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Dr. Taylor
had returned from the States and we had decided to divide the work. He was to
stay in town and build up the local church and I was to take up the interior
work. Soon I left in the city of |
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The train
took me as far as Queimadas, the terminal of the railroad. I reached the
place on a Saturday, the great market day, and found the town crowded with
thousands of people that had come from all over that region to sell their
goods. It was considered one of the greatest market centers of the State.
Gambling and drinking as well as every other crime was the order of the day.
I had with me an old colporter, a well-known and highly-respected character
of that region, who was a great help to me, especially through his knowledge
of the road, and of the medicinal value of herbs and plants. |
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I set up
my little organ in the most public place of the market and began playing some
of our hymns. If there is one thing a Brazilian appreciates it certainly is
music, and it did not take much time to collect an enormous crowd. |
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Having
their attention I began singing a hymn and the crowd continued to grow and to
listen. They had never seen nor heard such a thing. Then someone thought that
I was singing for money and the crowd began to place nickels and dimes on the
little organ. This, of course, gave me my text. Standing upon a stool I began
to explain to them my object and mission telling them that I had not come for
their gifts, but to tell them of the great gift of God -- of a Saviour whose
gifts were free and whose blessings were to be had for the asking. Oh, the
joy of preaching the Gospel to hungry multitudes! My heart was over flowing
with joy at the opportunity to tell those thousands of souls that had never heard
of the love of a loving God, and of a Saviour mighty to save. And how they
listened! With ears and eyes and mouths wide open they seemed to drink in
every word of my message. |
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Just as I
was reaching the climax of my speech the good colporter called my attention
to a commotion that was taking place on the outskirts of the immense crowd,
informing me, in frightened tones, that the relatives of the local priest
were stirring up the fanatics against me telling them that I was the long
expected anti-christ. It so happened that the priest who had charge of that
town had a great number of children. Though not supposed to have children,
almost all the priests, especially in the interior, live in sin, having one
or more women, and consequently a good many descendents. As the income of a
priest in a place like the one mentioned is large, he finds no difficulty in
marrying off his illegitimate children, as the marriage is always accompanied
by a good dowry. This, of course, enhances his hold upon the people. These
descendents watch carefully over the interests that affect the income of the
priest and will naturally oppose any movement that might injure his business
which is also theirs. |
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These innumerable
descendents of the priest were stirring up the fanatical elements in that
great vast throng and it did not take me long to see the danger I was in. I
kept on preaching fearing that as soon as I stopped they would fall on me and
destroy not only my organ and books but also myself and the good colporter.
While I preached I also prayed and asked the Lord to come to my rescue. I was
alone in the place. I did not know anyone and had not even visited the Chief
of Police to tell him of my work and stop over in town. My intention had been
to pass through the place and go on the next day to Jacobina. How to escape
this great crowd, growing every minute more threatening and dangerous, I
really could not imagine. Several were taking out their daggers and passing
the edge over the palm of their hands, and were pointing them at me as if to
say, this will do you all right. Oh, how I prayed, asking the Lord to show me
a way out, not so much for my own sake as for the sake of the man who had so
willingly left his wife and children and come with me to help me in my work.
He looked up to me several times with eyes full of tears as if to say,
"we are lost." |
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...in less
than five minutes about a half a dozen men came to me and surrounded the
stool upon which I was standing and told me that they had come to take me to
their homes. It certainly was a great surprise! Soon I was safely installed
in one of the best parlors of the town, protected by soldiers with loaded
guns. I thanked my Heavenly Father for delivering me so wonderfully from that
infuriated crowd. |
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From: A
Wandering Jew in Brazil: An Autogiography of Solomon L. Ginsburg |
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