TEN YEARS IN CUBA" Digitized by the Internet Archive ’ in 2018 with funding from Columbia University Libraries , https://archive.org/details/tenyearsineasterOOmore TEN YEARS IN EASTERN CUBA An Account of Baptist Missions Therein Under the Auspices of the American Baptist Home Mission Society By Henry L. Morehouse, D.D., LL.D. Corresponding Secretary With a Supplementary Narrative By Rev. D. A. Wilson, of Cuba THE AMERICAN BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY 23 East 26th Street (Madison Square) New York, N. Y. GROUP OF GIRLS AT EL CRISTO SCHOOL. MANY OF THESE ARE CHRISTIANS Preface Eastern Cuba is entering upon a new Christian era. The thick clouds of superstition and ignor¬ ance of divine things are being dispelled.r The results of ten years’ devoted missionary work there are most encouraging. Much pains have been taken to obtain the essential facts concern¬ ing the beginnings and progress of the worl^ in every principal field and as a whole. Special recognition of the service rendered by Dr. H. R. Moseley and Rev. D. A. Wilson in this respect is due. They have been in the midst of the campaign from the beginning. There are few brighter pages in the long history of the Amer¬ ican Baptist' Home Mission Society than those of the work under its auspices in Eastern Cuba. H. L. M. Points named are missions, with re^^ular preaching services. The larger type denotes the principal missions or headquarters in the different districts. The crosses indicate where church edifices have been built. 4 TEN YEARS IN CUBA TEN YEARS IN CUBA 5 Ten Years in Cuba Chapter I Our Call to Cuba w ITH startling suddenness came the sum¬ mons to American Christianity to give the Gospel to the people of Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippine Islands. Short, sharp and decisive was the war waged in the interests of humanity by our country against Spain because of her bru¬ tal and bloody measures to retain control of Cuba, palpitating with the spirit of liberty. In March, 1896, Spain had one hundred and fifty thousand .soldiers in Cuba, who made but little headway against the scattered in¬ surgent bands. Captain-General Weyler proceeded to starve the island into submis¬ sion. and at the point of the bayonet forced the peasants into towns. These “reconcen- trados,” thus cooped up, ill-fed and mistreat¬ ed, died in such numbers as to shock the civilized world. After unavailing efforts by President McKinley to induce Spain to mod¬ ify her course in Cuba, and after the blow¬ ing up of the battleship Maine in the harbor of Havana, February 16, 1898, with the loss of 264 seamen and two officers, he sent a message to Congress, April nth, which con¬ tained these noble sentiments: “In the name of humanity, in the name of civilization, in behalf of endangered American interests which give us the right and the duty to speak and to act, the war in Cuba must stop.” War against Spain was declared ten days later; the decisive battle of San Juan Ridge was fought on Sunday morning, July 1st; July 3d the Spanish fleet, rushing forth from Santiago harbor, was annihilated; on the i6th Santiago was surrendered, and the next day, as the military hands played “The Star Spangled Banner" and the artillery thundered its salute, our flag was raised on the city hall—and the war in Cuba was over, although the end did not come in Porto Rico until August 13th, and in the Philippines about the same time. A peace protocol was signed in Washington, August i2th; and a treaty of peace was signed in Paris, December loth; Cuba came under our protection, while Porto Rico and the Philip¬ pines were transferred to the United States. On January i, 1899, as the Spanish troops evacuated the island, Cuba entered upon the happiest year in its history. In the new con¬ stitution of the new republic religious liberty was accorded to all, and tbe long-established union of Church and State ended. When it seemed morally certain that the long-locked doors of Romanism were to be unbolted in these islands, officials of our Missionary Societies in the United States be¬ stirred themselves to enter. In November, 1898, a conference between representatives of the American Baptist Home Mission So¬ ciety and the Home ^Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention was held at Washington, D. C., when it was agreed that the former should have as its field Porto Rico and the two eastern provinces of Cuba, and the latter the four western provinces of this island. In Havana, for several years the Southern Baptist Convention had maintained a mis¬ sion which was begun by iMr. A. Diaz in [883, and in September, 1898. one of the workers in that field. Rev. J. R. OTTalloran, a native Cuban, was sent to Santiago, where he remained about four months, having large congregations, baptizing 175 persons. The arrangement for the division of territory re- •sulted in his relincp.iishment of the work to the renresentative of the Home ^Mission So¬ ciety, February ii, 1899. Casting about for a competent man who could preach in Spanish, attention was di¬ rected to Dr. H. R. iMoseley. of South Carolina, who from t888 to 1894 had been a 6 TEN YEARS IN CUBA missionary of tlie Southern Baptist Conven¬ tion in Mexico. The result of correspond¬ ence with him was that he consented to go on a tour of exploration for about two months, and make report thereof to the Board in New York. Accordingly he was appointed for this service in January. 1899. almost coincidentally with the exodus of the Spanish troops and many Spanish priests from Cuba, arriving in Santiago in Febru¬ ary. The throngs wdio attended preaching services and the absence of fanaticism like that in ^lexico and many other Catholic countries were a surprise and a delight to him. Returning to New York, he expressed his readiness to devote himself to work in Cuba as soon as practicable. Accordingly the Board appointed him as General IMission- ar_v, to begin his service in the Fall of 1899; and in the meantime transferred Rev. James T. McGovern, one of the Soci¬ ety’s missionaries in Mexico, to Santiago, who, however, on account of sickness and death in his famihy remained but a few months. Under the brief service of his suc¬ cessor the work suffered great injury. Tn September, 1899, the Board transferred Rev. Teofilo Barocio from the City of Mexico to Santiago and appointed Rev. A. B. Car¬ lisle of Texas to the eastern region. October 19th was a red-letter day in the early his¬ tory of our work, for then Dr. IMoseley and Mr. Barocio. with thei’- families and Rev. M. ]\I. Callejo and family, who had joined them in Havana, arrived in Santiago, Mr. Carlisle coming a little later, ft was a tedi¬ ous trip from Havana to Santiago, for there was no through railway' route and steamship transportation was irregular and inferior. Tn December a large building in the heart of the city was purchased by the Society and remodeled for church purposes, for a day school and pastor’s residence, at a cost of about $12,000. The Corresponding Secretary of the Society. Gen. Thomas J. Morgan, made a brief visit to the field early in 1900. On January 12. 1000, the church was re¬ organized with a winnowed body of seventy- five members, and from the date of the dedi¬ cation of the reconstructed house of rvor- ship. May 16, 1900, there was marked and substantial progress. But this was merely the beginning. The problem of properly occupying several other important centers was a serious one. Few men fitted for such service were visible or available. Providential surprises, however, were in store for us. l^rom quarters unex¬ pected men and women who had acquired the Spanish language, and who had been en¬ gaged in Christian service elsewhere, were discovered and secured. 1 he general policy of the Society was first to occupy the chief cities in eastern Cuba, and having as many affiliated outstations as the missionary and his assistants at these central points could care for. Sometimes there were groups of five to seven of these stations where there was not even a Roman Catholic house of worship. The tables else¬ where given indicate how extensively this policy has been adopted and when work was begun at these places. After the occupation of Santiago (pop. 43,000). Rev. M. M. Callejo was sent to Adanzanillo (pop. 14,500), October 30, 1899; early in 1900, Dr. Moseley visited Ginnta- namo (])op. 7,100); and Rev. D. A. Wilson began work at Camagiiey (pop. 25,100, June 17, 1901. Unquestionably Baptists were foremost in measures for the evangelization of eastern Cuba. The Southern Methodists were also active. The Congregationalists, Presbyte¬ rians and Episcopalians directed their efforts mainly to the western portion of the island, having altogether not more than a dozen mis¬ sions in the two eastern provinces. The Friends, or Quakers, have a few sta¬ tions in the region about Holguin. Bap¬ tists and Methodists have occupied nearly every place of any importance in eastern Cuba. In 1902 representatives of missionary or¬ ganizations met at Cienfuegos to consider questions of comity in their work. A gen¬ eral agreement was reached to the effect that cities of 6,000 population and over were open to all who chose to enter, but that it was undesirable to have even the appearance of denominational rivalry in the smaller cit¬ ies and towns, and that the denomination which first occupied and maintained stated services in an}^ of these places should have the exclusive care thereof. Two other simi¬ lar conferences on this and other matters have been held, resulting in some minor modifications of the comity plan and in cor¬ dial relations generally between the leading TEN YEARS IN C U B A 7 representatives of missionary organizations there. Dr. Moseley was chairman of the last conference. As Baptists who were high¬ ly favored with energetic and sagacious lead¬ ership in this work, we have attained a posi¬ tion of preeminence which imposes upon ns large responsibilities in its prosecution and establishment on a firm basis. In such a field as this we do well if in the first decade good foundations are laid. SPANISH BLOCK HOUSES OR LOOKOUT FORTS OF THE TROCHA—HALF-MILE APART Chapter II Difficulties Encountered Every mission field has its own difficulties. 1 hose in Cuba have been peculiar. The early experiences of Dr. Moseley are pre¬ sented in his report for 1900: “One of the greatest difficulties w'e have to encounter is the indifference of the people. They are not a serious people and are inclined to take everything lightly and carelessly. 1 think it may be truthfully said that Cuba has no religion. Of course, the Romish Church is the established church of the island, but its devotees are few in number, and w’hile all Cubans are nominal Catholics, they do not concern themselves about Prot¬ estantism or Romanism, righteousness or nn- righteonsness, but pursue the even tenor of .their way gaily, carelessly, many of them going to mass in the morning, on some pleas¬ ure excursion in the afternoon and to our service at night. iMany of them are willing to unite with our church without any in¬ vestigation whatever. For that very reason we iitust go slowly and carefully, and while candidates for church membership are nu¬ merous, we examine each one privately, and then again pnblicl}', and receive only such as give evidence of having been born of God's Spirit. And God is giving His Spirit and souls are being born into the Kingdom.” For a while, also, there was difficulty in determining whether the multitudes who thronged onr places of worship came from real religions interest or out of curiosity. There was the appearance of interest; the people were remarkably attentive and or¬ derly, and it seemed that those who had been fed on the husks of religious formalism were hungry for the bread of life. And such, indeed, there were. Rut, eventually, it appeared that curiosity was the main motive that drew them together to see and hear these preachers—for little preaching of any sort had most of them ever heard. The s'using of Gospel hymns was a novelty: the reading of the Scriptures in their own lan- gua,ge and the entire order of service were something new under the sun. When the feeling of curiosity had spent itself there 8 TEN YEARS IN CUBA was a diminution in attendance. So the sift¬ ing process between the chaff and the wheat went on until at length a substantial resi¬ due that could be counted as our constitu¬ ency remained. Then followed the slower, steady, less sensational, discriminating and more enduring work. The missionaries had become “discerners of spirits;” and the gen¬ uine converts themselves, through their own experiences, had discernment of the motives and professions of their friends and asso¬ ciates. Notwithstanding the great care exercised in the reception of members into our churches, some have proved unworthy and have been dropped or e.xcluded. But even this works to our good in some respects, in that it shows to the people that we require higher standards of Christian living than prevail in the Roman Catholic Church, which tolerates among its members what w’ould not he tolerated at all in our churches. The sifting process in the early stages of this work is inevitable and has its educational, as well as corrective, value for the churches themselves. For a time, and to some extent still, the missionaries have had to contend against the influence of Americans in Cuba “who lived in such a way as to recommend neither our country, our government nor our re¬ ligion.” These adventurers were regarded as Protestant products. Twice also within this decade, first in 1903 and again in 1906, there arose a strong anti-American sentiment which was preju¬ dicial to our work. Indeed, the Roman Catholic hierarchy craftily characterized the American missionaries as secret emissaries of the United States to obtain ultimate con¬ trol of Cuba. But at last the magnanimity of the United States government in its deal¬ ings with Cuba refuted tliis cliarge, while the discreet conduct of the missionaries them¬ selves showed its falsity. One of the difficulties encountered was the inability of the people to understand the spiritual nature of the Christkan Church; the nature of saving faith and tlie necessity of regeneration. They were utterlv without experience of these things. The Bible was an unknown book. The terminology of evangelical Protestantism was almost in¬ comprehensible. The simplest and plainest truths to us were to them strange and mys- THE VIRGIN OF COBRE, PROTECTRESS OF CUBA tifying. Old religious conceptions had to be eradicated and new ideas patiently implanted. In some portions of the field, as at Ciego de Avila, we encountered the subtle errors of “Spiritism” (or Spiritualism), which had a large followdng. When the Corresponding Secretary of the Society was in that city in 1904 a fierce controversy was raging between the leaders of this cult and of the Romish Church. For a time the public was confused, supposing that because of the emphasis we laid upon spirituality and the work of the Holy Spirit we had much in common with “Spiritism.” This misapprehension, how¬ ever, was soon dispelled. At Santiago, in 1902-3 the Theosophists, under tire leadership of eloquent speakers, made a sensational campaign that momen¬ tarily attracted general attention and tended to the unsettlement of all Christian belief. Special difficulty was encountered in find¬ ing competent and consecrated superintend¬ ents and teachers for the maintenance of Sunday Schools. There were few available helps on the lessons in Spanish. The Mcn- sajero has never published any lesson helps. Our chief help has been and still is El Ex¬ positor Biblico, founded by D. A. Wilson in October, 1890, and still published by the Southern Baptist Board in IMexico. Young people wlio have been trained in our TEN YEARS IN CUBA 0 PASTOR HOWELL, OF GUANTANAMO, READY FOR A TRIP IN THE MOUNTAINS churches for several years are beginning to meet the demand for workers in this depart¬ ment of effort. One of the main difficulties has been in se¬ curing competent American missionaries to serve as leaders or master builders for our work. As in all mission fields, so in Cuba, there are many sacrifices to be made; if a man comes to this field he must be ready to bear hardships as a good soldier and to accommodate himself to new conditions dif¬ fering in every way from those he has known at home. Comfortable accommoda¬ tions in the villages where there are no hotels are scai'ce, while palatable food for Ameri¬ cans is often difficult to obtain. It some¬ times occurs that a man moved by a ro¬ mantic interest in missions or by some fervid appeal comes into the work, but when he finds the conditions here are totally different and that there are many un¬ pleasant things to be faced he cannot accom¬ modate himself to them and soon goes. We have suffered in Cuba from this cause. The lack of good wagon roads, except in the region of some of the chief cities, makes travel difficult. The missionary who has sev¬ eral outstations under his care must make long journeys on horsehack, with light equip¬ ment for trips. Vividly does the Corre¬ sponding Secretary of the Society lemember the night ride in 1904 of twelve miles on horseback from Songo to Dos Bocas, an¬ other long ride on a moonless night over the mountains and through ravines from El Caney to the same place; another of fifteen miles from Niquero to Media Luna, much of the way through a wilderness, the horses floundering in the mud and frequently leap¬ ing over fallen trees; and particularly the trip of twenty-six miles by wagon and a threc-mule team most of the way from Man¬ zanillo to San Pedro, with a stop-over at Bayamo; the difficulty in crossing the Canto River with its steep banks, and the almost sleepless hours in the old ambulance wagon as we camped for the night remote from any human habitation. These trips made with Dr. IMoseley disclosed the difficulties ' under which many mission¬ aries labor in meeting their engagements. In the rainy season the swollen streams, un¬ bridged, must be forded by swimming the horses across. Several have had narrow es¬ capes from drowning, and in making such an attempt Rev. Francisco Gonzalez IMunoz lost his life. The rainy season, which is at its height lO TEN YEARS IN CUBA during the Summer months, renders travel over trails and improved roads almost impossible and necessitates a partial suspen¬ sion of work. Railroads now in process of construction will afford some relief, though for many years the missionary in the in¬ terior must he a circuit rider of the primi¬ tive type in the early history of our own country a hundred years ago. Such trips are hard on man and beast, especially the latter when his rider weighs over two hun¬ dred pounds. The cost of procuring and keeping this evangelistic cavalry force for field service is considerable, but is essential in reaching communities aw'ay from the few improved highways and railways. SCENERY AROUND EL CRISTO Chapter III Encouragements The absence, in general, of fanatical op¬ position such as is common in Roman Cath¬ olic countries, manifesting itself in violent forms, has been an encouraging feature of our work in Cuba. The fact is, the liberty- loving people, in their long and fearful strug¬ gles for independence, had hearty hatred for the Roman Iiierarchy in league with the tyrannical power of Spain to keep Cuba un¬ der the yoke. They cared little or nothing for priestly anathemas. The spirit of in¬ dependence asserted itself in religious as well as in political matters. Indeed, the lat¬ ter was the overshadowing concern and there was little devotion to the church. Rom¬ ish priests, whose support was no longer assured from public funds, returned in large numbers to Spain. INIissionaries were cor¬ dially received by many, found open doors everywhere, were heard respectfully, and went about unmolested. The hospitality of the people toward the newcomers is well illustrated by the request, in 1903, which the mayor of an interior vil¬ lage sent to the missionary at Santiago to go to his town to baptize the children, say¬ ing that they no longer wanted the Catholic priest, and that they had collected $18 which they would give him if he would go. Of course, he took occasion to explain to them the Scriptural reasons why he could not comply with their request. In 1904-S a series of special evangelistic meetings were held from October to April, of from three to ten days, at each of the main stations and at many outstations. These were largely attended, thousands hear¬ ing for the first time the Word of God. Hundreds professed conversion. If all who presented themselves for baptism had been received more than a thousand additions could have been reported. After careful sift¬ ing 474 were received, and others subse- qnenth'. Prominent men in different parts of eastern Cuba invited the missionaries to their towns and villages to begin work, real¬ izing the advantage of having the Gospel preached to their people. The Mayor of Baire came to Bayamo, a distance of twen¬ ty-five miles, to meet Dr. IMoscley and the Secretary of the Society in 1904, and to urge the estahlishment of our work in his town. T EX YEARS IN C U B A 11 SUNDAY SCHOOL AT CIEGO DE AVII.A He was one of the first to make a public pro¬ fession of Christ in that place, where we have a good church. The Home ^Mission Society itself was en¬ couraged in its work in eastern Cuba not only by facts like the foregoing, but by the remarkable way in which capable men, ex¬ perienced in work among Roman Catholics in other countries, and who were able ef¬ fectively to preach in the Spanish language, were discovered or sent to us. Ten or twelve men and women thus equipped have been in the Society’s service in Cuba. Instead of spending a year or more in mastering the language, they proceeded at once directly, without the intervention of interpreters, to their tasks. More particular mention is elsewhere made of these, and of other work¬ ers. These things seemed to be the sum¬ mons of an overruling Providence to press forward vigorously the work of Cuba’s evan¬ gelization. The interest taken by the Society’s constit¬ uency. in its efforts in tins direction, in gen¬ erous offerings, has been most encouraging. '1 he visits of Dr. Moseley and of some oth¬ ers also to the United States have created an intelligent interest, and have inspired con¬ fidence in the management of the work. The convictions of our most thoughtful people on the subject of our duty are in accord with the following statement by Dr. IMose- ley: “The future of Cuba is unalterably bound up with that of the United States. We have made ourselves responsible in the eyes of the world for her political destiny, and the Christian people of America, wheth¬ er they would or not, are responsi¬ ble in the eyes of God for the spiritual des¬ tiny of the Cubans. No earnest servant of the Master will deny this solemn obligation of American Christians to this needy people who have suffered not only from the tyran¬ ny and oppression of Spain, but also and equally from the blighting effects of four centuries of Romish domination and op¬ pression.’’ These words of cheer are from Dr. IMose- 12 TEN YEARS IN CUBA ley's report for the year ending April I, 1909: “The year 1908-9 has been a good one. W'e have baptized over 400; organized 8 new churches, as follows: Media Luna, Baracoa, Veguitas, Marti, Palmarito, Juan Baron, Barajagua, Tacaniara; organized 5 new Sunday Schools; opened 22 new stations; built 4 new chapels, as follows: Cristo, Palma Soriano, Santa Rita, Veguitas; and have tw'O under construction at Guan¬ tanamo and Baracoa, both important cen¬ ters in the extreme eastern section of our field and of the island. Ten years ago w'e had nothing in eastern Cuba. To-day we have 42 organized churches, 48 stations, 24 male missionaries, 7 lady missionaries, 13 teachers, 2,068 mem¬ bers of our churches, 1,450 in our 35 Sun¬ day schools, 26 chapels and 2 lots, church property w'orth $90,000, school property wmrth $50,000, 2 flourishing day schools, 2 academies, admittedly the best equipped and doing a work such as is not being done anr'where else in the island. We have at times been disheartened, but when w'e think of w'hat God has done in one decade we thank Him and take courage." GENERAL CONSPECTUS BY YEARS. Year. Churches Organized. Baptisms. Chapels. 1900 2 I 1901 45 I 1902 2 43 2 1903 4 152 1904 3 223 5 1905 8 474 6 1906 7 375 1907 4 213 4 1908 2 180 3 1909 9 420 4 Totals. . .. 41 2,125 26 STREET IN CAMAGUEY TEN YEARS IN CUBA 13 Chapter IV The Workers “Honor to whom honor is due.” Honor¬ able mention should be made of the devoted men and women who have been longest and wEo have borne the heaviest burdens in our work in eastern Cuba. They have consti¬ tuted an exceptionally efficient missionary force. They surely- seemed the sent of God for such a time and task. Conspicuous among them is Hartwell Ro¬ bert Moseley, D.D., Superintendent of the work since 1899. He is a native of South Carolina, a graduate of Furman University and of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His youthful aspirations were for a military career, and it was a great disap¬ pointment that circumstances prevented him from entering the Military Academy at West Point. But God evidently had another realm of service for the qualities of generalship with which he was endowed, and which have been displayed in an eminent degree in his ten years’ campaign for Christ in Cuba. Rev. D. A. Wilson, his associate for most of these years, wdio has had intimate knowl¬ edge of him and his work, says: “It would be impossible in a brief paragraph to give any adequate idea of the scope and de¬ tail of Dr. Moseley's varied duties and re¬ sponsibilities. He has shown exceptional ability in planning, organizing and extend¬ ing the w'ork. His fine executive talent has made it possible for him to carry the heavy burdens which the position has imposed upon him. The correspondence, especially in later years, has been enormous. The question of securing wmrkers fast enough for the rap¬ idly widening field presented a problem which few men would have handled so well. Of the large number who have come to us during these years only a few were not able to speak Spanish when they reached their fields. This has been an immense saving of time and money. The distributing of the workers to the best advantage, looking after the acquisition of church property, investiga- the validity of titles, supervising the con¬ struction of meeting houses, have all made heavy drafts upon the time and energy of the Superintendent. Add to these things long tours of exploration into new fields, and of inspection of the various mission stations, often on horseback into regions where there are no railroads, with a sermon every day, besides conferences with the workers in charge, and we begin to get some idea of the Superintendent’s activities. But there is more still, for numberless delicate and perplexing questions from all quarters come to him for solution. He must hear the trials, difficulties and grievances of all the brethren, and be expected to suggest a rem¬ edy for all the evils, and a way out of all troubles. It is not surprising that Dr. Mose¬ ley’s health has suffered under such a bur¬ den of work and care, and but for the grace 1903. He rented the building fronting the park, where Cespedes, the Cuban patriot, was born, fitted it up for meetings, and on January- 6 held the first service. h'rom the first, congregations were large and enthusiastic, including many of what is termed the better classes. When, however, it was understood that the Gospel ran counter to their customs, there was a notable falling ofif. On June 10 six were baptized, and on May 17, 190.3, the church was consti¬ tuted with fourteen members. Among the early converts at Bayamo was Senor Jose Aguero, a lawyer, who boldly- preached Christ to his fellow citizens, and while he remained in Bayamo was of great service to the cause. In June, 1904, the Home Mission Society made an appropriation for a church house in Bayamo. A fine corner lot was secured, and the beautiful new edifice was dedicated on tbe 27th of August, 190.3. It will comfort¬ ably seat 300, and on the night of the dedica¬ tion it was filled to overflowing, to listen to the dedication sermon by Rev. D. A. Wilson, of Camaguey-. After the dedication, Mr. Story wrote: “The talk of the town for months has been tbe new Baptist church, and the inhabitants followed its erection with in¬ terest, for it meant that the work that had been begun in a small way- was to become a 1 CIEURCU AT BAIRE permanent factor in the progress of the town.” A pastor's home has since been built adjoining the church. During the first year in Bayamo, 1904, Mr. Story- had the assistance of Miss Effie Purdy, of the Women's Baptist Home Mission So¬ ciety. In February, 1903, Mr. Pedro Deulo- feu was transferred hither from San Luis as assistant to Mr. Story, and for three years did valiant service in the towns of the Bay-amo district. After the dedication of the new house the church at Bayamo grew apace, and the work was extended to otlier points. More than half the time Mr. Story was traveling on horseback, preaching in the towns and villages. In July, 1907, he went to El Cristo to make preparation for the o])cning of the schools in September, leaving Brother Dculofeu in the Bayamo field. In February, 1908, the Society- sent Rev. A. C. Ha.geman to Bayamo with Mr. Joaqm’n An- 52 TEN YEARS IN C U R A tunez as assistant, ]\Ir. Deulofeu returning to San Luis. Mr. Hagenian had to devote months to the acquisition of the Spanish lan¬ guage, and for this and some other reasons the interests of the church declined. He was able and energetic, but his health becoming impaired, he returned to the States early in the summer of 1909. Baire January 25, 1904, soon after arriving in Bayamo, Mr. Story opened work in Baire, a town of a few thousand people, about thirty miles east of Bayamo. It was at Baire, on the 24th of February, 1895, that the Revolu¬ tion was launched which finally resulted m the independence of Cuba. The people of Baire responded with great readiness and openmindedness to the preaching of the Gos¬ pel. Many prominent citizens, who have never identified themselves with the church, have, nevertheless, always shown great friendliness and have helped the cause in many ways. On March 4 fourteen believers were baptized, and in about four months twenty-seven others were added by baptism. Among the early converts at Baire was Mr. Salvador Llopiz, the Mayor of the town. At the organization of the church. April, 1905. he was made a deacon, an office which he has since filled with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his brethren. Mr. Llopiz is one of the most substantial and useful of all our laymen in Cuba. Miss Rosario Tuzzio, from Sanitago, teacher in the public school, was for about two years a valuable helper in Sunday School work. Through the gen¬ erosity of West Virginia Baptists, the church at Baire has one of the handsomest chapels in Cuba. It will seat about 200, is situated on a corner of the large public square, has a good organ, paid for by the church mem¬ bers tbemselves. It was dedicated December 27, 1905; dedication sermon by Dr. Mose¬ ley. Baire is one of our best village churches, is growing in members, and is advancing toward self-support. Jiguani Twenty miles from Bayamo, on the road to Baire, is Jiguani, a town of two or three thousand. Mr. Story began the work here simultaneously with that in Baire in 1904. These two towns, only ten miles apart, com¬ posed so far as one can see of the same kind of people, present a striking contrast in the CHURCH AT JIGUANI spiritual attitude of the people toward our workers. From the beginning, there was op¬ position and much disorder in the meetings at Jiguani. Disturbances still occur. Prog¬ ress for awhile was slow. At length, how¬ ever, two families of considerable prominence in the community renounced Romanism, and others followed. At the association of 1908 the Jiguani church reported a membership of twenty-three. Others have been baptized since. At Jiguani, also, we have one of our hand¬ somest chapels, the gift of IMr. M. C. Treat, of Pennsylvania. It was dedicated Decem¬ ber 26, 1905. The sermon was preached by our departed brother F. Gonzalez Munoz. Cauto Six leagues west of Bayamo, on the banks of the Cauto, Cuba's largest river, is the little town of Cauto Embarcadero. Mr. Story first preached there in July, 1904. The first converts were baptized March i, 1905, and the church was organized May 15 with fourteen members. Mr. Story and Mr. Deu¬ lofeu visited the town alternately, always meeting with much encouragement. In October, 1907, a small chapel was built, the TEX YEARS TN CUBA ■gift of Mr. M. C. Treat. Mr. J. Antunez directed the work of construction, while at the same time ministering acceptably to the congregation. The chapel has a nice organ, paid for in part by the congregation. The church has made but little progress recently owing to the removal of some of its mem¬ bers, and the difficulty, especially in the rainy season, of maintaining regular services. Guisa Work in Guisa began in September, 1904. Mr. Jose Aguero, of the Bayamo church, was an efficient pioneer. In December, 1905, a church was organized with ten members. Some have been added since, but growth has been slow. In 1908 Mr. Deulofeu encountered much opposition from a group of intolerant Romanists. Guisa, like Canto, has suffered from lack of attention, as well as from the lack of prosperity in the town itself. Santa Rita At Santa Rita, a small town half way between Bayamo and Jiguani, there is an interesting work, which was begun by Mr. Story in September, 1906. On the 21st of the following December thirteen persons were baptized, and on the 26th of the same month Brother Deulofeu organized them into a church. Congregations are good and atten¬ tive. It is considered one of the most hopeful places in the district. The church numbers about thirty. A neat little chapel has been built at a cost of about $1,000, the gift of a friend near Rochester, N. Y. It was dedicated by Brethren Hageman and Howell, March 28, 1909. Miss Grane is doing valuable work among the women and girls there as well as at Bayamo. Maffo Mr. Antunez began work in Maffo, nine miles cast of Baire and forty from Bayamo, early in 1908. Mr. Hageman and iMr. An¬ tunez subsecpicntly found a hospitable recep¬ tion, and in May of that year the former baptized seventeen converts, including the Mayor and bis wife. The organization of the church followed, and $50 was pledged toward a chapel, which is much needed. Las Tunas District, 1904-1909 On the main line of the Cuba C(')mpany Railway, one hundred and twenty-two miles west of Santiago, and seventy-five miles east of Camagiiey, is the town of Victoria de las Tunas, the center of another mission dis¬ trict, It was once a rich and prosperous town. In August, 1897, the Spanish garri¬ son at Las Tunas, after a two days’ siege, surrendered to the Cuban revolutionists, who almost totally destroyed the town as was their custom, lest it should fall again into the hands of the enemy. It has never recov¬ ered from the disaster, and many of its best buildings are still in ruins, among them the COU.RTING IN CUBA Catholic church, a substantial brick building on the central plaza. On July 13, 1904, Rev. Jose Escandell was transferred from Songo to this field. He rented a small house, and entered upon his work with his accustomed enthusiasm. The people seemed to be anxiously waiting for some one to give them the truth. Within less than two months after his arrival, nearly a hundred people had signified their desire to identify themselves with the evangelical movement. After careful sifting on the 6th of. November, Dr. IMoseley baptized thirty, and others later. The chapel was begun in March and dedicated in September, Rev. D. A. Wilson preaching the sermon to a crowded house, Mr. Howell and Mr. RipoH being present. It was a great event in the history of the place. 54 T E N YEARS IN CUBA Two months later Mr. Escandell was trans¬ ferred to the new held of La Maya, Ti Arriba, etc., and on November IS, 1905, Rev. Jose Gonzalez Perez took his place at Las Tunas. Mr. Gonzalez is well educated, conscientifjus and painstaking; and from the first organized his missionary ojicrations with great care. He was greeted by large and interested congregations there -and in the surrounding towns. In January, 1906, Dr. and Mrs. Samuel McBride, from New York, accompanied by Dr. and Mrs. Moseley, visited the church, when eight more were baptized. In April, 1906, the church enter¬ tained the second annual meeting of the Culia Eastern Association, reporting a memhership of more than fifty. Others have since been received. Interest is well sustained all the time. In 1907-1908 the church raised over $100 for all purposes. Prospects arc ex¬ cellent. Mir Mir is one of our country churches, the meml)er 3 living in the vicinity of the railroad station of the same name, twenty-four miles east of Las Tunas. Eirst preaching was done there by Mr. Escandell, then at Las Tunas, 1904-1905, when a number expressed a de¬ sire to be baptized. In December, 1905. Mr. Gonzalez Perez began to bold monthly meet¬ ings at Mir with an attendance usually of from fifty to a hundred people. On the 28th of the following March Rev. A. L. Story bap¬ tized tbe first twelve converts, among tbem some of the substantial men of tbe neighbor- bood. A chapel, began in December, was dedicated February 19, 1907, Mr. Treat, of Pennsylvania, meeting tbe expense. Tbe church was formally organized with seven¬ teen members, March 20, 1907. The roads around Mir are practically impassable in rainy weather, and meetings are often inter¬ rupted. Otherwise congregations are always good. The Tunas pastors, E.scandell and Gonzalez, have also preached at Caisumu, Alanantiales, Riojo and La Demajagua. In some of these places there are believers, I)ut as yet no churches. Guantanamo District, 1906-1909 In the midst of a broad and beautiful valley, rich in sugar estates, and watered by one of the finest streams in Cuba, lies the city of Guantanamo, ten miles inland from the great Guantanamo Bay, where the United States Naval Station is located. The city is connected with the port by the Brooks Rail¬ road, and with the main line of the Cuba Company road at San Luis by the Cuba Eastern Railroad. Guantanamo is a com¬ paratively new city, has broad, straigbt streets, electric lights, water works, and other modern improvements. The popula¬ tion is about 15,000, and according to the census of 1908, has grown more rapidly in the past decade than any other city in eastern Cuba. It is one of the oldest, yet one of the new¬ est of our mission fields. During the Span- ish-American War, Mr. Parker, chaplain in the American Navy, preached in Guanta¬ namo, through an interpreter. A house was rented, crowds attended. There was great enthusiasm, and many were baptized. Early in 1899, when Dr. Moseley visited Guantanamo, he found that Mr. Parker had been shamefully imposed upon by a Cuban, who claimed to be a Baptist minister, and who had brought our cause into disrepute. Air. Parker left, sadly undeceived, and the work went to pieces. Early in 1901, however. Rev. A. B. Car¬ lisle went to Guantanamo to start the work on new foundations. In November he re- si,gned and returned to the United States with but little accomijlished. Nothing further was done for three years. In August. 1904, Rev. W. W. Hill, a colored brother, under appointment by tbe Society, came to Cuba, and in November went to Guantanamo. In b'ebruary, 1905, the mission was opened. Air. Bustamente, from Santiago, doing the preach¬ ing until Air. Hill should accpiire the Spanish language. A Sunday School was begun, the meetings were well attended and a number desired to be baptized. But in August Air. Hill returned to the United States, Air. Bustamente, however, remaining, being aided awhile by Air. Jose Gonzalez Perez. A new and brighter chapter in the history of our work then opened when Rev. A. B. Howell, after his return from the States, located in Guantanamo in December, 1905. With him and his family came Aliss Ruth Flaynes, a trained nurse, and experienced in city mission work in New A'ork City. He soon got a good hearing and gained the con¬ fidence of the people. On b'ehruary 22(1 a church of nine members, wbo bad been bap- T E N Y A R S T N CUBA 55 tizecl elsewhere, was organized, and eight others were, received for baptism. In October, 1906, Mr. Howell reported twenty-nine mem¬ bers, not including the missionaries, an av¬ erage attendance at service of sixty, and a flourishing Sunday School. Greatly to the regret of the people, in June of this 3'ear Hiss Ha^'iies left for the States, preparatory to her work in the school at El Cristo in the fall. Soon after, however, the mission was strongly reinforced by the com¬ ing of IMiss Maggie Howell, sister of the missionary in charge of the school, Miss smaller towns. In July, 1904, Rev. Thomas H. Sprague went from Camagiiey to Gibara. In .Vpril, 1905, Rev. Luis Martinez Bravo, from Spain, joined Mr. Sprague. The work opened encouragingly: beginnings were made at Puerto Padre Chaparra and other points. At the end of the year, when Mr. Sprague resigned, and Mr. Bravo was called to Cama- giiey, the work at Gibara was turned over to the Friends’ Mission there. In April, 1906, the society appointed Rev. Juan Belda, of Spain, to the Nipe field, but on arriving in Cuba in July the death of Rev. Gonzalez BAY OF BARACOA Bessie Richards, an experienced kindergarten teacher, and later by Miss Miller. Mr. Howell has baptized thirty-eight into the Guantanamo church. It contributes $50 a year to the pastor's support, and $36 to mis¬ sions, besides paying running expenses. The Society secured a good site, and erected a fine edifice thereon, which is much admired. It was dedicated IMay 23, 1909. The im¬ portance of the place makes such a house indispensable. Although Mr. Howell might devote his whole time to Guantanamo, the scarcity of workers, as on other fields, requires him to cultivate as best he can the fields at Tigua- bos, San Pre. Ensenada, Jarahueca and other points, besides being frequently called upon by Superintendent IMoseley to attend to mat¬ ters connected with the work elsewhere. Nipe Bay District, 1904-1909 1 he Xipe Bay District includes the cities of Gibara and Holguin, and numerous IMuhoz made it necessary for him to go to Manzanillo. No further effort for awhile was made to occupy the X"ipe field, for lack of workers. In May, 1908, Mr. Jose Escan- dell was transferred to this district, and opened work in a circle of small towns ad¬ jacent to the Xhpe branch of the Cuba Rail¬ road. The reception given to the mission¬ ary and his message at some points has been quite remarkable. Barajagua At Barajagua, where Mr. Escandell lives, the town has been greatly stirred, and many have asked for baptism. March 5, 1909, Dr. Moseley visited Barajagua and baptized twenty-nine of the candidates. A church was organized, and nine others asked for baptism. Tacamaro At Tacamaro, also, the outlook is encour¬ aging. Many have expressed their desire to 56 TEN Y a R S in C U 15 A identify themselves with the evangelical movement, and the indications point to a vigorous young church in the very near future. Mejia At Mejia, also, much interest has been shown. One of the cheering features of the work in these towns is the active and en¬ thusiastic cooperation of leading people in carrying on the work. This is especially true at Barajagua, where several substantial citi¬ zens, heads of families, have been baptized. These new converts offer to give the ground and a large part of the material for building themselves a chapel. Baracoa District, 1908-1909 Baracoa disputes the honor with several other points on the north coast, of being the place where Columbus first landed October 28, 1492, and while this claim does not seem to be well founded, it is nevertheless the oldest town on the island. It was founded early in 1512 by Captain Diego Velazquez, wbo had been charged with the conquest and colonization of -Cuba, and who called the town Niicstra Seftora de la Asuncion dc Baracoa. It became the first capital of the island and the residence of Captain Velaz¬ quez. Shortly after, the King of Spain made Baracoa a city, and the seat of the ecclesiasti¬ cal government. It is situated on the north coast, very near Cape Maisi, the extreme eastern end of the island. The census of 1899 gave the population at a little below 5,000. Strangely enougb, this oldest town in Cuba was the last to be invaded by the mis¬ sionaries of evangelical Christianity. So far as Baptists are concerned, this is explained in part by its isolated position, it being in a measure cut off by a range of mountains from the interior of the province; and in part also to the lack of a man who could be spared from the rest of the field, which lay more compact. For a long time Superintend¬ ent Moseley has contemplated the occupa¬ tion of this field as soon as a man could be secured. While in the United States in 1908 he met Rev. Juan McCarthy, who had had several years’ experience in Spanish work in South America, and interested him in Cuba. He was appointed by the society in Septem¬ ber, reaching Baracoa in December. Pre¬ paratory to his coming. Rev. A. B. Howell, of Guantanamo, visited this and adjacent points, and on the 12th of November Mr. Jose R. Escandell was sent to labor until Mr, Mc¬ Carthy arrived. Mr. Escandell immediately rented a house on a good street, and at the first service preached to about 200 persons. Mr. McCarthy, with great zeal and energy, addressed himself to his new task, being able to preach fluently in Spanish. With a na¬ tive helper, he soon had ten outstations where the people heard him gladly. He also ar¬ ranged for a day school in connection with the mission at Baracoa. By the liberality of a good brother in the United States, a lot and a chapel have been secured. He also supports the missionary. This is quick and energetic work. STATISTICAL REPORT FOR 1909-10 New churches organized. 2 Present number of churches. 44 Outstations opened during the year. 20 Present number of outstations. 68 Present number of churches and stations. It2 Baptized during the year. 307 Dropped, died and excluded. 157 Present member.«hip . 2,218 New Sunday-schools organized. ii Present number of Sunday-schools. 42 Present number of teachers and pupils in Sunday-schools . 1,631 New chapels finished during the year.., 2 Present number of chapels. 29 Pastors’ residences . 7 Value of church property, including churches, pastors’ residences and lots. $100,000 Value school buildings and equipment. 50,000 Total property valuation. $150,000 THE AMERICAN BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY Threefold Work MISSIONARY EDUCATIONAL CHURCH BUILDING Over 1,600 Missionaries and Teachers “ North America for Christ ” Literature describing the work will be sent as issued for 25c a year A GREAT WORK AND A GREAT NEED Address: 23 East 2 6th Street (Madison Square) NEW YORK