In working for Roman Catholics, especially in countries where Catholicism predominates and superstition reigns, one of the greatest principles involved is courtesy. I always take into consideration that the vast majority of these people are sincere in their belief, but deceived. This helps me always to have a friendly, sympathetic attitude toward all, and to greet them courteously on all occasions, even though my friendliness is not reciprocated. Many times they are surprised by my attitude, having expected just the opposite because of false information given them.
I try never to speak against any one personally, and avoid answering base accusations publicly or privately. Many times I meet men who berate the priests of the Catholic religion, but I avoid even listening, if possible turning the conversation by saying, "There are many good people among the Catholics and among the priests." This in time is carried back to our enemies, and makes friends for our work. I never speak publicly against the Catholics nor their system of religion. This attitude impressed the priest in Iquitos who came to our mission house and told us that we must have a wonderful religion not to have retaliated when they were so vicious against us.
Whenever possible I do these priests a favor. I remember on one occasion a priest was left in a small village where no boat would pass for a whole month. The boat on which I was the only passenger had already gone twelve hours past the village. This stranded priest sent word by airplane, asking the captain to return for him. The captain asked me what to do, and I advised him to return for the priest, which really meant fifteen hours' journey upstream. When the priest boarded the boat and began thanking the captain, he was interrupted by, "Don't thank me; thank Pastor Stahl, for it was he who advised me to go for you." This priest never forgot the favor. He was located in a prosperous mission center of ours, and became so friendly that he even advised the people to attend our meetings.
I by no means hide the message from the priests. In an interior town where I arrived with great cargoes of our books to sell, I went to the priest first, and talked frankly with him, telling him of our firm belief in Christ our Saviour, of His soon coming, and the Sabbath truth. He answered, "That's fine! That's what I believe," signed his name to my list, and I was able to sell many books in that village.
In teaching the people I always make it a strong point first to teach Christ, His mediatorial work, and His second coming. Then I present the other phases of the truth. And from the congregation I pick out the prospective candidates for baptism, and teach them thoroughly in regard to that "man of sin," and Catholicism in all its phases.
Iquitos, Peru.
