The Central American Bulletin Published by the Central American Mission.
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0 ENTRAL AMERICA.
This beautiful and fertile region which (ex-
cluding British Honduras and the Mosquito
coast of Nicaragua) forms the field of the
Central American Mission, is divided into five
republics, as follows.
GUATEMALA. -'Vith an area of 40,777 sq.
miles, this republic has a population estimat-
ed variously al r,2oo,ooo to 1,5oo,ooo, com-
posed unequally of Whites, Mestizos and In-
dians, the latter vastly predominating. The
Presbyterian church (North) has a small mis-
sion at the capital, Guatemala City. It would
require twenty missionaries to evangelise this
country in this generation.
NICARAGUA.-· 58,000 square miles. Popula-
tion between 25o,ooo and 30o,ooo. The relig-
ion, protected by the constitution, is the
Roman Catholic, but the law as to other relig-
ions is enigmatical, and so far they are not
tolerated e:xcept at the seaport of Grey town.
0
!.()!)
\-\~esL from 86
No mission work has been attempted, except
the Moravian mission to the Mosquito
Indians.
HONDURAS.-3g,6oo sq. miles. PopulatiOn,
375,000. More than 300,000 are Indians, partly
civilized, but wholly destitute of the Gospel.
All religions are protected, but there ts no or -
ganized mission work in Honduras .
SALVADOR.-Area 7,335 sq. miles. Popula-
tion Soo,ooo, or over roo to the square mile.
No missionary in Salvador. [See article else-
where.]
CoSTA RrcA.-Area 2r,ooo square miles.
Population 28o,ooo. The Jamaica Baptist Mis-
sionary Society has a missionary, the Rev. J.
H. Sobey, a most devoted man, at Port Limon.
At San Jose, the capital, the Central American
Mission has two missionaries, Mr. and Mrs.
McConnell; and at Naranjo de Alajuela three,
:V::r. and Mrs. Wilbur and Miss Neeley.
2 THE CENTRAL AMERICAN BULLETIN.
The Central A merioan Mission
EYANGELICAL -U NDENOMINATIONAL.
Organized to carry the Gospel "to every creature" in
Central America.
Executive Council:
REV. LUTHER REES, Chm . WILI,IAM A. NASON.
ERNEST M . POWELL. Treas. HON. D. H . SCOTT.
REV. C. I. SCOFIELD, Sec.
Supported by the voluntary. unsolicited offerings of
God' s children. Address all communications,
REV. C. I. SCOFIELD, Secretary,
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S A .
Our Missionaries'
W. W . McCONNELL. MRS. McCONNELl.,
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
REY CLARENCE M. WILBUR. MRS, WILBFR .
MARGARET J. NEELEY.
NARANJO DE ALAJUELA, COSTA RICA.
In issuing our second "Bulletin" we
gladly avail of the opportunity to bear
renewed testimony to the all-sufficiency of
our blessed Lord.
Not only has no word failed of His
good promise, but He has constantly
given "of His royal bounty" exceeding
abundantly above all that we have asked
or even thought. Beyond all power of
expression is our sense of the goodness,
the patience, the wisdom, the power of
our gracious Master.
By as much as regenerate and conse-
crated human hearts are more worth than
money in whatever amount, we thank
Him first of all for Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur,
and Miss Neeley, His gifts since January
to Central America. In the next "Bull-
etin" will be found some account of these
devoted servants of the Lord. As will be
seen, they are already at work, and have
even been permitted thus early in their
service, to enter a little into the fellowship
of His sufferings. We commend them to
the earnest prayers of our readers.
Mr. and Mr. McConnell, with their
dear little family, increased, since our
last "Bulletin," by the arrival of little
Paul Scofield McConnell; ''Pablito" as
his native friends call him, have been
kept in excellent health, and most fruit-
ful service. Mr. McConnell has now
mastered the language so that he is able
to conduct meetings, and with pro-
found gratitude to God that we announce
that already He has given increase. Now
let the home friends redouble their be-
lieving prayers for a mighty blessing
upon this testimony. Many evidences
reach us of the uuiversal esteem in which
this brother is held in Costa Rica.
Hudson Taylor once said that a mission
treasury was meant to be a stream and
not a reservoir. This, assuredly has been
the character.stic of the treasury of the
Central American Mission. It has never
been full, but we joyfully testify that it
has never run dry. No real need has
ever been unmet, and it has been very
sweet thus to serve in daily dependence
on the Lord himself. No appeal has
been made in behalf of the treasury ex-
cept to Him, and no appeal has gone
unanswered.
One of the compensations of this work
is the fellowship it has brought us of many
of the Lord's children scattered here and
there from Nova Scotia to Texas, who,
often out oftheir deep poverty, but never,
so far as we know, out of an abundance,
have through us ministered to His ser-
vants in Central America. By the state·
ment on another page it will be seen
that no large gifts have been received.
There is no wealth among us, and the
mission walks by faith alone.
Our friends already know that no sala-
ries are paid to any one connected with
the mission, hut we are glad to be able
to say that every cent contributed by
friends outside Dallas, goes without
diminution for expenses of any kind
 THE CENTRAL AMERICAN BULLETIN.
direct to the missionaries on the field.
All expenses, other than those of mission-
aries, are borne here.
EXTRACTS FROM LETTER~ .
[From Mr. Wilbur.]
LIMON, Feb. 21, 1893.
First greeting from this land we al-
ready love ! Praise the Lord for the
favorable voyage, and safe arrival!
We left New Orleans at five o'clock in
the afternoon of Thursday, Feb. 16, and
arrived at Limon at half past eleven of
to-day, Tuesday, the 21st. Dear Mr.
Sobey met us on the boat, took us to his
house, and helped us in so many ways.
We are his guests, and may be here until
Saturday. "Manana" (to-morrow) is the
rule here, you know, and we do not know
when we shall be through the custom-
house
To return to the subject of the voyage:
all on the ship were most kind. I was
not able to hold a public meeting on the
Lord's day, but had the joy of speaking
to many individuals every day. There
was nothing like a storm, and the weath-
er was considered remarkably fine by all
on board. So you see again that our
Father does hear and answer prayer.
Brother Sobey is truly one of God's
appointed ones, and his work here, and
for the coolies on the sugar plantations i<>
like the story of Paton's work in the na-
tive home of these coolies.
LIMON, Feb. 22.--Rested and happy
to-day. Am to speak to Mr. Sabey's
flock to-night. I met some of his coolie
converts from the country to-day. One
man came five miles with a heavy load
on his back. He said it was very hot,
but Jesus helped him all the way .
SAN JosE, Feb. 27.-Here we are, safe
and happy, the good hand of our God be-
3
ing upon us. We left Limon Thursday
morning, arriving here; the same evening.
Brother McConnell and Mrs. Lang met
us at the station, and brought us out
here to the McConnell's house. We are
all well, and with care hope to fir:d no ill
effect from the change of climate. Pray
for us that we may he guided to the right
home in this land, and helped to learn
the language speedily.
We already love these dear people
much, and are so glad Jesus has led us
here. We pray that those behind may
be full sharers of our joy, since by min-
istry of prayer and substance they are
sharers of our toils.
SAN JosE, March 13.- As I see the
opening work, and realize the shortness
of the time, I long to get among these
people, learn their ways, and be used of
the Lord in a work here that will practic-
ally hasten his return. I think I shall be
able to master the language so as to do
efficient tract and Bible work in a few
months. I am hard at it.
These people are without hope and
without God in the world. Priest and
peon are working away to frustrate
grace, and they must be shown the gos-
pel or we cannot be innorent of their
blood. May we all spend ourselves to
make all men in these lands see Jesus.
[From Mr s. Wilbur's letter of March 2r .]
We are all well and happy and find
Mr. aud Mrs. McConnell such dear good
friends. We are, however, anxious to
get settled, and to learn the language.
There is so much need here. We have
visited several families, but cannot do
much until we have learned to talk to
them.
You will be surprised to learn that Mr.
Wilbur is gaining quite a reputation as
 4 1'HE CENTRAL AMERICAN BULLETIN.
an M. D. The people send for him when
they are ill. but, so far, all his patients
are living. It seems very funny.
(From Miss Neely's letter of April r6th.]
Naranjo de Alajuela.-We are settled
here in a house that stands right on the
street so that we have no lawn in front ;
but we have a small back yard, and a
large garden for which we are truly
thankful. Mr. Wilbur has planted nearly
all the garden, and the beans and corn
are up. We have one tree which fur-
nishes us with nearly all our oranges.
The people are all very kind and do
all in their power to help us along with
the language. We learn much faster
here than we did in San Jose, as we hear
Spanish all day long, and sometimes till
far into the night. There is a saloon ad-
joining our house, with just a board par-
tition between between my room and the
billiard hall, and on Sunday nights I hear
the balls rolling sometimes as late as two
o'clock.
The people here think it very strange
that we do our own work, as here the
peons do all the hard work. We hire
part of our washing done, only because
it is so difficult to get water. The native
washerwomen all go to the river to do
their work.
We have worship every evening in
Spanish. We sing a song in Spanish,
then read a chapter in that language, in
which, also, Mr. Wilbur prays. Some of
our native friends have been present ev-
ery evening.
THE WORK IN SAN JOSE.
[From Mr. Wilbur's Jetter of March 2;.]
Mr. McConnell has a most interesting
class of Spanish-speaking children who
meet three or four nights each week.
They are learning to read, using the
Bible as the text-book, and the Gospel
Songs are used in the singing. I feel
sure this will be rich in spiritual fruit in
the days to come.
It would be most helpful if they were
supplied with children's illustrated les-
son leaves, story papers, etc.
The great confidence which is felt by
the natives in the McConnell's is shown
by the way they come to them when in
any trouble.
(From Mr. McConneJI's letter, April 3.]
Our Spanish meetings are going on
nicely with an attendance from 20 to 40.
We bad Mr. Hotchkiss of England at one
meeting, and Mr. Teller of Guatemala at
three, and both did well. Mr. Teller
speaks Spanish perfectly. He wished to
have a gospel temperance meeting, so we
had one which was attended by twenty-
four persons.
THE BEGINNING OF OPPOSITION.
I From Mr. McConn~)l's letter, March r8.]
The priest of Carmen Church told his
flock Sunday afternoon, March s, that
they must not attend our meetings.
LFrom Mr. McConneJI's letter, March 27.]
Last week, Tuesday, we visited Escasu,
and went to the top of the mountain on
the other side of the village.
Passing through the village we dis-
tributed some tracts, and on our return a
crowd of laborers who were making
adobes were waiting to stone us. They
let the ladies pass, but threw at Wilbur.
When I came along they threw at me
after I had just passed them so that my
back was toward them, hitting my sad-
dle with mud, and one stone the size of
1 my two fists struck me in the back. I
 THE CENTRAL AMERICAN BULLETIN.
was a little lame and used up for three
days, but am all right now.
(From Mr. Wilbur's letter, March 27.]
Tuesday we visited Escasu, where the
people are very fanatical, as they proved
by stoning us for giving out tracts. As
Mr. McConnell alone suffered I wi lllet him
describe the event more at length. How-
ever, we are not disposed to call this se-
vere persecution, since none ot us suffered
to speak of.
A MISSIONARY TOUR ON HORSEBACK.
[Extract from a letter from Mr. McConnell.J
Mr. Wilbur and I visited Alajuela,
Grecia, San Ramon, and Atenas; leav-
ing home March 7th, and returning
March roth.
Our neighbor, Prof. Michaud, kindly
lent us two horses, and we took with us
sixty Gospels and Testaments, and rsoo
tracts. Reached Alajuela the first day,
having disposed of all but three of the
books, and part of the tracts.
We met an American on the way, who
fed us and our horses, and introduced us
to Senor - - - t o whom we sold two
Testaments, and eight Gospels. He
said there were thirty in his family when
we were there. He is a large land
owner, and an influential man. He
seemed very friendly.
Leaving Alajuela at seven in the morn-
ing we arrived at Grecia at eleven. The
large plaza is covered with material for
an iron church to cost '$25o,ooo. There
may be 1000 population in the village,
but the surrounding country is very pop-
ulous.
Left Grecia at one o'clock for Naranjo.
At Sarchi, quite a populous village, we
tcok dinner with an American who has
here a fine cc.ffee estate. We arrived at
5
Naranjo at half-past six, and were hospit-
ably entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Vargas,
relatives of Carlos Acuna, of San Jose.
The third day we left Naranjo at seven
in the morning for San Ramon, arriving
there at half-past ten. The place is
about twice as large as Naranjo, but has
more indications of fanaticism. The
church has on one side of the roof teu
singular statues, life size. We could
not make out their meaning.
Leaving San Ramon at half-past twelve,
and passing through Palmiras , a nice
clean little village. we arrived at Atenas
at four o'clock. This village is on the
road to Punta Arenas (the Pacific sea-
port of Costa Rica) and contains between
woo and rsoo souls. We tarried here an
hour, meeting an Englishman who has
been in this country nearly fifty years,
and went on ,.to Alajuela, arriving at ten
o'clock at night. Here we fed the horses,
and at two in the morning were again in
the saddle, and reached home, thorough-
ly worn out, at seven.
Our tracts lasted until we arrived at
Atenas, but we regretted that we did not
have more Testaments and Gospels. The
colored card tracts you sent out by
brother Wilbur proved very useful. We
distributed rooo of them between here
and Atenas, in many case£ explaining
the significance of the colors-black for
sin, red for sacrifice, and white for sal-
vation.
No doubt Mr. Wilbur will g~t hold of
the language very quickly with his
knowledge of Latin, added to zeal and
fearlessness. He can speak a little
already.
(From Mr. Wilbur's Accoun t.]
The first day we rode ten miles to
Alajuela, passing through San Antonio.
We left a tract at almost every house
 TREASURER'S STATEMENT.
-----
~-====-- - --
DATE 1892- No. AM'T. DATE-1892-No. AM'T. DATE-I893-No. AM'T
April 4- . I21 . . $ 5 00 Oct. 31. I8o.Yz . . $ I 00 Jan. 22. . 238 . .$ 3 so
,, I22 . I 00 Nov. 2 . I8I . s 00 " 22. . 239. I 50
4· 25 00
5· 123 . 400 3· 182 . 10 00 I 22. . 240.
6. 124. 25 7. I83 . s 00 25 . . 24I . 590
125 . 2 00 7· I84 · 5 00 28. 242. 25 00
9·
9· !26. I 00 IO. I85 . 5 00 31 . . 243. soo
I 00 IO . I86. roo 00 31 . . 244. IO 00
" lI . I27 .
I 25
11 . 12S. I 00 IO. 187 . 55 " 31 . . 245. 2 00
II • 129. 500 14 . I88. IO 00 " 31 . . 246. I 00
I9. 130 . 14 90 14 . 189. 6s 00 31 . . 247.
19 . I31 . 15 00 21 . 190. I I so Feb. 4. 248. 25 00
19. 132 . I 30 " 28. 191 . 2 98 ' 5· 249. 25 00
19. I3) IO 00 28. I92 . 25 6. 250. 25 00
22 . 134 . I 00 28. 193. 2 42 6. 251 . 30 00
22. 135. lO 00 28. I94 . so 00 7. 252. I 00
27 . I36 . 5 oo . 28. I95. 5 00 7· 253. I 00
May 7. 137 . 25 I 28. 196. 8 00 7. 254. so
7. !38. 30 29. I97 . 40 " 8. . 255. 5 00
7. 139 . 1 00 30. 198 . 1 00 9· 256. 200
17 . . 257 . I I 00
7· I40. s 00 Dec. 7· 199. so
10.
12.
12 .
13 .
141 .
142.
143 .
144.
I 00
IO 00
roo oo I
5 00
7.
7·
8.
8.
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. 201 .
. 202.
. 203.
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28.
28.
28.
. 258.
. 259.
. 260.
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June
28.
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145 .
. 146.
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ro .
IS .
. 204.
. 205.
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2 so Mar. 6.
6o " 6.
262 .
263.
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25 00
" I. 146 11z roo oo 23. . 206. 2 QQ IC 6 . 264. 2 00
July 4- 147. I 00 23. . 207. s 00 " 7· 265. I 00
S· 148 . 22 25 27. . 208. I 00 , 8 . 266. 2 00
6. 149 . s 00 28. . 209. so 9 267. I 00
6. ISO. s QO 3I . . 2IO. so 00 Jan. 29. 268. 5 30
6. ISI . 25 00 Feb. 3· 269. IO 00
A~f· r8 . . IS2 . IO 00 1893 6. 2]0 . II Ss
r8 . 153 . 2 so 7· 2]1 . I 50
r8 . IS4. so 00 Jan. T • . 21 I . I 00 7· . 272 . 17 so
I8 . rss . 200 I . . 212 . so 7· . 273 . I 75
(! " 18. rs6 . so I . . 2I3 . I 00 7. 274. 5 so
18 . IS7 . I 00 13 . 2I4. 8 20 7. 275 . 3 so
I8 . rs8 . I 04 17. 2IS . 48 Mar. 2S. 2]6. I 00
r8 . 159. 200 17 . 2I6 . s ou 25. 277. I3 so
I8 . I6o. 200 17 . 2I7 . 5 00 2S. 278. so 00
r8 . I6r . I 00 I7 . 2!8. so '' 25. 279. 55
r8 .
I8 .
I62 .
163 .
24 35
25 00
I] .
20.
2I9.
220. 2 00
I
so Apr. IS .
" IS .
. 280.
281 .
75 00
2 00
r8 . 164 . IO 20. 22I . IS 00 " rs . . 282. 25 00
24. I65 . 30 00 20. 222. s 00 " 15 . . 283. IOO 00
25 .
Sept. 5
I66.
167 .
I IO
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20.
20
213 .
. 224.
5 00
8 30
I .. "
IS .
IS .
. 284.
. 285.
so 00
so 00
" 17 . I68 . IOO 00 20. . 22S. soo 19. . 286. roo
I7 . 169. 25 00 20. . 226. s 00 19 . . 287. I 00
20. 170. I 00 20. . 227 . IO 00 I9 . 288. 5 00
20. l]l • 25 00 20. . 228. IO 00 24. 289. roo
20. 172 . 5 00 2I . 229. s 00 26. 290 3 6o
20 . I73 . 200 2I . 230. s 00 27. 291 . 25 00
28. I74 . I4 21 231 . I 00 May I . . 292. 25 00
Oct. 17 . I75 . 20 00 21 . 232 . I 00 " 3· 293. 200
I] . 176. I 00 2I . . 233. s 00 5 . . 294. I 00
17 . I77 . roo oo 2I . . 234. T 00 7. . 295. 20
27 . 178. I 16 I 21 . . 235 . s 00
27 . 179. r8 oo 1 2I . . 236. IO 00 TOTAL. . $2178 52
27. I8o. I 00 21 . . 237. 20 00