LA PLATA AGENCY

The La Plata Agency was established in 1864. It superintends Bible work in all parts of South America (with the exception of Venezuela and Colombia) in which the Spanish language prevails: viz., Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, Peru, Chili, and Bolivia, with a population altogether of about 20,000,000. The circulation for 1913 was 76,941 volumes, making a total circulation since the establishment of the Agency of 1,303,163 volumes. Forty-five persons have been employed in this distribution. The Agent is the Rev. F. G. Penzotti, P. O. Box 304, Lavalle 1467, Buenos Ayres, Argentina.

THIS is the Jubilee Year for the La Plata Agency, and Mr. Penzotti looks back from an exceeding high mountain compared with the slight beginnings of fifty years ago, though when he looks onward to the need of his great field it seems to him as though he were yet in the foothills. Many and faithful have been the labors of these "golden years.' Only two outstanding personalities have had to do with the care of the Agency officially, Mr. Milne, who was the one commissioned and who for more than forty years cared for its affairs, and Mr. Penzotti, "his child in the Gospel," who like a Timothy has followed him in labors. We commend to all the needs of these growing republics.

It is said that man's life is like climbing a mountain side. When he reaches fifty, that is the summit, and he remains there until he is sixty, then begins to climb down. It may be said so of man, but cannot be said of institutions, specially when they have the seal of God, as in the case of the Bible Societies.

It is just fifty years since the foundation of this Agency, and we have reached the summit, to celebrate the golden wedding. During this last year the sales have reached a higher number than any previous year, and we can see that the moral effect is great in this vast field. The number of books put in circulation this year is as follows, 16,793 Bibles, 15,309 Testaments, 44,839 portions; total, 76,941. We have received for them $29,140.80, national currency, which makes in U. S. gold $12,240.49. The total number of books circulated since 1864 is 1,303,163.

During the year we have received from collections and individual donations the sum of $2,548.43, money of the country, or $1,084.44 in gold.

I have been traveling the greater part of the year, visiting the Argentine, Chili, Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, also Uruguay. I am able to testify that many thousand hearts are grateful and bless the Bible Societies, for they are considered as noble institutions for the welfare of humanity. Their mouths, hearts, and hands seem to open more day by day, so this is doubtless the continent of opportunity. We must make the best of the present opportunities, for we may not have them again.

In all the Spanish-speaking countries the Church of Rome has humiliated the believers, taking away from them liberty and responsibility, more so than in any other Christian land, making their devotion consist in a complete submission. As their dominion disappears their influence goes with it. The absence of a religious foundation for thought and conduct is very sad for Latin America. The only way to save her is to substitute Christianity for Romanism--that is to say, to give them the Bible instead of the devotionary.

We hear that France finds herself in a dilemma between clericalism and atheism. Without doubt the French people are going in a road dangerous to morals, and Latin America seems to be under the same influence. We must fight it before it is too late.

Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Ayres are two wide doors through which many immigrants come from all parts of the world, with their different customs and creeds, and at Buenos Ayres we have had the opportunity to place in their hands many thousand Bibles or parts of the Bible, in thirty different languages, by means of a body of colporteurs speaking many different tongues.

The last census taken of the Argentine Republic gives 8,009,542 inhabitants, of which 3,678,218 live in the capital and province of Buenos Ayres; the rest, 4,331,324, live in the other thirteen provinces and ten national territories. Buenos Ayres, the capital, has 1,600,000, and of course is the New York City of South America. We only have forty centers for preaching and five in the open air, with about 3,000 assistants to the services and 2,500 in the Sunday schools. We are only in the infancy of missionary work, but with evidence of greater fruits. The Latin people are being convinced that the Romish system does not fill the moral need of these countries, and are losing their confidence in those whited sepulchers who wish to be in dominion.

ECUADOR

After studying anew the situation in Ecuador I should say that our work here is very difficult for three reasons. The excessive fanaticism and great poverty of the people, and the fact that the great majority are illiterate, demand patience on our part as well as sacrifice. There is absolutely no reason why there should be poverty in Ecuador. It is a country in which Providence has shed natural wealth in abundance, with every variety of climate, from the tropics to the region of perpetual snow, with an extraordinary beauty of

valleys, lakes, and rivers. But, unfortunately, over all this beauty Romanism has spread its dark mantle for four hundred years and made everything dark and barren.

If those who claim that Roman Catholic lands are Christian and should not be considered as missionary fields, knew the moral conditions that have held sway absolutely for four centuries, they could no longer hold such views. My desire is, and also my prayer, that the voice of the prophet may resound in Ecuador, "Lift up your heads and see that your redemption draweth nigh."

After having passed a number of days in Guayaquil, Quito, Ambato, and Rio Bamba, I can now say that I am very well satisfied with my visit to Ecuador, as it has been possible to make arrangements with different persons in the interior for the circulation of the Scriptures on conditions that will give better results and with reasonable expense.

In Quito Mr. H. W. Cragin, given the work and oversight in the interior, is a faithful and active man, and his wife is a true blessing, for they are not of those who follow Christ for the loaves and fishes. Mr. Osborne also travels much and takes the Bible with him. I have also made arrangements with Mrs. Ane Vergara as Bible-woman. She is of middle age, but has zeal and activity and an experience of fourteen years.

In Ambato Mr. Alfonso Muñoz, a man who has an experience of seventeen years, will begin a campaign for the circulation of the Bible the first of August. At that place is also Miss M. C. Kerl, who is taking part in the Bible work. In Rio Bamba there are four missionary ladies who will do all they can. In Guayaquil Mr. Reed is in charge of the work on the coast to receive and forward the books and make reports to us. He is a veteran of the Gospel work in Ecuador for many years, knows the language well and also the customs of the country, and above all is entirely consecrated to the Lord, with his good and not less consecrated wife. They are appreciated and respected by all, and no doubt in their hands all will go well.

BOLIVIA

A new line has recently been opened between Arica and La Paz, Bolivia, which favored me greatly, as it took only half the time and cost only half as much as the lines between Antofagasta and La Paz, and Mollendo and La Paz. I was received and housed very graciously in the home of our good brethren, the Rev. and Mrs. Hartzell. He is in charge of the work of our church in La Paz, and also looks after our books and work, which I appreciate very much. I wrote to Mr. G. Allan to come from San Pedro to La Paz in order to have an interview with him about beginning an active translation of the New Testament in Quechua and Spanish, parallel columns. The translation seems to me to be worth while, for it is evident that the Quechua language will endure for a great many years.