L . 4 '7 1 / Q. o ) S 20 Home Mission Lesson, ISSUED BY THE WOMEN’S BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY. PREPARED BY Mary G. Burdette, Corresponding Secretary, 2411 Indiana Ave., Chicago, III. Lesson V. Mexico—Its Past, Py-esetit and Ftiture. Mexico has been described as our next- door neighbor, lying broadside to our country on the southiv'est, having a government simi¬ lar in many respects to our own, bound to us by connecting lines of railroad and by close commercial relations, and, moreover, em¬ braced in the motto of the American Baptist Home Mission Society—“ North America for Christ.” 1. In the beKinning it may be well to listen to a general description of the country. Mexico is a republic, comprising twenty- seven states, one territory, and a federal dis¬ trict, including an area of more than 750,000 square miles. Of this great tract of country, the portion lying south of the Tropic of Can¬ cer is by far the most populous, and is rich in both mineral and vegetable productions. The regions north of the tropic become less populous in proceeding northward, and many districts are almost unknown, being inhabi¬ ted only by tribes of wild Indians. The surface is extremely varied, and to this circumstance, nearly as much as to the difference in latitude of the parts of so exten¬ sive a country, may be attributed the variety of climate for which it is distinguished. Tlie vast tract between the Sierra Madre on the west, and the Cordilleras on the east, comprises aliout three-fifths of the area of the country, and consists of table-land, known as the plateau of Anahuac, with an elevation above the sea-level of from 6,000 to 8,000 feet. Hence, though a portion of this region lies within the tropics, it enjoys a temperate climate. The most remarkable tract in this elevated region is the plain of Tenochtitlan, sur¬ rounded by ridges of rocks. It is of oval shape, fifty-five miles long, and thirty-seven broad. One hundred and sixty square miles of this areaarewater. Its southwest side is highest, and here is seen Popocatapetl and other mountain peaks, towering from 13,000 to nearly 18,000 feet above the level of the sea. Mexico is divided, as respects climate, into the hot regions along the coast, the temper¬ ate regions, and the cold regions. The hot regions include the land under 2,000 feet of elevation, the temperate regions those from 2,000 to 5,000 feet, and the cold regions those aljove 5,t)00 feet of altitude. Owing to its diversity of climate, Mexico produces most of the plants peculiar to the tropics, as well as tho.se of the temperate regions of North .-Vinerica and Europe. 2. What do we know of the primitive inhabitants of Mexico? The first settlers in Mexico are said to have been the Toltecs, a tribe of Indians from the Rocky Mountains, who, after several migra¬ tions, fixed themselves near the present City of Mexico, and flourished there for about four hundred years. They imparted some degree of civilization to the barbarous Chi- chemecas, who succeeded them, and were, in their turn, displaced l)y the Aztecs, who flourished in 1160. They founded the city of Tenochtitlan (on the site of the present City of Mexico) in 1325, and under Monte¬ zuma I., the greatest of their monarchs, ex¬ tended their dominion on the east to the Gulf of Mexico, and on the west to the Pacific Ocean. They were subjugated by the Spaniards in 1519. .3. A brief account of this conquest will be of intere.st. Good Friday (April 21), 1519, records the landing of Cortez with six hundred Span¬ iards, at the spot where Vera Cruz now stands. Between the invader and Tenoch¬ titlan, the capital of the empire, which he coveted for the crown of Spain, lay the In¬ dian republic of TTascala. The Spaniards having promptly attacked and defeated the Tla.scalans, set about winning their friend¬ ship, with such good results that they be¬ came zealous and faithful allies. Thus rein¬ forced, Cortez continued his march toward the Aztec capital. When Cortez emerged from the mountain gorge, and looked down on the entire city, he beheld a magnificent lake extending for miles, while from islands, seeming to float on the sparkling bo.som of the water, rose tem¬ ples, palaces, obelisks, mansions, and all the lielongings of a vast empire, while broad higliways, like Roman roads, connected this second Viuiice with the adjacent shore; and green islands, like nodding orchards, with fruit of all colors and sizes, with huts and villages, parents and children, sailed slowly toward the great mart, with fruits, flowers, fish, vegetables, and game. Montezuma II., the la.st of the Aztec mon¬ archs, had in earlier life distinguished him¬ self as a general, and at the time of his elec¬ tion, in 1502, held the office of high priest. But sensual indulgences had so undermined his health and enervated his character, that he became timid and superstitious. The apparition of a comet in 1512 cairsed great alarm in his kingdom, and was affirmed by a neighboring king to forebode disaster from % Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from Columbia University Libraries https://archive.org/details/homemissionlesso00burd_1 HOME MISSION LESSON. 3 thf* arrival of foreigners; a warning which seemed to find confirmation in the invasion of the Spaniards. The alarm was increased by reports of the prowess of the invaders, and of the superhuman terrors of the arms which they wielded. Montezuma sought, therefore, to conciliate them, sending pres¬ ents and complimentary messages, and finally meeting them with a magnificent cor¬ tege, and conducting them to his capital, where they received the most courteous treatment. The lavish jiresents, indicating great wealth, stimulated the cupidity of the Spaniards, and the sight of idolatrous rites, e.specially the human sacrifices, inflamed their religious zeal, while the ambition of Cortez would be satisfic'd with nothing short of absolute conquest; and after a desperate struggle, in which the Mexicans suffered im¬ mense losses try the sword, fire, and famine, the surrender came, and the vast empire be¬ came subject to the, crown of Spain. 4. What may be said of the civilization of the Mexicans at the time of the conquest? When the Spaniards arrived in ^Mexico, civilization had so far advanced that among the .\ztecs the right of property was under¬ stood, cities were built, professions and dis¬ tinctions of rank exi.sted, and the arts were cultivated with considerable success, as is evidenced by their paintings, architecture', and sculpture, 'fhey also cultiAated oratory and poetry, but used hieroglyphics to record their history. iMost of these annals were destroyed, lent some interc'sting specimens were allowed to remain. 5. What can you say of the present population of Mexico? The present population of Mexico num¬ bers not far from thirteen and one-half mil¬ lions of people. Of these, mon' than two millions are whites, the descendants of Euro¬ peans, chiefly Spaniards; about five millions are full-blood Indians, and the remaining .six millions are mixed races. 0. What is known of the relipcions of Mexico? The primitive iidial)itants were highly superstitious, and worshiped a number of deities, also offered human l)cings in sacrifice, a practice of which numerous evidences remain. The natives were' nominally converted to Romanism Iry the Spanish .soldiers, who were jrossessed with fiery zeal for their church. The proselyting was done after the usual mantier of the ag(' in which the con¬ quest was effected, by force of arms. .\s a re.sult, what is now in Mexico called “Catholi¬ cism,” is descril)ed as a .‘^upersitious, debased idolatry, grafted onto a .spurious .sort of Romanism. The Indians and largely the mixed popu¬ lation are almost as ignorant and supersti¬ tious as in the days of Cortez. The work of transforming them into intelligent Christians is a great undertaking. 7. What encouragement have Protestant Chris¬ tians to persevere in their effort.s to preach the (los- peHii Mexico? rite evidence that the pt'ople are progre.s- sive; “They have established reform as the rule for government, and freedom of con¬ science as the right of all. To do this they had to shatter the gigantic power of Spain years since, and still more monstrous lord- ship ol the popish hierarchy forty years later.” Less than a score of years ago it was not safe for a Protestant to labor for the conver¬ sion of the Roman Catholics; now he can go :mywhere in Mexico and labor with little fear of harm. M('xican converts are still more or less liable to petty persecution of a kind that cau.ses th('m humiliation and annoyance; l)ut in the pa.st, on more than one occasion, Romish fury has broken out in acts of open violence that have cost many brave liv('s. In all, there have been eighty-three martyrs. At the present time there are operating in Mexico eleven Protestant denominations, which began their work in the following ord('r (1) American Baptist Home Mission So¬ ciety, lSfi3; (2) Epi.scopalian, . IStig; (.3) Friend.s, 1871; (4) Presliyterian Board of Foreign Mi.ssions, 1872; (.'i) Methodist Epi.s- copal, 1873; (6) Methodist Episcopal South, 1873; (7) Pres) )yterian South, 1874; (8) As.so- ciate Reformed Presbjderian South, 1880; (9) A. B. C. F. M. (Congregational), 1882; (10) Southern Bapti.st Convention, 1883; (11) Cumberland Brest )yterian, 1888. The Methodist (North and South) and th(' Presbjderian (North) are the strongest mis¬ sions. In ('ducational work the Northern IMethodists and Pn'sbyterians lead. Vari¬ ous estimates are given as to the total mem¬ bership in evangelical churches in Mexico, but it seems safe to place it in round numbers at 20,000. While we praise God for this elect company, what is our duty concerning the more than 13,570,045 unevangelized Mexicans? (Census of 1900.) THE BAPTISTS IN MEXICO. (The following matter may be given b.v one person in the form of a paper, if such a presentation should be considered ijreferable to the one here given.) 1. What may be said of the beginning of Baptist work in Me.xico? A ns.—As early as 1830 the E.xecutive Committt'e directed attention to Mexico as :i coming field of missiomiry effort, in tht'.se words; “On the south are Texas and the Republic of Mexico, now both, perhaps, certainly the latter, inaccessiltle to the Christitin mission¬ ary; but their portals will undoulttedly Ih' thrown wide open as .soon as we shall be in circumstances to enter them.” In 184(1 Secretary Hili refers to the first glimmer of hope in the ('stal)lishment of the Republic of Texas within the ancient domain of Mexico, and in the immigration of Americans and Englishmen into Mexico, and Christians were exhorted to be ready for the forward movement when the hour came. In 18()9 we find the.se words in the report of the IxKird : “ God, in His providenee, has opened to us a way into the very heart of this papal land. The Catholic Church i)arty and the liberal party have been struggling HOME MISSION LESSON. 5 for the maptery in iMexico for many years past. At length the churcli party has had to yield. A constitution granting liberty of worship has been adopted and now prevails. As a result, we hear with a joy that thrills us, that six small congregations, holding essen¬ tially the principles of the Baptists, have already organized themselves and are wor- •shiping our Lord Jesus Christ in the way which Rome calls heresy. We deem it im¬ perative to send two or more men to that field at the earliest moment possible.” 2. What do we know of the history of these .six congregatigns and subsequent development of the work? An.s.—In the spring of 1862, John W. But¬ ler, an Englishman of great piety, came to .Vlonterc}^ from Texas. Through his influ¬ ence Thomas M. Westrup, a young English¬ man by birth, engaged in mercantile pur- ,suits in that city, was led to faith in Christ. .\l)Out the .same time there dwelt in Mata- moras. Rev. James Hickey, a Baptist min¬ ister, who, at the solicitation of Mr. Butler and Mr. Westrup, visited Monterey in No- veml)er, 1862. .\s a result, Mr. Westrup ami two Mexicans were baptized January 30, 18()4, and the same day the first Baptist church was organized with five members. Mr. Westrup was cho.sen pastor, Mr. Hickey laying on hands in prayer. By the end of 1864 this churcli numbered twenty members, and by 1869 there were in Mexico, as has already been stated, six congregations, with about one hundred and twenty immersed believers. The American Baptist Home Mission Society accepted the fo.stpring care of these little bands, with Mr. Westrup as their mis¬ sionary, until 1876, when the debt of the society enforced an economy that compelled them to leave these Mexican churches mainly to. themselves until 1880. Indeed, the orily support these churches had during four years ivus that secured by a few heroic Christian loomen who banded together October 21, 1874, as “ The Mexican Baptist Mission Society." In 1880, when the Baptist Home Mi.ssion Society again resumed the care of this work, there were in Mexico five Baptist churches and eight congregations. We had a Baptist church at Monten'y five yt'ars before any attempt was made by any other body to evangelize .Mexico. .3. What can you say of the present condition of the Missions of the Northern Baptists? Under the fostering care of the American Baptist Home Mission Society there were in Mexico in 1903, 10 churches, with a mem¬ bership of 700. There were also out-sta- tions. Fifteen missionaries are employed by the Society to care for this work. The Society also sustains two schools, one in Mexico City, and one at Monterey, in which eight teachers are employed. The money for the support of the schools is raised liy the Woman's American Baptist Home Mission Society. The monthly papiw. La Luz, is published in the city of Mexico, and from the press there an* also issued tracts and leaflets. X hymn book, published by the American Bap¬ tist Publication Society, was prepared by Rev. T. M. Westrup. 4. Give some account cf the work of the Southern Baptists in Mexico. Ans .—In 1880 the eyes of the Board of the Southern Baptist Convention turned to Mexico, and Rev. ,1. O. Westrup was ap¬ pointed as its first representative in this field. The facts of his tragic death are known to the Missionary Baptists of the United States. Brother Flourney was the second, and Brother W. 1). Powell the third appointee of the Board. In 1883 Brother Powell began work in Saltillo. At Zacate¬ cas and Guadalajara, missions were organized in 1887. In 190-3 the Southern Baptists re¬ ported 43 churches with l,2ol members. They also have schools at Saltillo and Toluca and a Theological Training School at Torreon. 5. May we hear a few words concerning the mis¬ sionaries sent by the Women’s Baptist Home Mis¬ sion Society to carry the Gospel to Mexico? In September, 1884, Paxda Barocio entered the training school to prepare her.self for missionary work among her people, the Mexicans. She came to us from Montemo- relos, strongly urged to do so by Rev. Thomas Westrup. .^.ftcr a year in the train¬ ing school, Miss Barocio was appointed to labor in Montemorelos, Mexico. Accom¬ panying Paula Barocio to the training school was Epifanin Trevino, a typical Spanish senorita, who did excellent service in Mon¬ terey as our missionary during two years, when she became the wife of Mr. Albino E. Martinez. Paula Barocio served the society with marked efficiency until December 2i, 1892, when she married and accompanied her husband. Rev. R. W. Tooms, to .4guas Calientes. In September, 1894, she was re- commissionetl for ser^'ice in Queretaro, where she and her husband were then resid¬ ing. This engagement terminated Septem¬ ber, 1895, with her removal to .Montemo- rclos, where she again labored from March, 1896, till October, 1897, when she left Mexico to join her husband in Las Vegas, N. M., where she began work in April, 1898. In Novem¬ ber, 1902, she returned to Mexico and since May, 1903, has been associated with Misses Bristol and Galvan in the work at Puebla. Concepcion Renteria was chosen to fill the vacancy occasioned by the marriage of Epi- fania Trevino, in October, 1887. After six years of faithful and fruitful service, she entered heaven October 21, 1893. Roseltha Powell, from West IJrginia, graduated from the training school in 1889, and was sent to Monterey, Mexico, the following Fel)ruary. She re.signed April I, 1892, and soon aftei- became the wife of Dr. Head. Teresa Leal was first employed as Bible woman to assist Miss Barocio in Montemorelos, and wais transferred to .\guas Calientes, January 1, 1893; in October following, she was sent to San Luis Poto.si. In Septemlier, 1900, she went to Cuernavaca. Viviana Trevino and Lillia Garcia entered the training school in October, 1889, and were graduated June 11, 1891. Miss Viviana 'I'revino began work as a gcmeral mi.ssionary HOME MISSION LESSON. 7 August I, IS91, witli lioadquarters at Santa Ilo.sa, l)ut after Mis.s Powell’s marriage her headquarters were removed to Monterey un¬ til May 1, 1893, when she was sent to Puelila. In April, 1894, she resigned her commission to become the wife of Rafael S. Fernandez. Miss Lillia Garcia began work at Lampazos September 1, 1891, but was transferred in .•\ugust, 1892, to Montemorelos, and in July, 1895, to Aguas Calientes, and in September, 1896, to Monterey, where she labored until .\pril, 1897. Mrs. Francisca Marquez began work in Linares, June 20, 1893, as a BilJe woman and visitor. Miss Susan Jones, of Jacksonville, Ill., and of the training school class of 1893, reached the City of Mexico November 5th of that year, and was joined by Miss Esther Galvan the following month. Miss Galvan came to the training school from Monterey, and graduated with Miss Jones. Her interest in Christian work and place among the workers is, in part at least, the fruit of Miss Powell’s labors. September, 1895, Miss Galvan was transferred to Monterey. Miss Francisca Salas (Mexican) began work in the City of Mexico as Miss Jones’ assistant in August, 1896. November 17, 1896, Clara B. Hardy and Miss Esther Galvan reached Puebla, where they were to be associated in service, but January 9, 1897, Miss Hardy entered heaven, and Miss Galvan continued alone until the arrival of Miss Jennie G. Bristol, November, 1897, Miss Addie 11. Watts reached Mon¬ terey, November 11, 1896. April 1, 1897, she was transferred to San Luis Potosi. The following October she was obliged to return home for medical treatinent, hoping soon to go back, but the hope was unrealized. February 20, 1899, a kindergarten was opened in the City of Mexico. In August, 1900 Aliss Bessie Richards, took charge of this work, and in December, 1902, it was transferred to San Luis Potosi. In November, 1902, Miss Viola Still and Miss Elizabeth Haney, both graduates of the training school, reached Aguas Calientes, where they were joined by Aliss Luz Heath, also commissioned for this field. But their stay here was short as in March of the same year they were transferred to San LuisPotosi, Miss Heath was sent to the City of Mexico and Miss Francisca Salas brought from that city to Aguas Calientes. Senora Alanuela Vargas began work as a Bible woman in Nuevo Laredo, October, 1902. THE DAY DAWN IN MEXICO. The dedication of the First Baptist Church edifice in Mexico occurred at Monterey, April 19, 1885, and was attended by 127 excur.sion- ists from the United States. The builder of the house, a Roman Catholic, who was e.x- communicated by the bishop on that ac¬ count, was presented with a gold medal as a token of appreciation of those for whom he had wrought in the face of the displeasure of his church. The City of Mexico was occupied by the .\merican Baptist Home Mission Society in 1883, but during nearly four years the work was carried on with no house suitable for church or Sunday school purposes, the ser¬ vices being held in a cheerless room, for which the mi.ssionary paid $90 per month, and from which he was lialde to be driven at any time at the caprice of the Roman (’atholic landlord. During the year 1886, nledges amovmting to $25,()()() were .secured for the erection of Baptist Mission buildings in the City of iMexico, and February 26, 1887, ground was broken for the first Prote.s- tant church edifice ever erected in that city. The buildings consist of a church edifice on the American plan; the printing press and the missionary’s residence are in a .separate edifice. The buildings were completed and dedicated November 27, 1887. In 1836 it was wu-itten: “ It is a beautiful anticipation that the l)anner of the true cross may yet ))e planted in the city of Monte¬ zuma, and the blessings of the gospel diffused through this land, which has experienced nothing from her misnamed Christianity but treachery and cruelty and horrid barbarity.” Scarce fifty years had passetl, when the anticipation had become a reality. We listened to Dr. William Haigh’s in¬ spiring account of his visit to Mexico at the time of the dedication of the new Baptist meet¬ ing house at Monterey, and the organization of the Nueva Leon .Association. He de- scril)ed thrillingly the blending of the voices of Germans, English, and Spaniards in songs of praise, each singing in his own tongue but at the same time; and painted for us in vivid word-pictures the Mexican sisters asking and receiving hearty recognition as one with the l)rethren in Him in whom then; is neither male nor female. Then he told how he hatl gone to the cathedral in the gray dawn of the morning, and amid the gloomy shadows, discerned the forms of women prostrating theimselves in ignorant devotion on cold stones, muttering prayers and crossing thein- selves, while a priest, standing in the dim light of a taper, mumbled in Latin the morn¬ ing service, which few heard and none under¬ stood. “ Here,” .said the doctor, ‘‘ I beheld a picture of Mexico as she has l)een, Ijlinded and deluded by Romanism. Aye, a pictun* of Mexico as she is. For as the day was dawning in the natural world, and the sun was even then hastening his apjjroach, so I saw there a reaching out alter God, and be- li(!ve the gospel is beginning to scatter the gloom. Aye, more. As I turned me irom the scene to the one of the day before, and contrasted those ignorant, degi-aded women with the .si.sters whom Christianity has made intelligent and comely, 1 saw a pi(‘ture ot the Mexico of the future, when the Sun ot Right¬ eousness shall have arisen, and when Chris¬ tian light shall flood the land.” Mexico is open to the gospel. Let us thank God, and this not alone for the .sake of Me.xico, l)ut remembering that this is also the “ gateway to forty millions of people farther south who speak the beautiful lan¬ guage of Castile.”