on me, I preached to them of the love of God the Father, the gift of his divine Son, and salvation by faith in him, and him alone. Then I asked the clerk to read Psalm 119: 105, and he read in sonorous Spanish, 'Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.' I said, 'To put this lamp into your hands I am here, and to-morrow I shall go from house to house, giving you the opportunity to own this lamp and this light.'"

And though there are not more than three hundred souls in the little town, Mr. Sutherland sold forty-five copies of the Scriptures the next day. On one occasion, in a two days' trip down the coast in a boat to Loreto, an ex-priest was a fellow-passenger, and learning Mr. Sutherland's mission, molested him in every possible way, but as the colporteur was much more than a match for him in an argument, he soon lost prestige with the passengers and became very angry. At a little landing where the steamer anchored to take on wood, Mr. Sutherland took a bag of Bibles and started to go ashore in a little skiff. A young man from Hermosillo and the ex-priest went also. The latter, after removing his coat and taking a position in the prow of the boat, deliberately turned it over in deep water with the undoubted purpose of drowning the colporteur, who was hampered by the heavy bag of books. Mr. Sutherland, being an expert swimmer, soon reached the shore, but the other passenger would have drowned had not the owner of the skiff rescued him.

Arriving at Loreto, a little town of some six hundred souls, Mr. Sutherland soon disposed of ninety books, or one for about every seven people. From here he crossed to the island of Carmen, where about a hundred men work in a wonderful salt mine. Leaving at three o'clock in the morning and rowing for four and a half hours, it was eleven o'clock before they finally reached the salt works, where they had only till half-past twelve to work. In this rapid canvass of an hour and a half Mr. Sutherland sold twenty-seven books, nine of which were Bibles, the rest Testaments and portions.

Finishing his letter, Mr. Sutherland says: "The work was hard, the heat great, the journey wearisome, and it was hatf-past nine at night when we got back, but the blessing to me as well as to others, I hope, was remarkable. That deposit of salt is one of the wonders of the world. There you have a practically inexhaustible lake or body of the purest, whitest salt, 2,000 yards long by 900 yards wide. Where a ton is lifted from the surface one day, twenty-four hours later it is replaced by the cleanest, snow-white salt. This operation has gone on for ages and still there is no diminution in the supply."

One of the great difficulties in this long journey was the fact that nowhere was there any money except when pay-day came round, and several times Mr. Sutherland had to wait for some days before he could make any sales. In a letter dated July 7th he says: "Saturday and Sunday were the monthly pay-days here, and the people, several thousands of them, had lots of money, but from the drunkenness and

general dissipation of yesterday (Sunday) I fear they haven't much to-day. The most improvident people in the world, they as a rule not only live ahead of their income, but live it all up. My sales have been curtailed by this lack of cash, and scores, or hundreds, have promised to buy books after pay-day,' thus causing delay in retracing my steps to give all a chance to purchase."

Just before leaving La Paz Mr. Sutherland wrote: "My work here on the whole has been satisfactory. It has been hard because of the great heat and the deep sand at almost every step, the opposition of the priests, and because the foolish people still heed his misrepresentations. One day, having lost my change-purse in a sandy road, some old women said it was a punishment from God for selling bad books. ... The Governor has shown himself a true friend, and is very desirous that regular work and a school should be established here."

The heat becoming so severe as to render it inadvisable to remain longer in Lower California, Mr. Sutherland crossed over to Mazatlan, and from there embarked with two hundred refugees for San Diego. The voyage on the overcrowded boat was most uncomfortable, so that our own California seemed like paradise indeed after the strenuous life of the preceding year.

Another colporteur who has suffered from the war is Trinidad Armendariz, whose home is in Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon. Much of his work has necessarily been gratuitous distribution of the Scriptures, as the people all through that state are in pitiful conditions of poverty. In a letter dated November 25th Trinidad wrote as follows:

"The month just closed has been for us and the inhabitants of these towns one of many fears and bitter trials. The 30th of October the rebel J. C. fell upon this town and the neighboring villages with five thousand men, so furious, incendiary, and bloodthirsty that it threw the peaceful inhabitants into great tribulation. A terrible combat began at noon and was waged fiercely until six o'clock, filling the air with projectiles which went whistling over our heads. All the afternoon we were filled with terror and in imminent peril of our lives, which were saved only by the infinite mercy of God. After six o'clock the shooting inclined more to the west, leaving the zone where we live, but continuing until three the next morning, when the plaza was taken. The dead were more than two hundred, although the exact number is not known. More than a hundred palm-rooted houses were burned, and at least fifteen of the better class. Stores were sacked until there were no combustibles left. Many Christian families are homeless, without food or clothing-saddest of conditions, which we are unable to remedy. Women lament among their losses their Bibles and hymn books burned, and beg for more.

"We were six hours in the firing zone, and bullets at times whistled within two feet of our heads without harming us. I believe that your prayers for us were heard and we were saved from all harm. In the midst of the firing we celebrated our services and kept the flame of

the gospel glowing, and our hymns could be heard at a distance notwithstanding our tribulations. We do not abandon the house-to-house services, imploring the help of the Lord in private and public. Our nation is perverted; let us pray for her conversion."

The colporteur in Saltillo, Isidoro de Leon, has also undergone many hardships. It was in this city that Carranza first declared his revolt against Huerta, and the town was under fire on several occasions. Twice during his trips DeLeon was arrested as a spy, but having his letter of authorization from the Agency, he was able to convince his captors of the peaceful nature of his work. His horse was taken from him in a canyon many miles from home, but he convinced the bandits that with his carriage full of books and no way of getting it back to Saltillo, he would be quite helpless, and they had the grace to allow him to proceed.

From other colporteurs in the north it has been impossible to receive reports more than two or three times during the year. One, who lives on a ranch with his father-in-law, has lost three horses, but continues to do Bible work. Some of the central states had been so long without a colporteur that the return of a former colporteur, the Rev. C. Beutelspacher, to the work, was hailed with joy, but in the mysterious providence of God his life was cut short six weeks after he resumed the Bible work. He was an earnest, enthusiastic, evangelical worker, and his loss was deeply deplored by all who knew him.

Another colporteur, Saulo Medel, has previously been mentioned as having suffered much from the revolution. His work for two years has been so seriously interfered with that he was finally obliged to abandon his home in Cuautla and go with his family to another state. Although some months have passed, he is as yet unable to move his furniture, as only military trains are running to Cuautla and no freight is carried on them. In fact, when it was decided that the Medel family should move to Puebla, the only way to leave their home town was on foot. They were able to obtain the partial use of a horse belonging to a neighbor, who also wanted to leave Cuautla and was glad to have companions for the dangerous journey. So her child and two small Medels were fastened on the horse with such luggage as could be packed, and while the neighbor drove the horse, Saulo carried his smallest child, a baby of ten months, and Señora Medel and the oldest daughter, a girl of ten years, completed the party, which walked the thirty miles up the mountains between Cuautla and Ozumba. From there they came in a train to Mexico City, and the next day left for Puebla, the second city in importance of the republic, where they have established their little home. From this center Señor Medel has been able to make frequent excursions to surrounding towns, and has made really good sales considering the conditions he has to meet.

The children have had serious illnesses since they moved to Puebla, and not long ago the Agent wrote to Señor Medel that if the climate

was too trying he would have to look for another place for the family. His answer, literally translated, was as follows:

"VERY ESTEEMED SISTER: Your favor of the first is in my power, in which I see your kind thought for us.

"I believe that although the climate here is unfavorable, and perhaps may become still more so for my family, used to milder temperatures, I should not for that reason go away from here. I have faith in the protection of God, and am willing to receive whatever he sends me.

"Moreover, I believe that given the circumstances through which my beloved country is passing, and my mission of presenting the message of Christ to humanity, the place you have selected for me is of the best, as it is a railroad center, and when circumstances prevent my going out in one direction I can go in another; also I have to consider the education of my children and their spiritual welfare.

"For these motives, the state of the revolution, and the extra expense it would be to move my family again, I am resigned to suffer whatever may be God's will here, imploring his infinite mercy.

"This is my thought, but in whatever you may dispose, I am always your unconditional servant. SAULO MEDEL."

In a more recent letter, dated Matamoros, December 15th, he says: "As soon as my wife was better I came to this place planning to go to Huaquechula, but learning that the town had been reduced to ashes, I have been obliged to change my route and go to Tlapanala, where I will be unable to communicate with you, as there are no postal facilities at present. I was unable to get a passport (safe-conduct) because they paid little attention to me at the barracks, and as I do not like to beg for favors, there came to my mind all the care that the Lord has thrown round about me, and I remembered the word which says, 'Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is,' and I resolutely left the cuartel, and here I am, trusting all the present and the future to the infinite mercies of God."

Another colporteur, Eulalio Luna, had a very trying experience in the capital. He had been earnestly trying to sell the Testament to two men, who though very courteous and listening attentively to what he had to say, refused to buy. Another man of the lower class was standing not far away, glowering, and obviously not pleased with the colporteur's business. As Luna turned away this third man lurched violently against him and then ran off around a corner. Luna was taken by surprise and did not realize for a moment what had happened, but the man, in passing, had struck at him with a knife, whose point entered the flesh just above the heart, inflicting a wound more than half an inch deep. Finding it was bleeding profusely, Luna could not pursue the man, nor did he call a policeman, as detention in a police station for such a matter is a most trying ex

perience. So taking a coach, he drove to the Agency for help, and eventually succeeded in finding a physician who would dress the wound without taking him first to the police station. The cut being so near the heart made it the more dangerous, and it was quite a month before he was able to resume his work.

Ozumba, a small town lying near the foot of Popocatepetl, has suffered greatly through attacks of "Zapatistas" during the past year, and quite lately, on a market-day, the plaza was suddenly surrounded by Federal troops and five hundred men seized and impressed into the Federal service. Loaded into a waiting train, they were sent off to the capital without even the opportunity to bid farewell to their families. To this town went Colporteur Luna early last November. As was his custom, he asked first to be taken to the military officer in command of the plaza, to whom he explained his mission and asked for safe conduct in that vicinity. After asking a few questions about his work, the captain inquired if he had not seen Luna at a Convention of Young People's Societies in Puebla two years before, mentioning the particular occasion. It then transpired that the captain was a member of the Methodist Church at Puebla, and Luna had no difficulty in obtaining permission to work in the town, and especially among the soldiers, to whom he sold many portions, notably the small four-cent Proverbs.

While Luna was in Ozunıba ten men, the pitiable remnant of two companies who had been sent out to fight the Zapatistas, came creeping back to town, with a terrible story of the practical annihilation of their companies who were caught in an ambush between a lake and a mountain. It seems that these Indians below Ozumba are demanding a government which will restore their lands and their "rights," and that they are very bloodthirsty and treacherous. Luna was told not to go farther down the country, as he was liable to be shot down at any moment, even by one who, saluting him, might seem to be friendly.

On another occasion, traveling among a group of villages in the mountains between Mexico City and Toluca, the state capital, Luna found that most of the towns were held by small forces of Federals, while the revolutionists occupied the surrounding country. Seized by a party of rebels, he was taken before their chief, an illiterate Indian, knowing so little Spanish that an interpreter was needed to explain the colporteur's mission. Luna produced his letter from the Agency, certifying his connection with the American Bible Society, and asked that he be allowed to sell his books. The chief could not understand why he should show any deference to the wishes of an American with whom he was not acquainted, and was at first inclined to insist that the Agent should be sent for before he could consider the subject any further, but after much explanation he was prevailed upon to allow the colporteur to continue his journey, and after reading passages of Scripture to the soldiers, Luna succeeded in selling them quite a number of Proverbs.