IN the month of August, we attended some special meetings lasting for three days, held in Bugre, in the Matta district. Here is one of the largest congregations, possessing a Casa de Oracao (Hall). This was the first conference of its kind in this district, and was held with the object of helping the believers from the neighborhood. The following description is not an outline of meetings, or ministry, but a sketch of some of the principal persons present.
One of the “chief men amongst the brethren” at the conference, was the veteran preacher, Pedro Rezende. He is now nearly seventy years of age, but can still do his thirty miles a day on his old mule, with much younger men. He is small made, thin, tough, active, and never seems to get tired. He hails from the Campo de Minas, many hundred miles away. He accompanied Mr. George Howes in his early visits to Brazil thirty years ago, and had some adventures and narrow escapes, for in those days there was more persecution than today. He has introduced the Gospel into various districts, more especially into the Campo, where he was born, and has many relations. Pedro is a very faithful man, most uncompromising as to the Truth he holds, and when there is aught wrong in an assembly that he happens to visit, he has a very clear pointed way of bringing home their fault to the erring saints. At present he is much distressed because some of the believers are taking part in politics, and politics in Brazil are about as unhealthy as one could imagine. Pedro does not beat about the bush when, in a meeting, or in private conversation, he seeks to frustrate their politics. He is a great reader of Leituras Cristãs, the magazine for believers, which comes from Lisbon, and he thinks that there is naught like it under the Brazilian sun. He is a good preacher, with a thin, clear voice which begins very low, getting clearer every minute, until he is warmed up, and then it becomes quite sharp and penetrating. He is more of an evangelist than a teacher, although he does a good deal of instructing during his visits. In a difficult church question he at times lacks tact and patience. Pedro is a much beloved brother, and rightly esteemed for his devotedness, and his work’s sake.
Looking round the Casa de Oracão when all are assembled, one notices the four brothers, named Bello, who are “pillars in the Church,” and there are also many relations, some twenty they said. This family was the first to bring the Gospel light to the Conceicão district, about thirty years ago, and 10 years later, when the work was well-established there, they migrated to the Matta, when the district was nearly all “matta,” or forest, where they soon began a live Gospel work, and have continued to this day, so that there is a well-established Church in Bugre, and many congregations around.
Over there is an elderly man who is married to a sister of the Bello brothers. His reception to the Lord’s Supper was rather unusual. When he was converted, he applied to be received to the Communion, but admitted to having committed a murder some seven years before. The local church was in a difficulty. What ought the brethren to do, and what ought he to do? Ought he not first to confess the crime to the authorities? He replied that he had not faith to do so, having married subsequently, and he had a family to provide for. A man who confesses for conscience sake cannot bribe the jury to return him “not guilty,” so would be liable to receive a long term of imprisonment. The brethren decided that he could not be received until he delivered himself up. Of course, everyone knew he was a murderer, as they always seem to do in Brazil, that is, everyone except the police, who are not let into such secrets. For thirteen years, therefore, this brother was kept waiting, until twenty years after the murder, as a crime is then regarded by Brazilian law as dead and done with. When, therefore, he was free from the law, he was allowed to partake of the Lord’s Supper, and continues to this day.
Across the Hall yonder, is a man named Sr. Naphtali, from a distant valley. He is a landowner, with a nice house in which we have preached the Gospel. He too, is a converted murderer. When he committed the crime, he was tried and condemned in spite of his wealth. This would hardly be due to inadequate bribing, but he was made to suffer through political agency, his party not being in the ascendant at the time of the trial. If he had belonged to the opposite party, he would most probably have escaped. In prison he procured a Testament, and was brought to repentance for his crime and past life, through reading it. He found rest of soul through the words, “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
When he was released from prison, he was completely changed, and now has meetings in his home, and a school for the children of the neighborhood.
Then, there in the corner is our German Brother Christiano. He came from Germany about six years ago. He had been wounded in the Great War, but afterward gained a good reputation in his own country as a preacher of the Gospel, and soul-winner. Unfortunately, he does not speak Portuguese well, and is, at first, difficult to understand, and the fact that he shouts aloud and spares not, does not make his language clearer. He also preaches to his fellow-countrymen, of whom there are many in the district. He is a very sincere, upright Christian man, a good example, being a hard worker on his property. He is apt to misunderstand his Brazilian brethren, as he has never studied their mentality or way of viewing things. He looks at everything through German spectacles, and will not try on Brazilian glasses.
That big man in the front is “the giant,” being six feet and six inches in height, and of ample proportions. He came from Conceicão, some years ago. His father, though formerly a staunch Roman Catholic, had been one of the first in the valley to receive the Gospel light, but has long since gone Home. The “giant” himself takes very little part in ministry or preaching, but the influence of his life has been great in the Bugre district, for he is much beloved both by saint and sinner (including spongers), for his kindness, hospitality, and sympathy. He is a gentleman, as well as full of Christian grace. He is often called upon to help to settle local disputes, which would otherwise most likely be settled by the revolver. His wife told us, whilst we stayed at their house, that the latter process takes place almost every week, and pointed to a spot a few yards away from her house where one such case, which ended in one of the disputants being shot dead, had occurred, just a few days before. In spite of these facts, the priest, when he comes to preach in the church in a nearby village, tells his congregation that the “Protestants” are thieves and murderers, his topic being on these lines every time. On their return home from these edifying sermons, some of the “faithful” usually call at the “giant’s” house to have a cup of coffee, and to entertain him and his wife with the details. They know well the kindness of this good couple and their Christian example, and these speak louder than the priest’s sermons, which cause more amusement than ill-feeling. The wife, though small, is as full of kindness as her husband.
When there was a widow with two or three children left without resources, they took them in to live with them. When there was an unwanted child, they at once opened their house, and adopted her. If there is a road to make or mend, a bridge to construct, a house to build, our kind friend is first to offer his services. No one is turned from their door, for there is always board and bed for the traveler, even though he be unknown. Their motto is “ready to every good work.”
Our description would not be complete without a word about that pugilistic brother on the front seat. He somehow gets out at elbows with everyone (except, perhaps, his wife, whose tongue is like unto a sharp razor, they do say). He is contentious to the last degree, though at our conference he was on his best behavior. He has some gift as a preacher, and has done some good work, but what he builds up with his right hand, he knocks down with his left. Of course, this quality is not unknown in England (and even Scotland). Contentiousness, however, is not a common feature of the Brazilian believers. Outside of the Church, disagreements often lead to bloodshed, and this makes people careful in the matter of giving offense. Whilst the believers do not revenge themselves thus, yet they are not accustomed to dealing with contentiousness. Our brother, unfortunately, regards himself as being persecuted for righteousness sake, and thus in apostolic succession.
A week after the conference, I attended a Bugre Church meeting, to discuss their local business; and the items on the agenda were: To discuss the reception of an applicant to fellowship at the Lord’s Supper, They agreed that after being baptized, he should be received at once.
To warn the Church that they must not maintain (as the manner of some was), personal friendship and social intercourse with a certain man excommunicated for a serious offense. This Scriptural injunction is often more difficult to observe in Brazil than in England, owing to the greater hospitality in country places like Bugre.
To suggest to a dear brother that his daughters were foregathering at the Casa de Oracalo (Meeting Hall), in skirts that lacked in length (then fashionable), and he was requested to use his paternal influence to persuade them to amplify their Sunday dresses. The father consented to do his best.
I found it very interesting, as an onlooker, to hear some intelligent Brazilian brethren, discussing and deciding problems that in principle are similar to those in England, but under conditions quite different. “What saith the Scriptures” is their test, and court of appeal, and it is wonderful how the Word of God fits every case and circumstance.