Chapter 33: The Selling of a Bible

THOMAS PRANDO was a good Catholic, as also were his three grown-up daughters; and with their assistance he earned a reasonably good living as a tailor.
I met him first while out canvassing a suburb of the big city of S. Paulo, the great industrial center of Brazil. I was invited to enter the house; and they, being Italians, were soon all interested in an Italian Bible I had with me. It was the first they had seen; and I started in my usual way to give a synopsis of its contents, without mentioning the title of the book — for by experience I find that to do this only arouses at once such doubt and suspicion that anything else you may add would be heard with prejudiced ears, and at least half the effect of your efforts be lost on the hearers.
This arises from the fact that most of the priests are extremely skillful and indefatigable in their efforts to poison the minds of the people against the Bible. Indeed, it can be taken for granted that, especially in the cities, a very large proportion of the time and energy of these “blind leaders of the blind” are devoted to efforts to counteract the circulation and influence of God’s Word, and to destroy as many copies as they can lay hands on. Why? Ah! that is exactly what many of the nominal Roman Catholics of Brazil are just beginning to ask — and to understand!
It is because the Bible is the one infallible proof that the theology of Rome is not that of Christ. Tradition says one thing, but God’s Word declares the opposite, and you must choose between the two.
The worship of the Virgin and her almighty power, salvation by works and by merits of others than Christ, the amazing doctrine of Purgatory (that most profitable source of ecclesiastical revenue), the worship of images, and the great illusion of the Mass are among a few of the dogmas of Rome that get no help from the Bible. So the priests denounce it high and low, whether it be a Protestant version from the original, or an authorized translation from the Latin Vulgate. It is always a Book of heretics, a Masonic handbook, the work of an apostate monk, a corrupting Book, dangerous to handle, to possess which is to incur the penalty of excommunication, and so forth.
To meet these conditions I adopt something like the following method of approach, varied and adapted according to whom I may address, but taking care to disguise the name of the Book: “I have here, sir, an excellent edition, well bound and complete in every respect, of the History of the World — a remarkably interesting and instructive Book, a library in itself that everyone should possess. The Pope himself has a copy.
“It opens, as you see, with this book called Genesis, written by Moses about four thousand years ago; indeed, nearly the whole of this book was written before there was any Roman Catholic Church (This is a thought that never fails to impress, for many think that Martin Luther was the author). Here is the only authentic history of the Creation of the World. Listen to this: ‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth,’ etc., etc. After this comes the story of the fall of our first father, and the deluge that followed. Let me read you a verse or two of that awful event, and tell you also what it typified.
“Fond of biography? Well, here are the lives of the great men of old — Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — of whom you have heard without doubt; it is all here.
“Then comes the beautiful and moving story of Joseph — a history stranger than fiction, yet absolutely true.
“After this we have the origin and history of the children of Israel — the Jews, you know, of which race our Lord and the Virgin were born.
“There is the history of the wars of the Israelites and their kings; of Saul, who died because he dabbled in Spiritualism; and notably of that great hero, David, who killed Goliath — see, here it is.
“Are you fond of poetry, sir? Because here is a collection of the most ancient and beautiful poetry in the world — the one hundred and fifty Psalms of David, complete. This alone is worth far more than I shall ask for this whole volume.
“But then you have also the wonderful proverbs of Solomon, the wisest of kings; have you never read them? Surprising!
“These are the books of the great prophets of God, who, warning the world, foretold the birth of Christ hundreds of years before He came, and that He should be born of a virgin, and become the Savior of all who receive Him.
“A deeply interesting and historical book is this of Daniel; have you ever heard of him? The Great Image of Gold, the Burning Fiery Furnace, the Den of Lions, and the Fatal Banquet are all stories found in this book.
“Now comes the second part of this volume, all that precedes it having been written before the birth of Christ. You will find here the most perfect account in existence of the life of our Lord; and it also contains all that is known of the Virgin Mary and of John the Baptist.
“Of course you sing the Magnificat of the Virgin in the Church; well, they took it out of this book. I’ll read it to you.
“You will find all the teachings, parables, and miracles of our Lord related here, and the final sad story of His death to save us from our sins, with complete instructions what to do to inherit eternal life.
“This next book relates how the Roman Church and other Christian Churches originated. If you desire to know what they believed and practiced in the old days, read this.
“I presume you are a Catholic, sir. If so, here is a letter of the great Apostle, Paul, to the Church of Rome of those early days, teaching them pure and apostolic doctrine — what to believe and to do, and what to avoid. Everybody who believes in the Catholic Apostolic Roman Church is simply bound to read this book; it was written for them especially.
“Here follow all the rest of the apostolic writings, absolutely complete, including two letters of Saint Peter himself.
“The last great book speaks mainly of things that are yet to come, and the end of the world; and it includes a blessing from God who inspired this book, for all who possess and read it.
“The volume, as I said, is complete, well hound, approved of God, and only costs two shillings.”
Then, and only then, you put the Book into their hands; but in the meantime they have had such an alluring vision of its contents that when they see the title of “Holy Bible” they realize that they must have been mistaken or deceived; and — the rest is easy. In this way I succeeded in selling a Bible to my Italian friends, and they began to read it for themselves.
This was the first of many visits, and numerous were the discussions on matters tenaciously held; but little by little the truth crept in — as it always must where people are honest.
One thing there, however, was unpleasant; the room was stuffy and unwholesome. The windows were rarely open, because for fifteen or twenty years Senhor Prando had been a victim to chronic bronchitis, and could not stand the fresh air, he said.
After a while the family began to attend our Mission Hall, though the old man could only be at the Sunday morning meeting, as he feared the night gatherings on account of his complaint. Within a month or two each member of the family was converted to Christ through the instrumentality of that Bible. A little later the question of baptism arose, and all the members were desirous to set this seal upon their faith; but the old man Prando was afraid.
The rest of the family received a great blessing on the occasion of their baptism, but Senhor Prando grew very uneasy and sad; so much so that after much fear and hesitation he resolved to obey God and to leave the consequences with Him. A few months later he was publicly baptized in the same river. On that same day and hour he was quite healed of his chronic disease.
It is now twenty years since this happened. Senhor Prando instill living, and is one of the most revered elders of the S. Paulo congregation.
This is another evidence of the power and sufficiency of God’s Word, and another witness to the fact that there is nothing to fear in fulfilling all righteousness; and we do not know what we may be missing if we neglect so to do.
The incidents related in this book will make it reasonably evident that a great Gospel revival is dawning on Catholic Brazil; and that the main factor to which we must look for its explanation is the Word of God.
About ten thousand copies of the Scriptures are passing into the hands of the people every month, and these are sold, not given away — a significant consideration — and sold at relatively high prices. There is also an equally large distribution of free Gospels besides many millions of good tracts.
Such a sowing must eventually shake to its very foundations that anti-Christian Church, which, built upon human frailty — on the tradition of men, on the “infallibility” of a score of very fallible Popes, and not on Christ — has, for four long centuries, kept the South American continent in the darkness of superstition and sin.
These nations, however, are awaking at last, and new hopes and aspirations are occupying the minds and imaginations of all classes of society. It is of the first importance, therefore, that every effort be put forth to turn the newly-aroused consciousness into a safe channel, and to place in the power of the community the key to a right judgment in all that is highest and best — and that at once, ere the other more fatal snare of Spiritism shall reap a further harvest of death. This latter-day peril can only take root and flourish where the Bible is unknown.
And here opens up an illimitable and most attritive field of service for the young men of the evangelical churches — i.e., for those who may be looking round for some adequate sphere of activity in the Master’s vineyard. No very special preparation or college course is required or desirable — nothing but a real love for souls, a willingness to endure hardship and persecution for Christ’s sake, a healthy body and a sound mind. Within a few weeks after landing in Brazil this ministry could be initiated, the knowledge of but a very few words in Portuguese being sufficient to start work successfully, as I have several times demonstrated. Any reasonably intelligent and zealous young man would soon find his feet, and in a short time be entirely self-supporting.
It is the most interesting and instructive ministry in the world, especially in Roman Catholic lands. A healthy, wholesome life, of course it has its peculiar temptations and trials, according to the character of the worker. The climate of Brazil, on the whole, is a good and healthy one, and yellow fever is now practically unknown.
The Constitution of the Republic, while acknowledging no State religion, is tolerant of all, and guarantees impartial protection to all alike. Certainly one has to count on the relentless and too often unscrupulous opposition of the priests. It must, however, be borne in mind that this antagonism is not altogether unnatural, seeing that very many of these priests are but the unconscious victims — as was Father Campos — of an extremely clever and subtle system. Such as these are worthy of our sympathy, and sometimes of our sincere respect.
There are not a few good men among this class, and many noble women, who would gladly welcome the truth, did it but shine on them. Our attitude should be one of real compassion towards such; for our warfare is not against monks and nuns, but against the Satanic delusion — the awful system that uses them as mere pawns in the game of shutting out the Light of the Gospel from these nations fast bound in misery and iron.
That the foregoing pages may arouse mere practical recognition of the value of Bible work in Catholic lands, and may lead many carefully to consider the prospects which so splendid, a ministry offers to all who may at this most opportune time turn their thoughts to the great field of Brazil — the third largest country in the world — is the prayer of the author and his object in sending forth this volume.
“TO GOD ONLY WISE, BE GLORY, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, FOREVER. AMEN.”