Statistics In reply to several requests made that we give the yearly circulation by countries, we present the following statement: UPPER ANDES The Upper Andes Agency was constituted in 1920. It includes the southern part of Colombia, with Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. There were 12 colporteurs and 20 correspondents assisting in the circulation of the Scriptures during 1926, and it totaled 50,883 volumes. This brings the circulation of the Agency to 202,561 volumes. The Rev. Robert H. Milligan, D.D., is Agency Secretary, at Apartado No. 407, Lima, Peru. HE death of the Rev. W. F. Jordan on August 7, 1926, has taken from this Agency the one who inaugurated it in 1920 and directed it from that time. This is a severe loss not only to the Agency but especially to the millions of Indians of varied tongues so long neglected by Protestant forces in South and Central America. Tribute to him has come from many sources, and something of his useful life has been told in the Bible Society Record. The burden that lay on his heart is reflected in the quotation from his last book on Ecuador at the end of the report which follows. This last message, with which the report closes, is a challenge and a summons. But there are other lives and influences still at work in this Agency, some of them perhaps in humble circumstances. The story of Zoila Mariscal is saddening and gladdening; and such incidents as that of "The Bible and Six Cholos" show how worth while is the distribution of the simple Word of God, although, like many another seed, it may not bear fruit rapidly. This Agency has the largest increase in circulation of Scriptures, during the year, of any Agency in Latin America, except that of Brazil, there having been an increase of over 40 per cent in the circulation of Bibles and of Testaments, and about 50 per cent in portions, the total increase, as noted above, being from 27,806 volumes in 1925 to 50,883 in 1926. The Rev. Robert H. Milligan, D.D., with experience both in the foreign mission field and the home pastorate, was appointed Agency Secretary in February, 1927, and has entered on his duties. "To a colaborer in Christ's vineyard, where our mutual friend, the author, was so richly blessed of God," these were the words the Rev. Alfred C. Snead, of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, wrote on the flyleaf of a copy of the late Rev. W. F. Jordan's last book "Ecuador - A Story of Missionary Achievement," which he presented to me when I was in New York in September. Would that our friend and colleague had been spared to write the report of the work among the people he loved, and for whom he gave of himself! Since I have been asked to prepare the report of the Upper Andes Agency for 1926, I dedicate the story of last year's work to our late friend, in the lines just quoted above. The Field The field comprised the southern part of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. We might say it is composed of a strip of territory several hundred miles wide in parts, with a coast line of about 1,500 miles, and, running through its entire length, the backbone of the Andes. It covers an area of about a million and a half square miles, and contains a population of over eleven million people. The same might be said of this territory, as an explorer who had visited Mexico, in describing the mountainous condition of the country to the King of Spain, took a sheet of paper in his hands, and crumpling it up, threw it on the table, and said: "That is Mexico." Relatively speaking, there are few railroads or wagon roads, and because of poor transportation facilities, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru rank among the most expensive countries in the world for colportage work. COLOMBIA We were especially grateful for the splendid cooperation of the Rev. C. P. Chapman, pioneer missionary of the Cauca Valley, with headquarters at Cali; of the Rev. Theodore Johnson at Palmira, and the Rev. William Poehner at Pereira. Through their efforts 797 Bibles, 412 Testaments, and 3,455 portions were circulated. Southern Colombia, with over one million people, is a rich soil for Bible Society prospectors. The last few years have seen a great change in this part of Colombia. Cali, the largest city, now has a modern sewerage system; paved streets are being laid, and miles of railroad have been pushed out in several directions from the city, opening up a way to the Pacific coast for the rich resources of southern Colombia. This year, four new missionary families have moved into the field. Much fruit may now be gathered because of the gospel seed sowing. The people are becoming conscious that they are a part of a growing world. ECUADOR What an interesting field this becomes when one reads Mr. Jordan's last book on Ecuador. In writing of the last thirty years of missionary achievement, the work of the colporteur looms up large in the background. The space allowed to this report might easily be given to Bible work in Ecuador. We were fortunate in having as our representative John M. Reed, the youngest son of the Rev. Wm. E. Reed. In reading his letters I have oftentimes remarked, “There is a young man who some day would make a most efficient Agency Secretary." John, though still in his teens, is one of the most remarkable young men I have ever met. For insight into our problems, and clearness of stating facts, and giving suggestions in order to increase the efficiency of the Agency, he is a genius. Without his keen interest in Bible distribution, we could not record 737 Bibles, 1,430 Testaments, and 15,865 portions circulated; and this, too, in a country which has been called one of the most backward of the South- . American republics. A wonderful work has been accomplished through two colporteurs, a man and a woman, who have been encouraged and kept on in the work by him, in spite of shortage of funds. Zoila Mariscal, the Bible Woman Sra. Mariscal is too interesting a character to pass by without notice. She is gifted in salesmanship. Of the total circulation for Ecuador during the year, this woman sold 226 Bibles, 149 Testaments, and 6,149 Gospels. Mr. Reed writes that she sold most of these books in Guayaquil, where colporteurs have worked so incessantly for many years. On page 113 of his book, Mr. Jordan writes: "Zoila Mariscal never had a chance to be decent. She is a daughter of a disreputable woman, who makes her living by traffic in vice. Zoila was attractive and grew up to be a notorious character of the city. When still a young girl, she left her disreputable home and went to live with a man prominent in business and political circles in Guayaquil. He was unmarried, seemed to love her, was kind, provided for all her needs, and kept her in a nicely furnished apartment. This man did for her what her mother had never done. He taught her to read and took an interest in her intellectual development. While living thus with this man, she became very unhappy. Looking into the future, she could see that this man would soon tire of her, and she would be again cast upon the world without resources. "At this time she became convicted of the sinfulness of her life. She had heard of a convent in Quito, where women of her character could repent for their sins, and devote the rest of their lives to good works. 'Receiving no answer from a letter to Quito regarding entrance to the convent for women such as I,' said she, telling her own story, 'I went to the hospital in Guayaquil to see the Mother Superior with whom I had been acquainted from childhood. The Mother Superior was sick upon her deathbed, so I could not see her. As I was leaving the hospital, I saw a weeping woman descend from the street car. My sympathies were at once aroused, and I turned to accompany her into the hospital. She told me her husband was dead. I went in with her to the place where he lay. In the room 1 |