence who at present grow up in crime and misery and pass into a premature grave.

### 3. Give reasons for considering present occupation inadequate and whether wrongly planned.

There are twelve departments in Peru, averaging each about the area of Holland, which are entirely unoccupied in any form by any Evangelical agency (these are: * Tumbes, Piritu, Cajamarca, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Huánuco, Junín, Lima, Callao, Cuzco & Arequipa). The total staff of the several missions giving their time mainly to evangelistic and pastoral work is (including the Seventh Day Adventists) FOREIGN 19 married couples, 2 single men and 3 single women. NATIVE 8 married workers, 1 single man and 1 single woman. In addition there are three foreign married couples devoted to school work, and one of the Bible Society; also 15 native colporteurs. The addition of the Sunday school cannot be omitted.

Of the total foreign staff there are 11 married couples, 2 single men and 3 single women in Lima and Callao, and only 12 married couples and seven single women in the vast provinces. Of the native staff, apart from the colporteurs who of necessity travel about, there are in Lima and Callao 4 married workers, 1 single man and a single woman; in the provinces 4 married workers. This distribution can scarcely be deemed satisfactory.

* numbers = Population.

## Peru 5

### III. 4. How far has the work followed opportunities, and how far a definite plan?

The work of the Evangelical Union of South America was built up on a plan of reaching the Indians of the Cuzco region. This led to the occupation of Arequipa, which is on the way to Cuzco. The Lima work of this Society was taken over from an independent worker, some of the men who founded it having been in association with the same Board in London. The further developments have been in response to appeals. Their settled work with resident worker is established in Lima, Huámo, Huantán, Arequipa, Cuzco & Calca, this latter associated with an extensive farm where a special work is conducted on behalf of the Indians.

The Methodist work has been developed along the same lines and the best locations for schools have therefore proved most attractive to them. Their stations are : Lima, Callao, Huancayo, Tarma & Cerro de Pasco.

The Seventh Day Adventists do very little settled work, their attention being given mostly to diffused colportage and iteration. They have settled workers in Lima, and Chusumit (Puno).

The Salvation Army work has been begun in the principal port, Callao, and the Capital, and the officers speak of commencing shortly in two provincial cities already occupied by other societies - Arequipa & Cerro de Pasco.

The Holiness Church Missions are occupying small towns on the coast in the North - Pacasmayo, Consefu and Chiclayo (this latter with an outstation at Eten); the three centres in which they have started are all in one district, and this suggests some kind of plan.

There has been no plan or agreement among the several Missions in the country, and only in the last two years has a kind of intelligence grown up between them.

### IV. 1 Facts and considerations emphasising the importance of prompt, aggressive & adequate effort.

The great opportunity of Peru was in 1822-1830. Then all things were made new. Men's minds were open, and even the priests could be reached. To-day all that has gone. But more, there has grown up a national spirit which is now rapidly becoming coherent, and one of its characteristics is opposition to protestantism as *unnational*. The longer we delay the more pronounced and set this spirit becomes.

The mind of the young man of to-day has been liberated from the superstitious sanctions which served as a rein on his forefathers. Unbelief is wide-awake, even though not generally blatant. Another generation will see a young manhood which has grown up in this atmosphere and without a mother's faith to respect, much less to follow. The loosening of the bonds of society and the breakdown of the restraining sanctions is painful to peer into and to calculate upon. This is the process going on around us in the centres of learning in Peru today. The next generation will see this same work of disintegration carried throughout the Republic, and in it the sweeping away of much that helps the mind to faith. The man

Peru 6

who to-day believes monkish fables is capable of faith in Jesus Christ, but the youth who tomorrow will be quite persuaded that he has "found out" religion, will be almost beyond the possibility of such a faith.

## IV. 2. Is your field more open than 20 years ago? Why?

Twenty-five years ago Francisco Penzotti was imprisoned for preaching the Gospel in Callao, and his prosecution was carried up through every court in the Republic during nine months before a decision, given under pressure, set him free. Twenty years ago Bibles were contraband merchandise in the Customs House of Peru. To-day we may preach the gospel freely, and the Scriptures are now sold publicly wherever the colporteur cares to travel.

Public opinion has also been modified. The influence of the missionery's personal life, the evangelical schools and the splendid self-denying work of the staff of trained nurses on the E.U.S.A. stations in the interior, have gradually brought home a truer notion of what the Evangelical movement really stands for. The public mind is also much better informed, (the stream of Evangelical publications), in addition to the influences just mentioned, and thousands of copies of Holy Scripture being perused by the people, have spread abroad a clearer idea of our doctrines, have awakened many to the Gospel truth, and very many more to a sympathy with the movement.

## V. What action should be taken and by whom, to insure adequate occupation in your field, and what are the best methods to be employed for accomplishing this end?

(a) The representative men of the Missions now on the Field should plan what they would agree to recognise as an adequate occupation. Each of these missions should then be asked which, if any, of the unoccupied centres and regions they would definitely undertake to staff within the next 5 years. The important centres and regions not thus undertaken-for should be reported with all possible particulars about them to a Continuation Committee of the Latin America Conference.

(b) The Panama Conference Continuation Committee officially appeal to the Free Churches of Great Britain to face the Latin-American problem, for these reasons :-

1. There is no pronounced anti-British feeling.

2. The immense amount of British capital invested in South America guarantees a wide-spread interest in this Continent among the best elements in Great Britain.

3. The large number of Britishers in South America must correspond to a large number of families in Great Britain with a first-class interest in its moral uplift.

4. The fact that so many missionary efforts emanating from Great Britain have been able to continue and develop without denominational backing + recognition is evidence that a very great deal more would be given and done under the aegis of a powerful church.

As Peru presents a large unoccupied field, one at least of the British churches might be induced to assume the responsibility for a definite unoccupied sphere.

Peru 7.

(c) Very much more care should be taken by Mission Boards in the choice of men to be sent out. As much is spent on the wrong man as on the right one, but he does not only not effect the work of the right one but is liable to be a hindrance to his fellows. More, he may become a positive danger to the whole missionary force in the country as by his indiscretion or his ignorance he may bring the wrath or jealousy of the whole nation upon the movement. It is not enough that the missionary be a good man. Less is it enough that he be a capable man. He must be both good and capable. A man without character cannot impress a stamp upon others. A man who could not initiate anything in a sympathetic environment will not do it when it means turning the world upside-down. The man who is incapable of reading and understanding a book is incapable of understanding the mysteries of a new race and taking a large view of how to deal with it.

(d) The training of a native ministry should be made one of our first and most important tasks, not one to be faced in some future generation. This is surely the way to meet race-feeling and make it serve us; it is the way to solve the economic problem of missions; it is the way to guarantee continuity in the influences brought into the national life.

VI. 1 Distinctive problems arising out of racial characteristics, history, and present economic and political conditions.

The race-spirit and the religious race-inheritance are among the most serious difficulties confronting the evangelical movement in Peru. Señor García Calderón expresses the sentiment of his countrymen when he says: "If the American democracies are to acquire a practical spirit, and a persistent activity, and a virile energy, they must do so without renouncing their language, their religion and their history". When he says "their religion" he means, as abundantly appears throughout his book, that type of sacerdotal, showy and not too austere Romanism, brought here long ago from Spain. But this thing goes further back than García Calderón has traced it. The annalists of ancient Rome have left us their descriptions of the pagan forefathers of Saxon, Celt and Latin. While the Germans held a spiritual belief in the All-Vater (All-Father) and the head of the house was the family priest, the cult of the Celt and Latin was polytheistic, and the Celts were dominated over by a despotie, sombre and sanguinary priesthood. Caesar has left us an account of the awful, systematic, almost inquisitorial interdict of the Celts on the heretic. To vary from the orthodox doctrine or differ from the priesthood, this was the worst of all sins. While the Saxon was generally chaste and loyal in his personal life, the Celt and Latin were sensuous and concubinage common. In view of the data on this subject, and close observations during several years, I am inclined to think that instead of the Celt-Iberian being what he is because of Romanism, Romanism is what it is to-day because of the Celt-Iberian. Of course from the standpoint of civilisation and culture the Peruvian of to-day is not to be spoken of as on the level of his rude forefathers. Yet even they were not behind their times in a certain culture. But anyone who knows even a little of the characteristics of the Latin-American, especially in the sphere of religion and morals, can recognise at once the persistence of those primitive race-character-

Peru 8.

istics, despite the Goth and the Moor, he can see these things
characterize Romanism from the time when Spain was able to
establish herself again as a European power, recovering her terri-
tory from the Moor. If these things are so what are the prospects
of the Gospel in its simple faith and worship, and its austere
morality, among such a race?

We have in Peru another race, with its own possibilities
and a distinct race-tradition. To date, a great proportion of
the Indians have not acquired Spanish, and have not imbibed the
Spanish race-spirit. What would happen if that race were educated
by some outside power, in their own language, and developed after
their own racial tendencies? They are the more numerous element
in the country, the more healthy, and the more productive. Given
sufficient education to benefit by modern hygiene they would increase
rapidly. Given education they are man for man a match for the
Spanish-Peruvian in administrative ability, and in industry the In-
dian is far the superior. I suggest that he might well in a few
generations obtain the control of the nation, and at least rad-
ically modify its tendencies and spirit. But this involves the
almost impossible undertaking of educating the whole race in
Quechua, creating a literature in this language, and maintaining his
communal life in large degree in Quechua. The virus is in the lan-
gage. It does not seem even odd to a Spanish-Peruvian to call for
"Agua de Jesús as a mineral-water to drink at the table. I suggest
that it would be offensive in any other language. Think of hearing
an English-speaking guest at the hotel call for "water of Jesus" or
"Jesus' water".

partly

There is a problem of quite another type arising out of
the nation al history. We simply must not circulate a sheet or
a tract or even sell a book printed in Chile. We cannot bring a
worker from Chile, and we shall be unable to send students to
Chile to a seminary, even though that were the easy, efficient and
only way to train him. This is at present a practical problem, as
it hinders us getting the benefit of the Chilian work, but it will
be much more so in the near future if the Chilian work continues to
prosper as in past years, and the Peruvian to lag behind.

VI. 2 To what extent is there religious liberty in your field?
Distinguish between Statutory Freedom and the actual
liberty enjoyed by the people.

Religious liberty is of course very much more ample than
mere liberty of worship. The Constitution prohibited the public
exercise of any non-roman worship. This prohibition was removed
by Act of Congress in November 1915. But on the other hand a man
in official position cannot identify himself with the Evangelical
movement. These men allege that such a step would close all doors to
promotion and posts of honour. All the institutions of Public
Beneficence are run by nuns, and even where entirely maintained by
public funds the evangelical cannot get the benefit of their ser-
vices. In many places there is no provision for the burial of the non-
-romanist, and there is record of a recent case in which the Cura
insisted in the corpse being thrown into the river. He did not
have his way but this was due to the fortunate chance-visit of a
gentleman of position who takes a keen interest in that particular
village. The School-Code includes, by special government-decree,

Peru 9.

obligatory instruction in Romanism, and the teacher is obliged
to accompany the children to Church. In neither case is there any
allowance made for conscientious objection, while in practice this
obligation is frequently extended by those in charge of the schools,
compelling the children to go to Confessional and Communion with their
class.

VI. 5. Do you notice a rise or subsidence in the racial feelings of Latin Americans towards the Anglo-Saxon-Pentonic peoples and to what do you attribute it?

It is almost impossible to speak on a ten years' experience of rise or subsidence of such feelings. That can only be judged over a much longer period. But I suggest that towards the nations the race feeling remains about the same, and my opinion is that towards North America the tendency is to an increase of feeling against the influences emanating from the United States.

One more I would recommend attention to the pages of "Latin America, Its Rise and Progress" by F. García Calderón; particularly books VI & VII. In my opinion, based on the tone and statements of newspaper articles by writers of all degrees, Señor García Calderón has stated the true inner mind of the Peruvian. I am confident that the volume of evidence which could be put together would convince even a North-American Imperialist - if he exists! Peruvians believe him common) that in Peru there is a deep and common fear of the "Yankee Peril". The Japanese Peril" is also considered real, but is not taken seriously because North American people is known to be pledged against it. Germany has hitherto been regarded as a menace to South America, but Brazil was understood to be the centre of her interests and intentions. This feeling regarding North America was made very evident when the United States forces occupied Vera Cruz in Mexico. The predominant international sympathy of Peru is with France. Great Britain is not wholly in favour in government and diplomatic circles but this however is not general among the people. None seriously suspects Great Britain of designs on Peru. On the other hand the development of Peruvian commerce by British shipping, and Peruvian finance by British capital has always been widely and generally recognised. The Britisher throughout Peru is esteemed and trusted, I believe without a reserve of suspicion. The priests in their attacks on the Evangelical al workers always allege our coming from and support by North America, never Great Britain or Germany.

It is a peculiar fact that in some North America touches Peru differently from any European nation. The North-American does not come here and stay, building up a fortune and working it in the country. With rare exceptions he comes here as the employee or representative of a "Big Business", fulfils his contracts with his concern, then leaves the country taking his savings with him. This is not so with the British, French, Italian, Austrian and German. They work their capital in the country and set up their homes here, withdrawing late in life very commonly, their capital remaining in the country to a large extent. These individual merchants therefore make a valuable contribution to the social, industrial and economic life of the country, their influence tells in their social circle, tending to disarm any suspicions and destroy any ill-will.

Peru 10.

VII. I. The relative advantages of the policy of concentration and the policy of diffusion.

Any question as to the relative values of the policy of concentration as compared with that of diffusion must depend on the kind of concentration and diffusion under discussion. And there can only be a question referring to the concentration or diffusion of the energies of the individual station staffs placed in centres all over the land. Concentration meaning the accumulating of workers into a few centres, is unthinkable as a method of evangelising Peru.

The answer must depend very largely on the capacity of the individual worker. There are missionaries who will do good work up to a certain point, and do much if kept busy, but beyond a certain level they would never raise any group or church although they concentrated their attention on it for a generation. In these cases a plan of concentration would be very liable to result only in the degeneration of the worker. If the missions were all of a capacity and genius which would let them build up a community "unto the stature of the perfect man" concentration would be the most effective policy in the long run. But dealing with the problem in the light of experience, I should suggest that the best result would be obtained by concentration on certain tasks and needs by men who have shown capacity for them, and as a general rule, not without exceptions a sufficient degree of diffusion in the work of the others to let them reach the largest possible number while yet confining their efforts sufficiently to keep them in frequent touch with all those so reached. In effect set every such man a circuit in which meetings and visitation should be more or less regularly conducted. But diffusion which would mean visiting towns or villages only at long intervals, or without any definite prospect of following up the visit, seems largely wasted labour, this, of course, apart from the work of the colporteur.

But any scheme for reaching the influential classes would have to concentrate on them, and it would be an immense boon to the Cause, as also to the country. A recent calculation of the students in the University in Lima stated 1,000 to be the number which could be reckoned on for the support of the University Centre (Students' Union). This includes only the students in the University, the Medical School, and the Schools of Engineers and Agriculture. There are besides in Lima the Commercial, Technical, and Normal Schools and also the large national and private High Schools. A Y.M.C.A. work, for example, should reach a very considerable number of these young men of promise, and any such work could count upon the sympathy and support of our best public men. If a hostel were part of the effort it would confer an immense boon on these students.

Peru 12.

VIII. 2. Ought we to aim to greatly increase the number of evangelistic missionaries or to press the native Church to make itself responsible for the work?

In Peru the native Church could scarcely be said to exist in relation to such a proposition. There are not ten organized Churches in the whole country. Moreover, to greatly increase the number of evangelistic missionaries in Peru would not be a very formidable proposition. There ought of course to be an increase in the number of evangelistic missionaries, and if steps cannot be taken to train and organize the native ministry at once, the increase in foreign evangelistic missions is urgent and must be considerable. In any case it should not be inconsiderable, for the elements from which to form a native ministry are not abundant. Yet I should like to see the emphasis laid on the urgency of the native church and the native ministry undertaking this task and some practical plan formulated to encourage and to facilitate the development of this phase of the movement. But even then I judge that constant or at least frequent ove'sight by the foreign missionary is essential for several years after a national worker assumes charge of a station.

VIII. 5 That measures on the part of the foreign missionary agencies are best calculated in your opinion to further fill self-direction and support on the field?

I suggest that there are three principal measures which should lead directly to self-direction and self-support and all of which are within the possibility and operations of the missions.

(a) We must strive to give to all those who are growing up in connection with our churches and Sunday-schools the best mental equipment with which we can endow them. A community of intelligent and industrious members will soon take up these problems for itself, and will be capable of attending to them. A good primary education for every child under our influence should be a plank in the working platform of each mission and church.

(b) While avoiding all appearance of mercenary motives in our work, and exercising the greatest tact and descretion in handling money matters, we must teach the native from the very first contact with him, that the continuance and growth of the work depends on his financial help. Wherever a pastor or missionary is asked for, I should recommend that the local community be pledged to bear a considerable part of the expense. A good plan would be to get the local people to provide us as far as possible the meeting-place, the mission's house and if possible all local expenses. The mission only providing the pastor and his allowance.

(c) The training of a body of men for the native ministry in such fashion that they shall command the respect and esteem of their fellows, and be reckoned by them worthy of support. The preparation of these men ought to be a primary care and consideration in the operations of any mission. The time and money put into it, if the men are wisely selected and surrounded by the right influences during

Peru 14.

## II. What in your experience is the relative effectiveness of the Recognized agencies and methods of advance and occupation now employed?

I take it that there is no need to enter into discussion here of the ordinary method of opening a hall and preaching at stated advertised times. In this case the effectiveness is related to the ability and spirituality of the preacher, his command of the language, and his ability to get people to come and listen.

Concerning those methods which are or have been in use, it would be generally true to say that one part of the missionary force in Peru has been labouring to establish a point of contact and having accomplished this, has had little success in communicating spiritual influence through it; the other part has been labouring to communicate spiritual influence but has had little success in establishing permanent contact; what is

What is here asked for is experience. But it should be remembered that there are frequently defects in our experiments. Educational Work in Peru has had its longest and most thorough test in the Methodist Episcopal Schools in Callao. These are, a High School conducted almost wholly in English, and a Primary School with its kindergarten conducted in Spanish. That they make a contribution to the moulding of public opinion and sentiment favourable to our movement is indubitable.

Medical Work has been tried in Peru in the work among the Indians. The U.S.A. had a medical missionary in Cuzco but he was unfortunately obliged by his wife's death to leave the country before he had been able to put to the real test the value of his special mission. So far, however, as we can judge, the beginnings made were full of promise. For nine years the Mission has kept a staff of trained nurses in Cuzco. The Medical & Nursing Work has given us acceptance and esteem in the whole region. On repeated and diverse occasions we have been able to appreciate the reality and amplitude of this sympathy. Yet in Cuzco, after almost twenty years work, although we have favourably modified the general sentiment toward Evangelical work in the whole region, this work has made very little contribution of elements wherewith to organize the Native church. Latterly a deaconess has begun work to try to follow to more advantage the work done by the nurses, but time does not yet let us form any judgment on the effective results.

Peru 15

Another medical mission in Peru is that of the Seventh Day Adventists among the Indians on the shores of Lake Titicaca. This has been eminently successful. They do not claim the success as due mainly to the medical element, but it has made a very valuable contribution, and has done much to merit general sympathy with the work of the mission on the part of the Authorities and others. The type of Industrial work being employed in Peru is agriculture, also among the Indians. This method has seemed to everybody who has studied these people the one method for work among them. The Evangelical Union of South America has an extensive farm near Cuzco, in the midst of a numerous Indian population. On this farm a large number of Indians are constantly employed and many reside on it. Among these a bi-lingual worker is doing splendid evangelistic work. In the ordinary work of the farm the Indians are taught to get the best out of the soil. The sick are ministered to by a trained nurse, and a school for the children is held daily at the farm buildings. The grown-up lads also have classes in the evening after the labours of the day. The great object in this work, in dealing with the Indians, is to get them under constant control and influence. In this the farm gives a perfect result. The method promises to be eminently effective, but requires that first things be kept first to ensure great results.

Women's work has only been done in Peru by any special method in the work of the E.U.S.A. nursing staff in Cuzco and Arequipa. In both places the work has been mostly done among women, and among them it has carried a great influence toward breaking down prejudice and removing ignorant superstition. But in neither place has it any more positive results to show. These of course are not to be despised, especially by one who knows what was the prevailing sentiment among the women of these two cities 10 years ago. It is an veritable conquest. Still we are here for much more positive results, and nothing like them has yet been reached in these cases. In Lima the Evangelical Union has a deaconess who has just begun to use the language with a measure of freedom. The early promise of her work among the women is encouraging. We have a distinct increase in the attendance of women at the meetings, and a girls' Club begun by the Deaconess is reaching and influencing a number of girls beyond our Church circle.

The circulation of the Scriptures has been very effective. The American Bible Society was first in the field here but for some 15 years the British and Foreign Bible Society has been the chief agency, having several colporteurs constantly on the road. This work has borne much fruit. There are many groups of enquirers and believers throughout the Republic whose interest and notions of the Gospel are wholly due to this work. But I venture the suggestion that if the New Testament were the book chiefly pushed in sale and circulation, not the whole Bible far greater results would be obtained.

The Scripture circulation has been followed up wherever an interest was known to exist by the evangelical

Seru 17.

The crucial missionary question to be grappled with.

(a) In view of the inherited and surrounding moral and religious tendencies, the front-rank question is the moral standard of church-membership. To build up a large church membership, permitting men and women to partake in the Communion of the Lord's Supper who are living in illegitimate sex-relations seems to me to ensure the Evangelical churches in their turn being corrupted and swamped by race-tendencies which are fatal to Christianity. Nothing else but the persistent stand of the Evangelical churches can ever save South America from its present moral corruption, and give to this people truer moral conceptions. And if the New Testament standards are to be maintained in South America every agent of the movement, preacher, teacher and colporteur, must live on these levels. A man suspended from church-membership ought not to be received by another church until he satisfies both parties of his reformation, any other course is like deliberately seeding a cancer in the vitals of the organism.

(b) The proper training of the native ministry is urgent, and is fundamental to the solution of every other problem. For lack of men duly trained and worthy of respect and confidence, we cannot organise churches in quite a number of places where there are groups of people inquiring after the Way and asking for a leader. And these "fields white unto the harvest" without a reaper, are cut down, not reaped, by the ubiquitous agents of Adventism. A suitable and trained native minister is the basis of self-support in the churches. Provided with a church building so that there is not rental burden, the congregation can be appealed to to provide an annually increasing percentage of native pastor's salary, and they will do it if he is worthy their respect and support. But the intellectual attainments of our young men converts are wholly beneath the possibility of this without a thorough education and training.

(c) Self-support is fundamental to all vigorous spiritual life in our churches as well as to reaching out to further fields by the missionary societies - it is therefore a question of first-class importance.

(d) The wide-spread dissemination of primary education is elemental to both the growth and development of the Cause and the progress of the nation. The percentage of illiteracy is a percentage of population almost beyond our reach to say, and well-nigh incapable of being edified into useful members of the church of Christ - unto the stature of the perfect man. A first-class primary education for every child under our influence ought to be one of the aims of our missionary effort.

(e) Wide-spread unbelief and total indifference do religion constitute the greatest barrier to the spread of the Gospel in South America. The opposition of the Church of Rome is a negligible quantity in comparison with this. This problem ought to be seriously faced by the ablest and most experienced men in Latin America and lines laid down, and literature printed for meeting it or counteracting its influence.