five in number; but now our office force consists of only four: H. T. Marroquín, head of the office; J. R. Tamez, bookkeeper; Señorita Ofelia Gonzáles, stenographer; and Marcos Navarrete, packer and messenger.

We thank God for the sweet spirit of Christian fellowship here in our office, which enables us to live in peace and put forth our very best effort to promote the work of the Bible Agency. We often have a prayer service, specially when we have with us some of our friends and colaborers.

We have moved our office and depository to a more central location. Having in this new place a large showwindow, we are able to place on exhibition our Bibles, Testaments and portions where "he that runs may read." During every hour of the day from one to five people may be seen standing in front of our window, reading and commenting, and many come in to buy. The poorer class buy the Testaments and portions, and the middle class and a few of the upper class buy the whole Bible.

Offerings for the Bible Cause

This has been a difficult year in Mexico in the question of finances. The government, in order to honorably meet its domestic and foreign obligations, had to put on a program of economy, and this has left unoccupied many of those who were employed by the government. The crops have been short, the oil and mining business came to a standstill also, and this naturally affected all classes.

The offerings for the Bible cause during the year have been only $1,648.90 (Mexican currency), as compared with $1,938.58 during 1926. Although the amount is less, we feel quite sure that, taking into consideration the economic condition of the country, this sum represents more effort and sacrifice on the part of our brethren; and God will reward their efforts and faith, in obeying the command to "cast their bread upon the waters."

Returning Fourfold

There is a brother in Pachuca, state of Hidalgo, Señor Silvestre Ornelas, who has contributed $189 (Mexican currency) to the Bible cause during this year. We believe the history of this contribution I will be of interest to our readers.

This brother was converted several years ago, but was not very faithful to his Lord until the last year or two. He is a poor man, making a meager, but honest living by working in a mine. He says that during the past year the Spirit of God has been dealing very definitely with him. He has been reviewing his past life, and feels that he can not have perfect peace until he makes restitution for the wrongs he has committed. He mentions three cases which we will relate. One was when he robbed a poor man of 500 tunas,

a favorite cactus fruit. This old man was gaining his daily bread selling these tunas at 25 cents a hundred. On another occasion he was traveling through the country in the state of Jalisco and met with a man who was journeying by foot with his wife and little boy, and with them were two burros loaded with their earthly possessions. The poor man was in need of money and proposed to sell one of his burros for which Señor Ornelas offered to pay him eight pesos. He put the burden on his own back and turned over the animal to Señor Ornelas, who went on his way, congratulating himself that he had succeeded in robbing the poor man; for the eight pesos he gave him were false and would not buy him even one piece of bread. The other incident occurred when returning to Mexico from the United States, where he had been working for a year. Before crossing the border at El Paso, he went to a bank and had his money changed into Mexican currency. On counting it, he discovered that the cashier had given him ten pesos too much, but he kept it and said nothing.

During the past year when the Holy Spirit was showing him that "the crooked must be made straight," he sent an international moneyorder for 50 pesos to the bank in El Paso; but the bank returned it, with the statement that they did not know to whom it should be credited. Now our brother proposed to turn into the Bible cause that which the bank returned; also the amount due the man who sold him the burro, and that due the other man from whom he stole the 500 tunas, since it was impossible to find the men and pay them. But you will note that he has adopted Zaccheus' plan and is paying fourfold. May God help this brother that he may always live up to the Bible standard of a true Christian.

The Strike of the Catholic Clergy

Since there have been many conflicting reports about the controversy between the Mexican Government and the clergy, it may be of interest to say a word about this situation. It is now a year and a half since the priests went on a strike, so to say, and refused to officiate in the churches, and all because the government required them to register in order to officiate. In their stubbornness and rebellion of heart, they presumed to think that their action would cause the people to rise up en masse to their support as in former times. But Romanism has, by no means, the hold on the masses of the people that it had in years gone by, and we are glad to state that the people in general have been loyal to the government in this conflict. The Church of Rome is writhing, because her temporal power is waning, and she refuses to submit to constitutional authority, since she has never truly submitted to God. The spirit of this hierarchy is in strong contrast to the spirit of Him who said, "I came not to be served, but to serve," and "my kingdom is not of this

world." If they did not discount the Word of God and put their traditions first, they would recognize that the solution of their problems could be found in obeying the command, "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's."

However, this strike has proven at least two things: First, that the Catholic clergy has little interest and sympathy for those who seek their help through the church ministration. Second, that these doctrines, which they have taught for many generations, must be of little moral and spiritual weight in their estimation, or else they would not so easily have left their pulpits, altars, and confessionals. At any rate, their conduct has had its effect on the people, and many are seeking the truth elsewhere; while many others are drifting into atheistic indifference.

We Protestants are awakening to the fact that it is the psychological moment for special effort in giving the Bread of Life to our people through Bible distribution, by preaching in the power of the Holy Ghost, by publications, by letters, by our own lives. Many new people are attending our services; for our pastors never go on a strike. Thousands each year are buying and reading the Word of God, and a great many are yielding their lives to Christ. It is true that the abnormal condition has caused persecution in some of the interior mission stations; but, as is always the case, it has caused our work to be better known and new doors to be opened; so that our constant prayer should be for more workers "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," who will enter this field that is, indeed, "white unto the harvest."

The President of Mexico Receives a Bible on the Occasion of His Birthday, September 25

For months we had in our mind and heart the idea of giving a Bible to the President of Mexico, General Plutarco Elías Calles, on the occasion of his birthday.

We arranged the interview with unexpected ease: it was only a matter of a telegram, after many prayers.

The interview took place at the Castle of Chapultepec, the presidential mansion. He acted most courteously, shaking hands with all the members of our special committee. Then and there we delivered our short speech, read the dedication which was written on the first fly-leaf of the Bible, and one of the ladies in the group handed the Bible in its case to the President. All the while we were speaking he was listening seemingly with great interest. When he received the Book he expressed himself very briefly but emphatically, thus: "I am very grateful for your gift, which is very dear to me."

The interview did not last over seven or eight minutes; but it was a precious time, indeed, every second well spent. We shook

hands with him again with a more firm and significant grasp; we were closer together; at least, we tried to make him feel that we were. We said to him as we stepped out, bidding him goodby: "We are with you, Mr. President," and he answered with a smile, "Many thanks." We could tell that he was most favorably impressed with the object of our short visit to him.

May God bless this copy of his written Word which is now in the hands of our well-esteemed President of Mexico, General Plutarco Elías Calles.

The Good-Will Ambassador

We Latin-Americans are a sentimental, emotional people, and are especially captivated by such a good and noble sentiment as was shown by the visit of Colonel Charles August Lindbergh, who brought a refreshing breeze of international good will during the Christmas season. It could not have been a more appropriate time.

Our Jubilee Year-1928

The year 1928 will be the jubilee of the Bible Agency in Mexico; for it was during the summer of 1878 that the American Bible Society established this Agency in Mexico City. We are asking our colporteurs and all our coworkers to help us in making this a notable year by placing more Bibles than ever into the hands of all classes of people, that many who are in sin may be made "free indeed" in this jubilee year.