Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-11-04
GEN TRIAL AFRICA AND HOME
MISSIONS.
DIR. o. II. White Delivers an In.
terestiRg Address at fisk
University.


DR.. 0. H.. White delivered a most
interesting lecture last night at the
Fisk University. His subject was
Central Africa"
lie had previously intended to make
an extempore speech on the missionary
work in Central Africa, but feeling
u1well, he was obliged to read an
address on the same subject.
DR.. White began by giving a de-
scrlptIon OF the early history Of Africa.
dating from the time of the Paraohs'
who were probably the first to encour.
age kidnapping in that country, for the
purpose Of procuring slaves; and
expatiated freely on the %iniauities OF
this traffic, and the honors which it
brought about. He stated that trav-
elers were able to trace their way TO
the heart Of Africa by the means of
the bones of the unfortunate victims
who had died before they could be
brought to the coast.
de then gave a description of the
Investigations that had been made by
Mills, Mungo Park and others. who
had hrst interested themselves in ex
plorlng this great continent, and re
marked how strange it was that in
this advanced period our knowledpe
OF Central Africa was so small in com
parlson to that of other countries.
and exhorted people esrecially young
men-to interest themselves ia this
subject to advance the progress of
missionary work, for which there is so
much scope. Two hundred millions
Africans, he said, we're now being
brought to an appreciation of the
gospel through the ins~trumentality OF
missionaries.
An account of SANKEY'S researches
followed, who, he stated, had discov
cred l5,0OO,00O of, till then, unknown
inhabitants of Central Africa, and
spoke very clearly of the interest that
Belgium, Spain, Italy, France and
other countries were beginning to
take in the work
The monotony that usually accJm-
panies a discourse of this kind was
agreeably varied by pleasant descrip-
ton OF the animals, climate, people,
etc OF this great continent, and Prof
Darwin's theory was combatted with
great intelligence, when the subject
OF apes was introduced, after which
followed a recital of the different
plaques that infested Africa, i. e.,
flies, %locusts, and other anti.agricul
tural insects.
The opening fields of interest, for
all closes Of people, was next en-
larged upon, in q way that showed
that DR.. White had great knowledge
OF the country he was speaking Of.
and the details he gave, the result OF
great Investigation or personal expert
enoe. He combatted the accepted
idea of the barbaric condition Of
these almost unknown races of men,
and assured his hearers, on his own
authority and that of DR.. Livingstone
that there was as fine specimens OF
humanity to be found there as almost
anywhere else, and gave a vivid
description of the civilization that
had already taken place, and the
J commercial interests of these So called
savages.
. Africa is awakening to a sense o.
truth, and the present time is reso
! nant with the sound OF falling fetters
that had hitherto chained the intel
lects Of this peoplesand the true Goo
} is being worshiped where the idol
had reigned over the desecrateC
: shrines Of c~annibalism and savagery
, With a glowing enthusiasm and
sense of shame, DR.. White expatiateC
, on the vicious example set by tn,
white sailors, who had either lande,
2 3 or been wrecked on the coasts of AT
! RIGA, who instead of assisting tn
growth of morals or civilization, ha,
! spread the curse Of liquor and it
J deadly effects over a land previousl,
! unmarried by alcohol, and which wa
e just rising to a level with the intel
lectual attachments of contempora
! neous nations. 1t was said by Stan
ley, that preachers were not so much
needed there as the good, practica
Christian, who would be a sOr
J. of moral jack of all trades, AM
0 encourage advancement in commerce
as we'll as religion. AS an instance O
the prosperity Of Central Africa, Dr
White took Port Lagos as an example
K which exports annually more thai
100000 sterling, or $4,000, 900 wort
1t Of produce of varions kinds. Afric
% covers an area of II, 1850, 900 squar
u miles. / fthis was controlled by civil
IT i~Zation, in the interest of agriculture
commerce, etc, the result would b
almost unimaginable.
DR.. White concluded by an earnes
ID address to young men, to reflect o
what bio had said and to turn thei
ambition to thoughts Of enterpris
ID in the mission fields and to cultivat
a wish to be useful 10 this grand worI
He was loudly applauded by hi
large audience, who had listened mos
attentively, and with every sign {
sAo-..H l...-I L.. 1