STACK 
 ANNEX 
 
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 and 
 
 Guatemala 
 Missions
 
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 PEN PICTURES 
 
 of the 
 
 MEXICO AND GUATEMALA 
 MISSIONS 
 
 THE BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS 
 Department for Specific Work 
 
 THE WOMAN'S BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS 
 
 OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE U. S. A. 
 156 Fifth Avenue, New York Citv
 
 Pen Picture 
 
 of the 
 
 Mexico Mission 
 
 Establishment 
 
 Tho woi'k of tlic Presbytej'iaii I^oard of Foreign 
 Missions was formally opened in 1872. 
 
 Stations in Order of Founding 
 
 Mexico City 1872 Merida 191.1 
 
 Jalapa 1897 Oaxaca 1919 
 
 Vera Cruz 1897 Orizaba 1921 
 
 Outstanding Features 
 
 Tlie work of our Foreign Board nearest to the 
 United States. 
 
 The distinctive Presl)yterian field of responsi- 
 bility in Mexico includes iy4 of the entire popula- 
 tion and Vo of the total area. 
 
 Two-thirds of our field lies within the hot coast 
 country, with a coast line of about 2,000 miles on 
 both the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 Woi'k largely itinerating covering extensive 
 teri'itory and not sti'ongly centralized but car- 
 ried on from various local centers. 
 
 Advance of work slow during the last ten 
 years (1912-1922) because of revolutionary con- 
 ditions in the country. 
 
 Establishment of free medical dispensaries for 
 the poor. 
 
 Opening nj) of social work in various centers. 
 
 2055184
 
 Other Missions Operating in this Field 
 
 Presbyterian Church, South; Associated Re- 
 formed Presbyterian ; Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, North and South ; Protestant Episcopal 
 Church ; Congregational Church ; Baptist Church ; 
 The Friends ; The Disciples ; American Bible So- 
 ciety; Y. M. C. A. 
 
 Union Work 
 
 In 1917 a Union Theological Seminary was 
 opened in Mexico City with the cooperation of 
 eight societies having work in Mexico. 
 
 In 1919 by the merging of several denomina- 
 tional presses and periodicals a union press was 
 formed and a union paper published called ''El 
 Mnndo Cristiano" (The Christian World), and 
 also union Sunday school literature. The Pres- 
 byterian press and periodical called "El Faro" 
 (The Lighthouse), founded in 1884, joined in this 
 merger. 
 
 Location 
 
 Mexico is just south of the United States, across 
 the Rio Grande River. The boundary between 
 Mexico and the United States is 1833 miles in 
 length, 750 miles of which is the Rio Grande 
 River flowing between the two countries. 
 
 Area 
 
 The area of Mexico is 767,000 square miles. It 
 equals the area of that part of the United States 
 between the Mississippi River and the Atlantic 
 coast, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico,
 
 or a little less than that of our five largest states, 
 — Texas, California, Montana, New Mexieo and 
 Arizona. 
 
 In form, Mexico is not unlike a cornucopia 
 with its narrow end tapering toward the south- 
 east and terminating in the Peninsula of Yucatan. 
 Its maximum breadth west from Matamoros op- 
 posite Brownsville, Texas, is about 750 miles. 
 Its minimum breadth at the Isthmus of Tehuan- 
 tepec in the southern part is about 100 miles. An 
 ocean-to-ocean canal was at one time proposed for 
 this Isthmus. Mexico's entire coast line is about 
 6,000 miles. 
 
 Climate 
 
 Running from north to south along the entire 
 eastern and western coasts of Mexico are high 
 mountain ranges. The interior between these 
 mountains is a broad tableland more than 5,000 
 feet above sea level. Mexico lies within the 
 tropics but an altitude of 5,000 feet or more 
 assures pleasant summer weather in any lati- 
 tude. It is the altitude not the latitude that 
 governs the climate of Mexieo. The coast lands 
 are hot and swampy. The tableland has a rainy 
 season from May to October. The coast regions 
 have a rainy season throughout almost the entire 
 year. 
 
 Earthquakes are frequent and many of them 
 are severe and destructive. Of the three snow- 
 capped volcanic mountains in Mexico, Mt. Orizaba 
 over 18.000 feet high, is the second highest peak 
 on the North American continent.
 
 Vegetation 
 
 From its geographical position, eonibiiicd with 
 its varying altitudes, Mexico possesses a greater 
 A'ariety of soil, surface and vegetation than any 
 equal extent of territory in the world. The vege- 
 table products include almost all that grow 
 between the equator and the arctic regions. 
 
 Mexico produces in abundance bananas, cocoa- 
 nuts, coffee, vanilla bean, oranges, chocolate bean, 
 sugar, tobacco, ixtle fiber. Many of these are ex- 
 ported. The products of the tablelands are corn, 
 wheat, beans, chili and cotton. 
 
 The low tropical lands in the south produce 
 about one hundred varieties of building and cab- 
 inet wood, including mahogany and rose wood. 
 At least fifty-nine species of medicinal plants 
 have been classified. 
 
 Resources 
 
 Mining — Mexico has been called the jewel box 
 of the world. It is one of the world's richest 
 mining countries. Silver, gold, iron, lead and 
 copper are plentifiU. There are also mercury, 
 tin, antimony, bismuth, marble and precious 
 stones, as well as valuable deposits of coal. 
 
 During the three centuries of Spanish dominion 
 (3521 -1821) silver to the value of over three bil- 
 lion jyesos (Mexican dollar equivalent to fifty 
 cents) were extracted, almost one-third of which 
 came from the wonderful mother vein at Guana- 
 juato. Most of this was sent in a steady stream 
 of silver Spainward. The largest silver nugget 
 found in Mexico weighed 2,750 pounds. As a
 
 large amount of the silver mined is not coined 
 but used in the arts, it is estimated that Mexico 
 has produced nearly one-half of the world's sil- 
 ver mined in the past four centuries. Mining is 
 carried on in 24 of the 31 states and territories 
 of Mexico, nearly all of the mines yielding silvei- 
 either alone or in combination with other ores. 
 
 Oil — Oil was discovered in Mexico in 1901. 
 Since then Mexico has become one of the foremost 
 countries in oil production in the world. Much 
 of the oil territory is in the eastern part around 
 Tampico. Most of the wells have been gushers. 
 The largest well discovered produced a million 
 barrels a day for five days. The next well of 
 importance had a capacity of 260,000 barrels 
 every twenty-four hours and produced for sev- 
 eral years. Many individual wells have produced 
 millions of barrels of oil during their lifetime. 
 The output for October, November and December. 
 1921. was about 50.000.000 barrels of oil. 
 
 Ancient History 
 
 Mexican civilization is kiiowii to be one of great 
 antiquity. Mexico has a wealth of archeological 
 relies, remnants of an ancient civilization of 
 which no well defined trace exists. Rock sculp- 
 tures, images, idols and ancient pottery, found in 
 numerous localities, are the only i-eeords of people 
 whose history is unknown and whose names even 
 are lost. Such are the ancient pyramids near 
 Mexico City, the Mitla ruins in Oaxaca, the 
 Palenque ruins in Chidpas and the Uxinal ruins 
 in Yucatan.
 
 The earliest authentic date in Mexican history 
 is 1325 when the Aztecs founded what is now 
 Mexico City. They fixed upon this location, 
 claiming it to have been pointed to them by a 
 sign from their gods. This sign, an eagle perched 
 upon a cactus strangling a serpent, is now the 
 coat of arms of the Mexican Republic. 
 
 Spanish Conquest 
 
 When the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, 
 a hundred years had already passed since the 
 soldiers of Cortez had battled with the hosts of 
 Montezuma in Mexico. The landing of Hernan- 
 dez Cortez in 1519 at Vera Cruz marked the 
 beginning of Spanish domination which lasted for 
 three centuries. Their greed for gold made them 
 bold adventurers and cruel despots. They intro- 
 duced Romanism and the country was priest 
 ridden for over three centuries, suffering from 
 all its attendant results of superstition, idolatry 
 and poverty. 
 
 In 1571 the Tribunal of the Inquisition was 
 formally established in the City of Mexico, which 
 was the headquarters for the Inquisitor-General 
 appointed over Mexico, Guatemala and the Phil- 
 ippine Islands. Death by burning was the pen- 
 alty inflicted upon those whose opinions were at 
 variance with those of the Roman Catholic 
 Church. The first auto de fe was effected in 
 Mexico City three years later when 21 persons 
 perished. The Inquisition was a powerful factor 
 in the politics of Mexico down to the time of its 
 final overthrow in 1820.
 
 Mexican Independence 
 
 Fruin i^pxiit — In l.SlO the Moxieau.s began their 
 war for freedom from Spanish misrule. In 1821, 
 after eleven years of struggle, she won her inde- 
 pendence; its centennial was celebrated in 1921. 
 
 From Rome; Separation of Church and State — 
 Estates worth at least ninety million pesos, moi-e 
 than a fourth of all the landed property in 
 Mexico, belonged to the Romish Church. The 
 clergy were exempt from the jurisdiction of the 
 courts in all eases, civil and criminal. In 1857 
 a revolution was begun for religious freedom in 
 Mexico and Benito Juarez issued his celebrated 
 reform laws two years later, which separated 
 Church and State and established religious free- 
 dom. His decree also nationalized all Church 
 property and dissolved all religious orders. It 
 established the law of civil marriage, freeing it 
 from restraints and expenses previously imposed 
 upon it by the clergy. The operation of the re- 
 form laws changed the country from a priest- 
 ridden to a free nation. 
 
 Peoples and Customs 
 
 The population is over 15,000,000, a large pro- 
 portion of which is Indian. In many parts of 
 the country the ancient customs, superstitions 
 and languages prevail. There are said to exist 
 over 180 dialects. The Spanish language is 
 spoken throughout Mexico. 
 
 The native food consists mainly of corn, beans 
 and chili peppers. The corn is made into flat 
 
 9
 
 cakes or "tortillas," tlie Mexican staff of life. 
 Most of tlie cookiii<i' utensils are made of clay. 
 
 Many native alcoholic drinks are made, the 
 most common among the poorer classes being the 
 ^'pulque," the fermented jnice of the maguey or 
 century plant. Prohibition sentiment seems to be 
 growing throughout the Republic. Restrictive 
 measures are being established in several of the 
 states. President Obregon's decree increasing the 
 tax on beer 100 per cent, is intended to discourage 
 the manufacture of that drink. 
 
 Education 
 
 The progress made in education has been very 
 marked within the last quarter of a century. 
 Illiteracy has been greatly decreased. A repub- 
 lican form of government calls for a good school 
 system and our Mission schools have made valu- 
 able contributions toAvard building up this system. 
 
 After three centuries of complete domination 
 by Romanism, when the people were not per- 
 mitted to think nor to act for themselves, it is 
 little wonder that the system scored furrows in 
 the social fabric of Mexico so deep that a hundred 
 years of freedom and of industrial improvement 
 have not j^et wiped them out. 
 
 Government 
 
 Mexico is a Republic consisting of 27 states, 
 3 territories and the Federal District. The consti- 
 tution closely modeled after the constitution of 
 the United States provides for legislative, execu- 
 tive and judicial branches and guarantees re- 
 ligious fi'cedom. 
 
 10
 
 Early Days of Mission Work 
 
 XN 1852, Miss Melinda Rankin, a Presbyterian, 
 who labored faithfully for twenty years among 
 the Mexicans, began missionary work among the 
 Mexican people on the border at Brownsville, Texas. 
 There she started a school that was maintained until 
 the era of our Civil War. The laws of Mexico at that 
 time positively prohibited the introduction of Protes- 
 tantism in any form. In 1864 Miss Rankin entered 
 Matamoros, Mexico, opposite Brownsville, and shortly 
 afterward made her headtjuarters at Monterey, where 
 she gathered about her a company of teachers and 
 colporteurs. She worked largely through others, 
 sometimes having fifteen workers at a time. Miss 
 Rankin also opened a school in Monterey which was 
 later transferred to the Presbyterian Board and be- 
 came our Girls' Normal School at Saltillo. 
 
 Soon after the war of 1846, Dr. J. M. Prevost, who 
 had served as surgeon with the army, took up his 
 abode in Zacatecas, Mexico, a mining district. While 
 accumulating a fortune, he preached as a layman, by 
 precept and example, a saving and purifying gospel. 
 This work became later identified with our Presby- 
 terian Mission, Avhen our activities were formally 
 opened in Mexico in 1872. Our Board thus represents 
 the first and oldest Protestant missionary Avork iu 
 Mexico. 
 
 The war with Mexico opened the way for the intro- 
 duction of the Bible. At this time an edition of the 
 Scriptures in Spanish had been issued in the United 
 States. An agent of the American Bible Society ac- 
 companied our army and distributed many copies. 
 After the departure of the Americans the Roman 
 
 11
 
 Catholic clergy collected all the copies of the Bible 
 they could find and burned them. In 1860, the Amer- 
 ican Bible Society established an agency in Monterey. 
 The British and Foreign Bible Society opened work 
 in Mexico City in 1864. Great credit is due the Bible 
 societies for their pioneer work in new territory. 
 These efforts often develop into organized work. 
 
 Mission Progress 
 
 In Mexico Cit}^ a group of independent Mexican 
 Christians drawn together by a study of the Bible, 
 held their own services. The leader of this group was 
 Senor Arcadio Morales, who became associated with 
 our Mission, and when a little later a Presbyterian 
 Church was organized, he became its pastor. He has 
 completed over fifty years of most active, consecrated 
 and fruitful service in the ministry. The year 1922 
 marks tlie semi-centennial of Presbyterian work in 
 Mexico. 
 
 When the General Assembly in 1872 voted to open 
 work in Mexico, two of the first missionaries sent out 
 were Rev. Henry C. Thomson, D.D., who remained in 
 the country for twenty years and did great service 
 as pioneer educator, and also Rev. Maxwell Phillips 
 who, during his ten years in the country, endured 
 many hardships while itinerating. He opened up work 
 in Yucatan. Rev. T. F. Wallace, after sixteen years 
 of missionary work in Colombia, South America, 
 came to Mexico in 1878 and labored unceasingly in 
 the northern part for thirty-two years. He carried 
 on an extensive evangelistic work, beloved alike by all 
 who knew him, botli Mexicans and foreigners. Otliers 
 who did excellent pioneer work were Rev. David 
 
 12
 
 Stewart who itinerated in nortliern Mexico, Rev. J. 
 Milton Greene, D.D., who did translating and teaching 
 and also founded the church paper, "El Faro," in 
 1884. Rev. Hubert Brown, D.D., was engaged in 
 -editorial work and teaching. Rev. Isaac Boyce, D.D., 
 itinerated for many years in the hot coast states of 
 Vera Cruz, Tabasco and Yucatan. Rev. C. C. Millar's 
 name is closely associated with the development of 
 the Coyoacan Theological Seminary. 
 
 Persecution — The steady progress made in the or- 
 ganization of churches and the interest awakened in 
 the study of the Bible called forth more or less perse- 
 cution from the Roman Catholic Church and the early 
 missionaries were at times greatly endangered by such 
 fanaticism. Some sixty Mexican Protestants have 
 suffered martyrdom. One of the most severe persecu- 
 tions took place in Acapulco, Guerrero, on the Pacific 
 coast, three years after our work opened in Mexico. 
 A mob of several hundred made a murderous assault 
 on the congregation with machetes, rifles and pistols. 
 Thirteen Protestants were killed and more than 
 twenty seriously injured. 
 
 Travel — The work of itinerating in earlj^ days was 
 very difficult, slow and wearisome; it was done en- 
 tirely by stage or on horseback. With the exception of 
 a short line running from Mexico City to Vera Cruz. 
 Mexico had no railroad communication with tlie out- 
 side world until 1884. There are now over 20,000 
 miles of railroads in Mexico, running from the Rio 
 Grande River on the north to the Guatemalan border 
 on the south. This improved means of travel has in- 
 creased many fold the efficiency of the missionary. 
 
 13
 
 Tabasco is tlie only state witliout railroads in which 
 we have Avork. Travel there is hard and wearisome. 
 There is little hope that it will be materially improved 
 in the near fntnre for its immense swamps make the 
 building of railroads difficult. Owing to the moun- 
 tainous condition of large sections of the states of 
 Oaxaea and Chiapas, itinerating in them will always 
 be arduous. 
 
 Our Schools and Dispensaries 
 
 The development of educational work has been 
 interrupted during recent years because of the im- 
 settled conditions in the country. Most of the Mis- 
 sion day schools that had to be closed during revolu- 
 tionary times have not been opened for lack of funds. 
 The Mission has a Normal School for Girls at San 
 Angel in the Federal District, two other schools for 
 girls at Vera Cruz and Merida and a primary school 
 at Orizaba. The only preparatory school for boys is 
 located at Coyoacan, Federal District. It is planned 
 (1922) to open up another school for boys in Oaxaea. 
 
 The first medical work of any kind to be undertaken 
 by the Mission was the establishment of the free medi- 
 cal dispensary for the poor in Vera Cruz. It was then 
 the only one in Mexico. The Mexican physician gives 
 his services free to the clinic and the wholesale and 
 retail drug and commercial firms have contributed 
 much of the medicines and supplies. Over 6,000 pre- 
 scriptions have been filled since the dispensary was 
 established, five years ago. Within the year 1921 
 other dispensaries have been organized on the same 
 plan, in Orizaba. Tierra Blanca, Jalapa, Puerto 
 Mexico and in Tabasco. 
 
 14
 
 There is a notable ()i)i)()i'tniiity for a Presbyterian 
 Hospital in Mexico, and it is urgently needed. Greater 
 emphasis shonld be placed upon the valne of sneh 
 service as an aid in evangelizing Mexico. 
 
 The Press 
 
 The first Protestant paper in Mexico, the "Antorcha 
 Evangelical " (The Evangelical Torch) was published 
 by Rev. H. C. Thomson, D.D., at Zacateeas early in the 
 seventies. About the same time, tracts and a hymn 
 book were compiled by Rev. M. N. Hutchinson, an- 
 other pioneer. In 1883, Rev. J. M. Greene, D.D.. 
 secured funds and ])ought the Mission press. In Jan- 
 uary, 1885, the publication of ''El Faro" (The Light- 
 house) began, together with Sunday school lesson 
 helps and tracts. 
 
 In 1919 a Union Press was formed by the joining 
 of the Methodist and Presbyterian plants. The Meth- 
 odist and Pres])yterian papers were combined also in 
 a new publication, called ''El Mundo Cristiano.'" 
 This paper has been well received and has reached 
 places where the missionary could not go. 
 
 One of the great needs today is the generous dis- 
 tribution of the right kind of tracts and other litera- 
 ture to accompany the distribution of the Bible that 
 Christian believers may be firmly rooted and built up 
 and established in the faith. 
 
 Development 
 
 Redistrihatioii of I\<'.'<poitsihillty — A conference of 
 the various Boards and missionaries working in 
 Mexico was held in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1914. At that 
 time there was made a redistribution of responsil)iHty 
 
 15
 
 for the evangelization of Mexico. By this arrange- 
 ment, the Presbyterian Mission withdrew from north- 
 ern Mexico as well as from the states of Michoacan 
 and Guerrero on the west coast, giving up much of 
 our oldest and best established work. 
 
 [n return the Presbyterian Mission assumed full 
 responsibility for the work in the entire states of 
 Oaxaca, Vera Cruz, Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, 
 Yucatan and the territory of Quitana Roo, retaining 
 our work in the Federal District and Mexico City. 
 This means that our Mission is responsible for the 
 evangelization of about one-fourth of the people of 
 Mexico, in a territory equal to about one-fifth of the 
 total area of the Republic. 
 
 National Presbyterian Church — Since our with- 
 drawal from northern Mexico an Independent Na- 
 tional Presbytery has been formed in that field. This 
 Presbytery is under the Presbyterian Synod of 
 Mexico. Its churches include those of northern 
 Mexico which were organized by our Mission and the 
 Mission of the Southern Presbyterian Church. 
 
 The Mexican Presbyterian. Church has thus become 
 a National Church in northern Mexico, having work 
 established in most of the large cities. It is entirely 
 self-supporting and during the year 1921 raised $45,- 
 000.00 pesos or $22,500. 
 
 Social Service 
 
 In Mexico City where liome conditions are cramped 
 and crowded, a social center has been opened. Here 
 the missionaries give the young people an attractive 
 place to spend the evenings, where they will not be 
 subjected to temptation, but can have wliolesome 
 
 16
 
 amusement, classes and conferences. A three-story 
 building was secured. On the third floor is a large 
 hall suitable for meetings or social gatherings and as 
 a gymnasium for boys. There are also shower baths. 
 The other floors contain small rooms for special meet- 
 ings and an apartment for a resident Mexican worker. 
 Several educators and influential men and women 
 gladly give illustrated lectures or talks, or conduct 
 conferences. Two or three miles from San Pedro is 
 another social center and resident quarters. There 
 are English classes twice a week. A member of the 
 Consulate teaches a class. This center contains a sew- 
 ing machine for the women, and while they sew and 
 visit with one another, the children play in a clean, 
 healthful place. There are gymnasium classes for 
 boys. 
 
 In Merida many young people, whose friendship 
 and confidence have been won through our institu- 
 tional work, attend the church services. The mission- 
 aries plan to extend this service into outlying towns, 
 establishing reading rooms in several places where 
 there are Mexican men who can look after the Avork, 
 while a missionary will have the general oversiglit. 
 
 Wide Spread Evang^elism 
 
 Our missionaries travel far and wide with the 
 Gospel message. One of the most hopeful features of 
 the evangelistic work is the finding in out-of-the-way 
 places, congregations and groups of believers, the re- 
 sult of personal work of individual Christians from 
 older congregations that have been scattered during 
 revolutionary times. Another encouraging feature is 
 the missionary spirit dominating the jiewer congrega- 
 
 17
 
 tioiis and their deep sense of responsibility for the 
 evangelizing of their own people. This is especially 
 true in the state of Chiapas where 864 persons were 
 baptized and received into membership in 1921, In 
 this field there are four well organized churches. 
 These churches have under their care more than 60 
 congregations or groups of believers. Many of these 
 congregations choose one of their number to take 
 charge of the services and he is called ''chaplain." 
 The other congregations or groups are ministered to 
 regularly by native volunteer workers called "mis- 
 sionaries," sent out from, one of the four organized 
 churches. In this manner several hundred persons 
 are at present being instructed and prepared to be 
 received into full membership. 
 
 Owing to the extreme distance and cost of sending 
 workers from this field to attend the Union Seminary 
 in Mexico City, plans are being made for holding Bible 
 Training Conferences at various centers on the field 
 for the training of lay workers. A like condition in 
 regard to distance from Mexico City prevails in Yuca- 
 tan and plans are being made there also for the train- 
 ing of workers on the field. 
 
 The Mexicans as a people are very fond of music 
 and a feature in Protestant worship that has proved 
 especially attractive to them is singing. Protestant 
 hymns are eagerly learned and given an important 
 place in their lives. During the missionary's visit 
 the congregation is taught new songs and these are 
 most fervently and joyously sung over and over until 
 his next visit. These songs become a sustaining influ- 
 ence and a means of expression in the religious life 
 of the people. 
 
 18
 
 A Unique Responsibility 
 
 The political and ccoiioniie relations between Mexico 
 and the United States are of unique importance today. 
 
 They are unique, in the first place, because with 
 one exception, Mexico is the one foreign country 
 nearest to our own nation. Her boundaries are con- 
 tiguous with ours ; only a river and an imaginary line 
 separate the two lands. She is, on the South, our 
 nearest neighbor; her interests and ours are inex- 
 tricably intertwined. Between the two nations exist 
 all the opportunities and responsibilities of such close 
 neighborhood. 
 
 In the second place, America, by reason of the ]\Ion- 
 roe Doctrine, has a unique relationship with Mexico. 
 No other nation can come into such close relationship 
 with her as can our country. There is therefore an 
 added and single responsibility of service upon our 
 government and people in whicli no other country can 
 share. 
 
 Finally, in our relations with Mexico is to be found 
 the touchstone of our relations with other lands all 
 over the world. Our Mexican policy is really the test 
 of our entire foreign policy : whether it is to be a 
 policy of imperialism, either economic or military, or 
 a policy of democratic and disinterested service. We 
 cannot win the friendship of Latin America unless 
 we win first the good-will and trust of Mexico. There 
 are other ramifications of this policy that affect inter- 
 national attitudes not only to the south of us but also 
 in the East and in the West. In this sense, what 
 America does, politically and economically, in Mexico 
 takes on world-wide meaning and significance. 
 
 19
 
 What is true in the political and economic world is 
 even more trne in the world of Christian service, 
 connoted by the term "Foreign Missions." The field 
 of foreign missions is the world; but the Founder of 
 this world crusade in precept and parable placed first 
 the duty of service to one's neighbor. Missionaries 
 go to the Far East and to the Far South, and to 
 Africa and to India : they cross the Atlantic and the 
 Pacific: let them look also towards the "Near South," 
 and let them cross the Rio Grande for Christ's sake. 
 
 Unescapable Duty 
 
 Just as the United States has a unique obliga- 
 tion for service in Mexico because of an established 
 national policy, so has the Presbyterian Church, by 
 an announced program, an unescapable duty in that 
 land. Eight years ago, by agreement with the other 
 Church Boards, the Presbyterian Church definitely 
 committed itself to the task of education and evan- 
 gelization in seven Mexican States, a work in which 
 no other Church should share. If the work is to be 
 done in those States, it must be done by the Presby- 
 terian Church alone. 
 
 P^inally, there is involved in the relations of the 
 two lands the larger principle of all foreign mission 
 eflfort, that has been phrased as "the bringing to bear 
 on all human life the spirit and principles of Christ." 
 Such an ideal involves nations as well as individuals. 
 From this double standpoint of individual and na- 
 tional need and opportunity, and from the larger 
 viewpoint of its strategic relationship to the world 
 campaign of the Church, the work in Mexico offers its 
 appealing challenge today. 
 
 20
 
 Note. For most recent statistics of the Mexico 
 Mission consult the current Annual Report of the 
 Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. 
 
 A Pen Picture of each Station of the Mexico Mis- 
 sion describing the work in detail can be secured at 
 five cents per copy from the Department for Specific 
 Work, Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, or 
 from the Woman's Board of Foreign Missions, 156 
 Fifth Avenue, New York City. 
 
 ftfarch, 1922. 
 
 21
 
 Pen Picture 
 
 of the 
 
 Guatemala Mission 
 
 Established— 1882. 
 
 Stations in Order of Founding 
 
 Guatemala City . 1882 Quezaltenango . . 1898 
 
 Outstanding Features 
 
 A neglected but strategic field which is prac- 
 tically our Presbyterian responsibility alone. 
 
 A country with varied altitude, precipitation, 
 temperature and climate. 
 
 Fertile soil, yielding almost all the products 
 of the temperate and tropical zones. 
 
 Mineral wealth only slightly developed. 
 
 Two principal races, — the Indian and the 
 Ladino, a mixture of the Spanish and Indian. 
 
 Religion, — Roman Catholic. 
 
 Large percentage of illiteracy and illegitimacy; 
 prevalence of drunkenness and crime. 
 
 In 1851 Guatemala became an independent 
 republic. 
 
 In 1871 Church and State were separated. 
 
 In 1917 Guatemala City was wrecked by an 
 earthquake ; since rebuilt. 
 
 In 1920 a change of government brought a 
 brighter outlook for the people. 
 
 22
 
 Wide intlueiice of the Mission press. 
 
 Importance of spreading the Gospel among the 
 Indians. 
 
 A preeminent need — education for boys. 
 
 The period of seed-sowing is over; the harvest 
 is waiting for workers, both native and foreign, 
 for the ingathering. 
 
 Other Protestant Bodies Operating- in this Field 
 
 American Bible Society; Central American 
 Mission. 
 
 Location, Size and Population 
 
 Guatemala is in Central America, nortli of 
 Panama and just south of Mexico. The inter- 
 section of the meridian that runs through St. 
 Louis and Ncav Orleans with the 15th degree of 
 north latitude is not far from the territorial 
 center. 
 
 Guatemala has an area of 40,777 square miles 
 and is approximately the size of the New England 
 States, with a population of 2,225,000 or eight 
 times as many people as are in Kansas City, and 
 almost as many as are congested in Chicago. It 
 is religiously, culturally and now politically one 
 with all of Central America. 
 
 Geography and Climate 
 
 Guatemala extends from ocean to ocean. Its 
 watershed is the Rocky- Andes system, reaching at 
 places 12.000 feet in elevation. This watershed 
 runs northwest to southeast parallel to the Pacific 
 shore and separated from it by a strip of low 
 
 23
 
 but very fertile coast land from twenty to fifty 
 miles wide. The longer Atlantic slope is broken 
 by rugged spurs, stretching eastward in some 
 cases to the very shore. The interior is a suc- 
 cession of mountains and valleys. Rivers and 
 streams are numerous; those on the western side 
 are shorter, owing to the abrupt descent. In the 
 rainy season they are dashing torrents, and add 
 . much to the diversity of the landscape. 
 
 Guatemala is one of the most varied countries 
 in the world. It varies in altitude from sea level 
 to 12.000 feet ; in precipitation from rainless 
 desert to perpetual rain ; in temperature from 
 year-long tropical summer to a cold demanding 
 four blankets every night in the year. As regards 
 vegetation it has also a wide range. 
 
 Products 
 
 The soil of Guatemala is largely of volcanic 
 origin and almost everywhere is fertile, yielding 
 products that vary greatly according to the eleva- 
 tion of the land above sea level. Almost all prod- 
 ucts of the temperate or tropical zones may be 
 grown within the borders of the country; cocoa 
 on the Pacific coast zone, bananas, logwood and 
 mahogany on the Gulf shores; wheat, potatoes 
 and all kinds of sub-tropical fruits and vegetables 
 in various parts of the temperate regions. The 
 low lying plains are clothed, especially on the 
 Atlantic side, with a luxuriant vegetation, having 
 all the characteristics of the tropical American 
 woodlands. As in Mexico, maize is everywhere 
 grown, yielding one crop annually in the tem- 
 
 24
 
 perate and cold zones, and two and even three in 
 the hot coast district. Sugar-cane flourishes to 
 an altitude of about 5,000 feet, which is nearly 
 the extreme limit of coffee culture; and cacao, 
 properly a tropical plant, no higher than 1,600 
 feet. Wheat, on the other hand, thrives on the 
 uplands above 5,500 feet. In the lowlands and 
 slopes somewhat higher, cotton, bananas and indi- 
 go are cultivated, although not in large quantities. 
 The coffee plantations are situated chiefly on the 
 lower slopes of the volcanic range facing the 
 Pacific. This long tract of country is remarkable 
 for its scenery, fertile soil and relatively dry and 
 pleasant air. Many foreigners have settled in 
 this region and have invested much capital in the 
 coffee industry. 
 
 Among the forest growths of Guatemala are 
 the mahogany and palm of the lowlands, and 
 the pines and oaks of the uplands. Among the 
 more costlj^ woods are the cedar, a species of 
 palisander (the so-called rosewood) and the 
 palmolatla, a close-grained yellow wood streaked 
 with grey and brown veins. 
 
 Industries 
 
 The principal industries are native weaving, 
 cattle-raising, the growing of coffee, cereals and 
 tobacco, and in some cases mining and small 
 manufacturing. There is in Guatemala water 
 power for future manufacturing and considerable 
 undeveloped mineral wealth. Gold, silver, lead, 
 tin, copper, mercury, salt, sulphur, antimony and 
 coal are all found, but it has to be demonstrated 
 that they arc commercially exploitable. 
 
 25
 
 Commerce 
 
 While the exports are varied, the chief articles 
 are coffee, bananas, mahogany and rubber. The 
 United Fruit Company lias a plantation 60 miles 
 long by 8 miles wide, from which it ships 9,000,- 
 000 bunches of bananas annually. If cultivated 
 to the full extent it would produce 50,000,000 
 bunches. Just previous to the war the coffee pro- 
 duction reached 1,177,298 (juintals, a quintal 
 being the equivalent of a hundred weight. The 
 gross value of the exports amounted to $14,500,- 
 000 and of the imports to over $10,000,000, more 
 than $5,000,000 coming from the United States. 
 
 Races 
 
 There are two principal races, the Indian or 
 aboriginal, and the Ladino or mixture of Spanish 
 and Indian which though less numerous than the 
 Indian, has inherited the wealth, power and social 
 standing of tlie Spanish conquerors and lords it 
 over the subject Indian. There are also repre- 
 sentatives of many other nations, the Spaniards, 
 Germans and Chinese predominating. The 
 Indian is respectful, law-abiding, capable and 
 relatively chaste. In the department of Guate- 
 mala City, the Ladinos register a 67% illegiti- 
 macy; the Indians register 28%. 
 
 Religion 
 
 Roman Catholicism is and has been the one 
 chief religion. The conversion of the Indians to 
 Roman Catholicism consisted in great part in sub- 
 mission to the ecclesiastical control of Rome and 
 
 26
 
 having their old beliefs and practices designated 
 by Christian names. As in Mexico, so in Guate- 
 mala, Romanism has sunk even lower than the 
 people whom it has degraded. The result is that 
 they have lost confidence in their Church. Noth- 
 ing is done to supply the spiritual void and it is 
 assumed that a purely secular education is the 
 only need of the country. Hence, educated people 
 are drifting into all forms of infidelity, while the 
 condition of the people at large is that of gross 
 ignorance of true spiritual Christianity. 
 
 Social Conditions 
 
 Roman Catholicism crushed out the middle 
 class after it got complete control, leaving the 
 ecclesiastical class and their relatives wealthy and 
 the rest of the people pauperized. Since the 
 separation of Church and State in 1871, a middle 
 class has been slowly forming. The Church of 
 Rome after 400 years of absolute control left an 
 illiterate population. After fifty years of public 
 schools and compulsory education under the 
 "free thinkers" the illiteracy has been only 
 slightly reduced. The bad showing of the Roman 
 Church is due to the policy and the drift of the 
 system, and that of the Jjiberals is due to weakness 
 of the moral factor. 
 
 Drunkenness and crime prevail. In 1913. the 
 government issued 56,200 saloon licenses, that is, 
 one for every 36 inhabitants counting men. 
 women and children, for all drink. Family 
 morals are in a bad condition. As the people do 
 not fight with their fists but witli the deadliest 
 
 27
 
 weapons they can eominaiid, crime statistics run 
 enormously high. ()u one occasion, while some 
 of the missionaries were at church on Sunday 
 morning, five murders occurred in their ward in 
 the Capital City, and in the entire city the known 
 record reached twenty-one that same day. As 
 to labor, the peonage system prevails, and for 
 unskilled labor the wage is from three-fourths of 
 a cent a day to fifteen cents. As people can 
 neither be starved nor frozen in this warm fruit 
 laden country, wages drop to the irreducible 
 minimum. 
 
 History of Guatemala 
 
 XN 1502 Columbus discovered the coast of this 
 region. The countrj^ was made a Spanish 
 dependency in 1524 and was erected into a captain- 
 generalcy in 1527 by Charles V. In 1821 Guatemala 
 threw off the yoke of Spain and in 1823 became a 
 part of the Central American Federal Republic. In 
 1839 the territory of the latter was diminished by 
 the secession of Honduras and in 1847 Guatemala 
 separated from the confederation as an indei)endent 
 republic. 
 
 In the year 1871 Church and State were separated 
 in Guatemala and a new era of freedom began. This 
 was one of the most decisive and far reaching 
 changes that had ever taken place in the history of 
 Latin America. A new spirit manifested itself 
 among the people. The rule or domination of the 
 clergy was overthrown and a liberal government was 
 established. When the Liberal Party came into 
 power in 1871 many remarkable changes took place. 
 
 28
 
 Two years later, by proclamation of President 
 Barrios, religious liberty was guaranteed to all, and 
 during his administi'ation trade and general pros- 
 perity greatl}^ increased. In 1884 Avar broke out 
 between Guatemala and San Salvador, in conse- 
 quence of a decree from President Barrios for the 
 union of all Central American states. At the outset 
 of the conflict the President was killed. His suc- 
 cessors to some extent pursued his enlightened 
 polic}'. In 1890 war was again declared against San 
 Salvador, but after a few months of active hostilities, 
 peace was proclaimed. 
 
 Political Dominance 
 
 From 1900-1920 a former president became to all 
 intents and purposes a dictator. In 1920 the people 
 commenced to assert themselves in accordance with 
 the rights of any free people. This was done in the 
 press and in public addresses. Many of those taking 
 the lead in this movement were cast into prison and 
 held without lawful accusation or just trial. Even 
 with this provocation there was no uprising. 
 
 On the 11th of March, 1920, some 25,000 people 
 marched through the streets to the place where the 
 national congress was in session in order to protest 
 against the p»assing of certain laws that had for 
 their purpose the suppression of free speech and of 
 a free press. These people went unarmed and Avith- 
 out shouts or threats and the whole conduct of the 
 procession was orderly. The police or soldiers tired 
 on these innocent people, but even then they main- 
 tained their peaceful bearing. 
 
 A complete change of government has brought a 
 new regime. A new spirit animates the people and 
 
 29
 
 the outlook is bright. The very discussions that liave 
 taken place in speech and press have developed a 
 new character among the people. It is significant 
 that when political tyranny had become unendur- 
 able, the people of Guatemala arose, almost as one 
 man, and brought about a change of government 
 that is quietly establishing itself in a way that calls 
 for marked commendation. The struggle has been 
 in favor of true freedom. Personal and selfish 
 motives have not been controlling the new govern- 
 ment. 
 
 Mission Development 
 
 In 1871 the Roman Catholics themselves, in what 
 is known as the "Liberal Revolution," rebelled 
 against and despoiled their Church. Later, in 1882, 
 President Barrios, when on a visit to the United 
 States, invited the Presbyterian Board of Foreign 
 ]\Iissions to send its missionaries to Guatemala. 
 
 In the same year the Guatemala Mission was 
 founded in Guatemala City, the capital. The Rev. 
 John C. Hill and Mrs. Hill were the first missionaries 
 appointed and their travelling expenses to Guate- 
 nuila were paid by President Barrios. He also pro- 
 vided them a dwelling house. The plan adopted was 
 to gather an English-speaking congregation and 
 organize a Protestant Church. Services Avere held 
 for a time in private residences, with an increased 
 attendance from week to Aveek. A house near the 
 center of the city was rented and by April, 1883, the 
 ncAV missionaries Avere fulh' established. A Sunday 
 school Avas organized and attended by the children 
 of the President and others in high positions. By 
 Ihe close of the year the ncAV chapel Avas filled. Both 
 
 30
 
 Enj^lisli and Si)aiiisli services were maintained until 
 Mr. Hill's resignation in 1886. His place was filled 
 the next year by the Rev. E. M. Haymaker. A chapel 
 was built and dedicated in 1891, with many marks 
 of approval from the President and the authorities. 
 Two churches were organized in 1892, one of Span- 
 ish-speaking and the other of English-speaking 
 people. In 1894 the English Church became inde- 
 pendent. In 1902 Mr. Haymaker's health failed; 
 this led him to resign. Rev. William B. Allison 
 and Mrs. Allison and Rev. Walter E. McBath Avent 
 out in 1903. In 1889 the first Spanish evangelical 
 paper of Central America was founded, '^El Mensa- 
 jrro." A mixed school was established in 1883 and 
 was suspended in 1889, while in 1888 a boys' school 
 was started which was closed at a later date. A 
 girls' school Avas organized in 1884, but closed in 
 1891. At the beginning of 1913 another school for 
 girls was opened in a fine new building. Medical 
 Avork Avas started in 1906 and in 1913 the hospital 
 was opened. In connection Avith the hospital there 
 is a training school for nurses. 
 
 In 1917 the entire plant of missioii buildings in 
 Guatemala Cit}^ Avas Avrecked by six severe earth- 
 quake shocks, the last one occurring January 28th, 
 1918. In the same year the missionary residence 
 and printing house Avere rebuilt and a ncAV residence 
 constructed. In 1921 the church, girls' school and 
 hospital Avere replaced and the plant is uoav ready 
 for progress. 
 
 Quezalteiiango (Green-featlier-town), the second 
 city of Guatenuila, Avas first occupied as a Station in 
 1898 by Rev. and Mrs. W. F. Gates, although more 
 
 31
 
 or less desultory work had been done there previ- 
 ously. In 1903 a chapel and parsonage were built 
 after the purchase of a lot, b}^ the gifts of the people 
 themselves. Later another lot was purchased by the 
 Board in a more central location and a commodious 
 chapel, reading room and manse erected. The chapel 
 has since been enlarged to an imposing church by 
 native contribution. In April, 1902, the town was 
 nearly destroyed by an earthquake with great loss 
 of life and propert.y. A terrific volcanic eruption 
 followed in October, which ruined the rich farms 
 and plantations around the city. These calamities, 
 with the resulting distress and prostration of business 
 for a time interrupted all progress. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Gates resigned on account of ill health. The girls' 
 school which had been temporarily transferred from 
 Guatemala City to Quezaltenango did such excellent 
 work that the Board saw the wisdom of continuing it, 
 but adapting it rather to meet the needs of the 
 Indians, while the school in the capital cares for the 
 Ladinos. The two races cannot be educated together 
 with the best results. 
 
 The Indians of Guatemala 
 When the Spaniards under their intrepid leader, 
 Hernando Cortex, came to Mexico and Central 
 America, they found a civilization not far inferior 
 to that which they had known in Europe. The 
 Spanish conquerors destroyed completely the political 
 institutions of the Indians, reducing them to slavery 
 or handing them over to some Spanish grandee to be 
 mercilessly exploited. The efforts of the Spaniards 
 were directed with equal zeal against the religious 
 institutions and practices of the Indians. The sud- 
 
 32
 
 den destruction of their gods and the uprooting of 
 their political and social life with the abject slavery 
 which lowered them to the level of beasts of burden, 
 broke the spirit of the Indian peoples. 
 
 Today they still exist as a racial entity. Tliey 
 have survived the slavery to which they submitted 
 and the peonage system which grew out of this slavery. 
 They have taken over many of the arts and trades of 
 their conquerors and have utilized the domestic 
 animals the latter brought with them. They have 
 accepted outwardly the religion of their conquerors 
 and yet their civilization is still as distinctly their 
 own as on the day the Spaniards first landed in Vera 
 Cruz. Their languages have survived and so have 
 their customs, costumes and religion. The Indians 
 of today can not be justly be called Roman Catholic 
 and much less Christians. They have no idea of even 
 the simplest essentials of Christianity. AYhen the 
 Indians hear the Protestant message of the Gospel for 
 the first time they are impressed by the thought of 
 the omnipresence of God and His loving care for His 
 children. This idea they have never grasped until 
 they are instructed by Protestant missionaries. Con- 
 verted Indians exclaim over and again in wonder 
 when they realize that God is actually with them 
 everywhere they go. 
 
 A small beginning has been made in giving the 
 Gospel to the Indians, evangelical congregations are 
 multiplying and native Indian evangelists are rising 
 up to preach to their people in their own tongue. 
 Such success as has already been attained is largely 
 due to one or another, or a combination of three fac- 
 tors. First, — the Liberal government is making every 
 
 33
 
 effort to toac'h the liuliaiis Spauisli. The few who 
 learn it ean read the Bible and other evangelical 
 literature and then translate it into tlie language of 
 their people. In this way the lack of literature in the 
 native languages is to an extent overcome. Second, — 
 The peonage system, although it has not destroyed 
 the Indian communities, has stolen thousands of their 
 best sons from them. They are practically slaves on 
 the coffee and sugar plantations, where the restric- 
 tions of the villages are largely broken down. There 
 the Indian must work with and for people of other 
 modes of thinking and acting. He often hears the 
 Gospel and then tells his people about it when he 
 goes home on a visit or when his free relatives come 
 to visit him. Third, — The government is forcing the 
 well-to-do Indians, whom peonage does not touch, into 
 military service. Here too they are pushed out of 
 their narrow local circle and come into contact with 
 other people, and as there is hardly a garrison with- 
 out at least one zealous evangelical in it, they hear 
 the Gospel. Evangelical Christianity when once ac- 
 cepted by the Indian is followed most heartily. Idols 
 are thrown away, vice is renounced and wonderful 
 zeal is manifested. 
 
 Probably nowhere on the globe is a general uplift 
 work more needed than among the Guatemala Indians. 
 Their unspeakable living conditions, their squalor, 
 high mortality, the lack of sanitation and their gen- 
 eral hopelessness call for a broad work such as neither 
 the government nor any other factor in the field can 
 give, save Evangelical Protestant Christianity. The 
 evangelizing and general uplift work of our Mission 
 should be steadily pushed. 
 
 34
 
 A Period of Harvest 
 
 The Guatemala Mission lias now passed tlii-ough 
 the period of seed sowing and through the long and 
 trying time of waiting, and by perseverance in spite 
 of discouragement and obstacles, has entered the 
 period of overwhelming harvest. Encouraging de- 
 velopments are now appearing on every hand ; in self- 
 government, self-support and self-propagation. The 
 first missionaries had no following, but there are now 
 (1922) over 20,000 Evangelicals in the Republic : there 
 were no congregations, now there are more than .500. 
 At the beginning the missionaries had to walk the 
 street of the capital protected by armed guards agaiiist 
 a threatening fanaticism; now even in the villages it 
 is hard to find a fanatic who will throw a brick or 
 utter a malediction. Advertisements for help not in- 
 frequently end with ''A Protestant preferred." A 
 brewery latel.y requested the Protestants to find them 
 an employee from their number because they "•wanted 
 a man who would not drink''! 
 
 Why Invest in Guatemala? 
 
 As an attractive missionary investment with gilt 
 edged securities, Guatemala can compete with any 
 field in the world. 
 
 1. It is preeminently our responsibility. If we 
 do not attend to it, nobody will. 
 
 2. In ignorance, superstition, and deep spiritual 
 night it makes a strong appeal to the Church. 
 
 3. It is an overlooked field and is so near to us 
 that we fail to see it. 
 
 4. It is strategic. Guatemala has always deter- 
 mined the religion, politics and culture of Central 
 
 35
 
 America and now Central America with the Panama 
 Canal in operation is bound to have immense influence 
 on all Latin America. 
 
 Note. For most recent statistics of the Guatemala 
 Mission consult the current Annual Report of the 
 Foreign Board. 
 
 March, 1922. 
 
 36
 
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