Ube lSfble 1Ree�e� in (tuba .

•

Statement ano Bppeal

of tbc

(tuban :J13tble Societ\?

The people of Cuba are not yet free. The bondage of the

Crown of Spain has been broken for them. They have received

that liberty from the providence of God and the power of the

United States. But the most subtle and repressive bondage

Spain could impose upon them still remains. That is
the

sp'ÌY'itual slavery and -ignorance which they have been compelled

to suffer from the State Church during the three centuries just

ended.

It is' difficult for tongue or pen to adequately describe the

denseness of that spiritual darkness and the degrees of that

spiritual subjection to superstitions and priestcraft
that yet

dominates, depresses and degenerates the life of the masses
in

the Island of Cuba.

Two years of residence there and close study of religious

and social conditions, much of the time as Military Inspec-



tor of Public Instruction, hospitals and prisons, convinces me

that the greatest work our American interference in Cuban

affairs has devolved upon American hearts and hands is to

provide "a way of escape" for the people of Cuba from that

spiritual slavery which now shackles their souls and weakens

the whole sum of their personal and public powers.

During the four years of the late revolution the power of

the Church was so employed in the interests of the Spanish

tyranny and so many patriots were betrayed to prison, exile

and death by its connivance that a great majority of the Cubans

revolted also against the priests and have since been strangers

to the Church and its power. In this mood they have been

willing to hear Protestant missionaries and to permit their

children who are able to do so to read the Bible in the King

James version when presented to them in the Spanish text.

NOW, therefore, is the opportune season for introducing

the Bible into the homes of hundreds of thousands of the com­

mon people. A few years hence that opportunity may be

again shut out by the recovery of its powers by the Church of

Rome. Already the Archbishops of Havana and Santiago de

Cuba are making politic and heroic endeavors to win back the

allegiance of the great body of Cubans and to blockade the

progress of Protestant missions and teachings, by either preach­

ing, schools, or literature.



1rf mou JSelte"e

that the aims of this Society are in line with the great mis­

sionary commission from the Master and that religious free­

dom as we enjoy it ought also to be encouraged among the

Cuban freemen in this "accepted time" and "day ofsalvation,"

then promptly, heartily and liberally give us your aid. Already

men are volunteering for the hardy and often dangerous work

of distributing the Gospels and Epistles in the several Prov­

inces of Cuba. They go on foot and on ponies to every moun­

tain hut and every jungle habitation of the Island. The

Bibles and Tracts in Spanish to meet the known demands will

cost a large amount, and the mere expenses of these colporters

will require, without extravagance, yet much more.

EVERY DOLLAR GIVEN WILL DO ITS DUTY

and we ask you to both give and pray that this work may go

on to the salvation of men and the glory of God.

SAM W. SMALL,

General Secretary.

NEW YORK, May, rçor.