THE FIRST COLPORTEUR

By this time Manuel da Silva Jordão was working as a colporteur, traveling from one end of the country to the other, visiting all subscribers and preaching the good news. Since a number of subscribers in the north of the country had shown interest, he went to Braga. One day on the street a man came running up to him, saying: “Good day, Sir. I’m certainly happy to meet you. I have come to learn something about the Bible from you.” Brother Jordão asked him if he knew anything about the Bible. “Yes,” he replied, “I am a subscriber for The Watch Tower, and I correspond with a man named Virgílio Ferguson in Lisbon. Ever since you arrived in this city I have been looking for you.”

At the home of this interested man in Braga a small group of about seven persons began to study the Bible. Since this city is known as the “Vatican of Portugal,” it did not take long for the opposition of the Catholic Church to manifest itself. The clergy reported Brother Jordão to the police, who awakened him at midnight and threw him into jail.

After his release the next day, a local priest arranged for the principal court recorder to plan an encounter with him at the city’s main square. They planned to expose Jordão as a false Christian, without higher learning. About fifty persons showed up for this “casual meeting.” The priest appeared and a lively discussion about who Christians are and their work followed. Finally, the court recorder said to the priest in a loud voice: “I thought you came to defend the Catholic Church, but you have not been able to show even one text from the Holy Bible!” Eyewitnesses relate that the embarrassed priest quickly left.

DIFFICULT TIMES BEGIN

The work now had to be cared for by colporteur Manuel da Silva Jordão. During the difficult time that followed he managed to communicate with some brothers in Spain. On several occasions Herbert F. Gabler visited the brothers in Portugal. Around 1938 Brother O. E. Roselli, a United States citizen, visited Portugal, encouraging the brothers to go from house to house, using what was called a testimony card. In time all organized preaching gradually ceased, and a period of inactivity set in.

A FRESH START

In 1940 Angel de Castro visited a friend in Lisbon with whom he often discussed the Bible. This friend’s son, Eliseu Garrido, about fourteen years of age, began to take an interest in the conversations. Castro gave him several old Watchtower magazines to read. Later he showed him a handwritten book he had compiled with Bible texts on various doctrines. The young boy appreciated this 300-page reference book and began making a copy for himself. In the meantime he read the book containing the photographs of the Photo-Drama of Creation. This had a strong impact on his mind. As soon as he finished copying Castro’s reference book he asked: “Are there no other people in Lisbon who believe these things?”

Within a few days Manuel da Silva Jordão came to his home to help him further. Brother Jordão put Eliseu in contact with Joaquim Carvalho, a shoemaker whose home now was the general meeting place for the Bible Students.