The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-05-17
Or. Livingstone's Letters.
WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT 'tPLAYING MISSION
ARIES"


ingstone rescued from the wilds of Africa,
where he died, is very interesting letter
which is found, dated UnyaDyembe; South
ern Africa, April 16, 1872, and addressed to
James Gordon Bennett, of the New York
Herald. The horror of the slave trade in
Central Africa is the subject of this letter,
as it is the theme which mostly occupies
his thoughts. The style of the letter is
fresh and simple, and his apt reference to
men and things and events in England and
America serves to show how he continued
to think of home and progress at home,
ty in far distant land. DR.. Livingstone
though weak in body, as he evidently must
have been, was chirruppy in mind when
he penned this letter. In one part of his
letter he administers severe reproof to
the English missionary clergy who settled
down at Zanzibar instead of pursuing their
work where it could best be pursued. On
this subject he says:
"It is a sad pity that our good Bishop of
Central Africa, albeit ordained in West
minister Abbey, preferred the advice of q
colonel in the army to remain at Zanzibar,
rather than proceed in his diocese and
take advantage of the friendlness of the
still unspoiled interior tribes to spread our
faith. The Catholic missionaries lately
sent from England to Maryland to convert
the negroes might have obtained the ad
vice Of half dozen of army colonies to
remain at New York, or even at London.
But the answer if they have any Irish
blood in them, might have been, "Take
yourselves and advice off to, the battle of
Dorking; we will fight our own fight"
The venerable archbishop of Baltimore
told these brethren that they would get
"ehills and fever" but he did not-add {,
| when you do get the shivers. then take to
your heels, my hearties. When any of the
| missionaries at Zanzibar get "chills and
| fever" they have a nice pleasure trip in a
man-of-war to the Tey chelles island. The
| good men deserve it, of course, aud no one
would grudge to save their precious lives.
But human nature is frail.
Zanzibar is much more unhealthy than
the mainland, and the government, by
placing men of war at the disposal of these
brethren, though meaning to help them in
their work, virtually aids them to keep out
of it, Some eight years have rolled on,
and good Christian people have contributed
their money annually for Central Africa,
aud the Central African diocese is occupied
| by the lord of all evil. 1t is with sore
heart l say it, but recent events have
shown that those who have 30 long been
across from the sickly island to their do
cese on the mainland with telescopes might
have been turned to far better account"
Mr.. John Livingstone, of Listowell, Ont,
| has received two letters from his brother,
the late DR.. Livingstone, one of which is
April and November, 1870, and the other
Dake Bangaelo, December, 1872. The
doctor mentions the meeting with Mr..
Stanley, whom he styles his Good Samari
tan, and whose conduct while there was
beyond all praise. The doctor finished his
last letter by saying: off the good Lord
above gives me strength and influence to
complete the task shall not grudge my
hunger and toll Above all, if He permits
me to put stop to the enormous evils of
this inland slave trade I shall bless His
name with all my heart. The Nile sources
are valuable to me only as a means of en-
abling me to open my mouth among men.
1t is this power hope to apply to remedy
an enormous evil and join my little help
| ing hand in the great revolution that in
carrying on for ages, and is now actually
helping forward"