guided me between these chairs and took a seat on the divan and
motioned me to a seat by his side. He is a man of slight build,
with a mild expression which wins confidence. He was most informal
in his speech and spoke in a candid and unreserved manner which
quickly put us at ease.

I told him, through an interpreter, that we had come from a visit
to the Minister of the Interior, with whom we had been in
conference about the status of Brazilian schools. The President
expressed his great pleasure over our coming to see him and said
that he had personal knowledge of what our denomination is doing
and of some of the workers. He was satisfied that our object was
altruistic and for the good of the country and people; that so far
as depended upon him, he was ready to give us the full benefit of
his official position. As proof of his wish to see absolute
religious freedom, he cited an instance of how he had protected
some monks in the Amazon Valley recently. These men were in
straits and he had sent soldiers to liberate them, and then
turning with a smile to Ginsburg, he said that he also never
abandoned his friend Solomon when he was attacked. He refreshed
our minds upon the fact that lately, when certain priests in the
city of Rio had attempted to resist the government over a disputed
piece of property which had been granted them under the old
regime, he gave them to understand that if they did not behave
themselves, the door was open and they could leave the country.
They soon came to terms. As to his successor, the President said
that the incoming President was of the same party and would carry
out the same policies, ideas and ideals. These policies meant
absolute liberty of thought, conscience and speech, which is
guaranteed by the constitution. Before the interview closed, he