BRAZIL'S FUTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 190, 21 November 1910, Page 8

BRAZIL'S FUTURE.

A BRITISH MISSIONARY ON ITS PROSPECTS.

The Rev. J. D. McEwen, a well-known missionary, who has laboured for years in Brazil, is now on a visit to London.

In conversation with a Daily Chronicle correspondent, Mr. McEwen spoke enthusiastically of the prospects of that wonderful country, so vast in area, so rich in natural resources. The Republic is now thoroughly secure. A strong feeling of patriotism animates the people. They are realising the potentialities of their country, are applying themselves with energy to its development, and are fronting the future with high hopes and buoyant confidence. A powerful navy is being organised, and commerce is increasing. Nor is the national revival concerned only with material things. A new interest in education has been aroused, which promises the happiest results. Necessarily from the immense area which it covers—it is nearly as large as Europe, and has a seaboard 4000 miles in length Brazil exhibits considerable variety of climate. Beyond the tropics lies a temperate zone with well-defined seasons. There is room for enormous expansion in the _ development of the mineral and agricultural resources of the country. In the Para region the rubber tree is indigenous and it is cultivated with great success. Mr. McEwen speaks warmly of the good qualities of the Brazilian people, and extols their simple kindness and unfailing hospitality. They have no dislike for strangers, and to English people they are always particularly cordial. It was interesting to learn from Mr. McEwen that Britisn goods enjoy an unequalled reputation for quality among the; Brazilians.

Mr. McEwen's station is at Orobo, about 200 miles from Bahia. Here he has a settlement of 1000 acres. A day school conducted under liis supervision is doing an admirable work. Mrs. McEwen, a native of Nova Scotia, and a trained teacher, takes an active part in the work of the school.

There is no State Church in Brazil, That was abolished with the monarchy. The religion of the mass of the people Is Roman Catholicism, but Mr. McEwen finds on the whole little hindrance to •his work of spreading a knowledge of Evangelical Christianity. His ideal is found a Brazilian Inland Mission, with .the centre at Orobo, and with streams radiating from that mountain which will deepen and widen and extend far off thousands of miles across to Peru.