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Show Our Work MEXICO CALIFORNIA Christians are all missionaries by virtue of being Californians" is the broad plank upon which our first Foreign Secretary began to lay the foundations of our work. Mexico was much in the thought of all, and its needs oftenest pressed home in that first year of work. "If any women are to reach and bless the lives of our priest-enthralled sisters of Mexico, it would seem to be the Christian women of California" she urges as she closes her first report. And Mexico was our first work, as it has become our latest. This is explained in the fact that the first missionaries sent out from the American Board to Mexico, were from the Pacific Theological Seminary. The Mission at Guadalajara in 1872 was "born in our Seminary Hill, in the fresh enthusiasm of the first graduating class." The pioneers were personally known to ' our women, and the tie seemed liked a family tie; they were Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Watkins, and John L. Stephens who suffered matyrdom in 1904. Six years after at Christmas time, Mr. Watkins baptized a very large number, among whom was a man who had borne the lighted torch when Mr. Stephens was assasinated. As MT. Watkins took his hand he said: " I welcome you to this church and communion, you who were once its persecutor, and commission you from henceforth to take up the work of the martyred Stephens and Reyes, bearing persecution in your turn for the sake of Him who has cleansed you by His precious blood." Poor Crysanto burst into tears at the memory of the past, and went out to bear the Gospel torch in devotion and sincerity and nobleness of heart. Mrs. Watkins was our missionary for five years, a great inspiration to the Board to whom she wrote frequently, and it was with sorrow that they relinquished her to others when the work w^as passed to the Methodist Church South. The conference of all denominations at work in Mexico that met in Cincinnati in 1914 to study together the situation, and advise readjustments, made recommendations that have resulted in a great [ 42 ] |
