While we are meeting Presidents, I would like to introduce you to another one upon whom the salvation of Brazil depends more largely than it does upon any occupant of the chair of chief magistrate.  It is possible for the man who has been elevated by the ballots of his people to serve in a large way the moral good of his people and we thank God for all rulers who rule with justice and liberality in the interest of liberty and the common good.  But far greater and far more serviceable than these are those choice spirits who, by embracing the gospel of Christ, give themselves devoutly to bringing in His reign in the hearts of men.  Such spirits, by the sheer force of their characters, wield a far more abiding influence for the help of their fellows.  The man I wish to introduce is Dr. Nogueira Paranagua, the President of the Brazilian Baptist Convention.

He belongs to one of the oldest and most aristocratic families of the State of Piauhy.  He was Governor of his state at the time of the institution of the Republic.  After the establishment of the Republic, he was elected to the National Congress for a term of four years.  Then he was elected to the Senate and served nine years.  He is a skilled physician and is married to a Swiss lady of fine family.  His family connections occupy one quarter of the State of Piauhy.  He is, at the present time, Treasurer of the National Printing Concern, which does not occupy all of his time.  The remainder of his time he devotes to the practice of his profession and to the preaching of the gospel.  He is a deacon in the First church in Rio.  He is not an ordained minister—­he is simply an humble man of God.  He is an ardent patriot who believes that the salvation of Brazil can be realized only through the gospel of Christ, to which he gives his life and all.

Now I, for one, believe that the theory of Dr. Nogueira is the one that will finally lead Brazil into the fullness of life and power it is capable of attaining.  It is well to have written in the constitution the guarantee of religious and political liberty.  It is well to have Presidents who courageously carry into effect the provisions of this constitution, but the highest good is not attained until behind all documentary guarantees is a personal righteousness in the people.  Dr. Nogueira’s insistent advocacy of Christ for Brazil is the one thing that gives assurance of a genuine righteousness that will exalt the nation.

He is the President of a remarkable body.  It was our privilege to attend the Brazilian Baptist Convention which met in Sao Paulo, June, 1910.  It was composed of sixty delegates, about one third of whom were missionaries.  The remainder were natives.  They came from all parts of Brazil.  One man from the Madeira Valley traveled three weeks on his journey to Sao Paulo.  They represented 109 churches, which had a total membership of 7,000.  These churches increased by baptism twenty-five per cent, last year.  They maintain a boys’