In drawing this picture I have practically stated the situation for the other denominations.  The Presbyterians occupy the same general territory as do the Baptists with an equal number of missionaries.  The Methodists have somewhat more compactly stationed about the same number of missionaries as each of the other two, while the Episcopalians, the Congregationalists and the Evangelical Mission of South America combined add a number about equal to each of the three larger denominations.  A total of less than 100 ordained missionaries scattered over a territory larger than the United States of North America, which allows about four missionaries to each Brazilian State.  Add to this number the wives of the missionaries, the thirty-seven unmarried women and the 125 native workers and the entire missionary body, foreign and native, barely totals 300.  How utterly inadequate is such a force in the presence of such vast needs!  Because this situation has in it a call so apparent and so inexpressibly urgent it is impossible to portray it in words.

The ripeness of the State of Piauhy for evangelization will illustrate the urgency of the opportunity all over Brazil.  As far back as 1893 Dr. Nogueira Paranagua, who was at that time National Senator from his State, urged Dr. Z. C. Taylor to send a man into Piauhy and promised to help pay the expenses.  Two years later Col.  Benj.  Nogueira, the brother of the Senator, gave a similar invitation, making a promise that he would sustain a missionary.  It was not until 1901 that E. A. Jackson was able to reach Col.  Benjamin’s home.  He preached the gospel in this good man’s house and also in Corrente, the town near by.  Persecution, bitter and determined, arose.  There were three attempts to take Jackson’s life in one day.  Once Col.  Benjamin stepped in between the assassin and the missionary and thus saved the missionary’s life.  Some months later, upon the return of the missionary, Col.  Benjamin, who had been for so many years a friend to the gospel, gave himself to it and was baptized.  In January, 1904, the new house of worship at Corrente was dedicated.  It was built by Col.  Benjamin at his own expense.  He also built a school building and library, and afterward when the missionary was able to secure a teacher, this generous man paid all the charges.

When we reached Brazil last summer I received a message from Judge Julio Nogueira Paranagua, a nephew of Col.  Benjamin, who is one of the Circuit Judges in the State of Piauhy and who after a short while is to be retired upon his pension, according to the Brazilian law.  As soon as this takes place he expects to give himself entirely to the work of evangelizing his own people.  The message ran:  “The State of Piauhy is open to the gospel.  There is a fight on between the priests and the better classes.  The better educated people, disgusted with Romanism and priesthood, are drifting into materialism and atheism, but if a competent man could be situated at Therezina, the capital, the whole State could easily be won to the gospel.”