This article, entitled “Some Features of the Work in and Around Agduadilla” was written by Reverand Judson Underwood and published in the Assembly Herald in May of 1902. The Assembly Herald was a Presbyterian newspaper that was intended to update followers on the tasks of the various committees, boards, and councils of the American Presbyterian Church. Part of this article by Reverand Underwood features a section on converted Puerto Ricans who help the missionary cause in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
Underwood is an American missionary working in Puerto Rico. Naturally, this affects what he says about Puerto Ricans. However, unlike many of the other documents in this collection, throughout this article, Underwood describes how helpful Puerto Ricans are in spreading Protestantism. In particular, he mentions the bible woman Dona Adela Sousa, who is able to talk to people male pastors are unable to reach. Although this source comes from an American perspective and is for an American audience, by reading it we are able to learn about how converting to Protestantism might have provided agency for Puerto Ricans.
“In the brief period of less than a year and a half this Church has given to the cause three regularly appointed gospel workers, one of its elders having given himself to the service of his Master in the ministry, and for which he is diligently preparing himself while acting as pastor’s assistant in the rapidly extending work in the outlying towns and country districts; another elder, father of the former, has been appointed colporteur of the American Bible Society for the district of Aguadilla, and a third member has been appointed Bible woman, spending all her time visiting the sick, teaching and encouraging the weaker members of the flock, finding access to many homes where the pastor cannot find time to go, and where a woman only can successfully bear the gospel message. Many of the upper-class women, nominal Roman Catholics, who for fear of criticism dare not openly attend our public services, welcome her to their homes to read the Scripture and teach them its sound doctrine. Everywhere Dona Adela Sousa goes she brings light. It is a constant cause of surprise and delight to see the wonderful grasp she has of scripture truth, and her wise, tactful and convincing manner of presenting it, both in public and in private. She not only visits among the people, but teaches a class of 50 or 60 children in the Sabbath-school, holds three night classes weekly to teach adults to read and write, and acts as president of our Endeavor Society. Both she and the assistant pastor, Senor Lopez, are full of splendid enthusiasm and will prove most efficient workers.” (177)
Judson Underwood, “Some Features of the Work in and Around Agduadilla,” in The Assembly Herald. Harvard University. May 1902. https://archive.org/details/assemblyheraldv00assegoog/page/177/mode/2up