Seeing our missions across the seas . land, in themidst of tropical heat, vegetation, and scenery. PortoRico is 100 miles in length, thirty-six miles in width, andhas a population of a million and a quarter. Spain ruledhere for four hundred years until the American troopstook possession of the island, July 25, 1898. Great Change in Seventeen Years. The years sincehave been characterized by rapid progress along all have been built, schools opened in large numbers,and a participation in the government has been granted thepeople. The development of education by the Governmentand the r
Seeing our missions across the seas . land, in themidst of tropical heat, vegetation, and scenery. PortoRico is 100 miles in length, thirty-six miles in width, andhas a population of a million and a quarter. Spain ruledhere for four hundred years until the American troopstook possession of the island, July 25, 1898. Great Change in Seventeen Years. The years sincehave been characterized by rapid progress along all have been built, schools opened in large numbers,and a participation in the government has been granted thepeople. The development of education by the Governmentand the religious work of the Protestant churches areclosing the great gap that existed between the poor andthe rich, the educated and the ignorant. A substantialmiddle class is rising which in the very near future willbe the determining factor in the aftairs of the island. Dividing the Field. When Porto Rico was freed fromthe unwarranted restrictions of Spanish rule, the Protestantchurches of the United States were alert to their opportun- 3. ity, and missionaries were sent to inaugurate the work ofevangelization. The field was small, but the needs weregreat, and in view of these conditions it became evidentthat a policy unlike that followed in the United Statesshould be mapped out here. Hence, a common under-standing was reached regarding the division of territorywhich prevents overlapping and at the same time makessome church responsible for the evangelization of everypart of the island. A Visit to Ponce. Ponce, a city of forty thousand, secondin size to San Juan, and the largest city on the south sideof the island, is the center of United Brethren territory andheadquarters of our mission. To reach Ponce we travelby stage from San Juan for ninety miles over the famousmilitary road across precipitous mountains. Rev. PhiloW. Drury and family and Miss Elizabeth Reed have theirhome at Ponce. In addition to superintending our work. Rev. Mr. Druryis secretary of the Evangelical Union of Po
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