At 7 o’clock on the following morning, which was Sunday, we started on horseback for Arroz Novo, an excellent country church fifteen miles away.  A young brother named John Laringeiro (John Orangetree) had brought horses for us.  Before his conversion he was an arch persecutor, and since he has become a Christian he has been called upon to suffer even more bitter persecution than he ever inflicted upon others.  He is struggling to care for his mother, and as the pastor of the church at Rio Preto, he is a most acceptable gospel preacher.

It was a fine ride into the country, over hill and mountain and deeply-shaded valley.  After we had ridden about half the length of our journey several brethren from Arroz Novo (New Rice) met us to escort us to the church.  A mile or two further we were met by another company, who swelled the number of our dashing cavalcade to about twenty-five.  It was dashing, too, for they were hard riders.  It was a very joyous and cordial reception committee.  Finally we rode into sight of the church, winch is located on a high hill commanding a grand panorama of the mountains.  As we approached we saw two long lines of people standing facing each other in front of the church.  The men were on one side and the women on the other—­about 600 of them.  As we rode up the congregation sang a hymn to give us welcome.  We dismounted when we reached the end of the two lines and walked down between them to the church.  Now it is the custom in Brazil upon festal occasions to strew the meeting place with oleander and cinnamon leaves and to throw rose petals and confetti upon those they wish to honor.  These good people observed this custom generously that day.  A wide space of the ground in front of the church was strewed with leaves, and they showered such quantities of rose petals and confetti upon us that we were beautiful sights by the time we reached the door.

We entered the very creditable church building into which the people now poured until every foot of space was occupied.  There was hardly room left for me to make gestures as I spoke.  It was ten o’clock.  The people had been present since four engaged in a prayer meeting.  We began the service immediately.  The Spirit of the Lord was upon us to preach the gospel.  Afterward we called for those who wished to make confession of their faith in Christ.  We pushed back the people a little bit in the front and the space thus made vacant was immediately filled with those who wished to confess their Lord and Savior.  We saw that others wanted to come, so we asked them to stand where they were.  All through the audience they rose.  Then began the examination of these candidates.  Numerous questions were put to them by the missionary and the pastor of the church.  Sometimes as many as twenty-five or even more questions would be asked an individual so great was the care exercised in examining those who wished to become members of the church, and what impressed me most was the fact that after every question they could think of had been asked, they would ask if anyone present could endorse him.  Whereupon someone, if he could recommend the candidate would, after a brief speech of endorsement, make a motion to receive him.