Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-02-04
4 NEW AMERICo-AFRICAN SCHEME,


We believe that the Rev. William Tay-
lor is the most restless and aggressive man
in the Methodist Episcopal church univer-
sal-for the organization named covers
the world with its network OF operations,
and it has a large representation also
among glorfed millions who have crossed
Jordan's swelling food. And when we
say this of Mr.. Taylor we say a great deal.
The gentleman named, who has been here
once or twice and is known by many of
our citizens, was appointed and qualified
as Bishop of Africa, by the last General
Conference, and as he ha done much and
very effective pioneer work, in California,
India, South America, and elsewhere, it
was generally conceded that he was, at
last, the right man in the right place, as
well as large man in large place. At
ter the appointment OF Mr.. Taylor, came
the Congo Conference at Berlin, which
congress OF the great European Powers,
provided for the protection of civilizlng
intluences-of commercial and educational
appliances and forces-in Central Africa,
and now Mr.. Taylor leads the van of the
army of Christian civilization to the heart
of the Dark Continent. Last week his ef-
fort ito inaugurate selfsupporting mis-
sions in the regions of Central Africa" ma
teriahzed. Fifty people-men, women
and children-of the several trades and
professions, and well equipped with
supplies - left New York for
Africa to settle down permanently among
2,O0O,O 900 persons who have never seen,
up to this time, but two white men-the
late DIR. Livingstone and our Henry NJ.
Stanley, and not many of these even have
seen these two distinguished representa-
tives of the Caucasian race. With Mr..
Taylor's expedition 90 ), 900 Bibles, 81, 900
wards of cotton cloth, in muslins and cali
Goes Ito be used as currency, twenty-five
Remington rifles (ior hunting purposes,
we suppose), forty shotguns, and tools and
implements in abundance, and it is an
nounced that these spirited and energetic
missionaries declare their intention to
"ask for and accept no help from home"
This shows pluck and courage and the
carrying out of the policy will require per-
sistence and perseverance, but the result
may not depend a.together on what the
members of the colony may be able TO do.
The policy of the new colony, however,
is much TO be commended. 1t is much
like that of the Apostle Paul. who, while
on his missionary journeys, padded his
"own canoe" and earned his own bread
and clothing by the sweat of his honest,
heroic face. And if it can be demon
strated that men and women can go out
in colonies to remote lands, and in new
climates to which they are unaccustomed
and while they are earning their own
livelihood, can educate. civilize and Chris
tianize the natives, very important step
will have been taken and a new era OF in
tellectual outreach and progress will have
been inaugurated. 1t was just like the
Methodsts to take this step, and We wish
them the largest possible measure of sue
cess.
The idea involved is, however, not alto
gether new. Many of the missions of the
American Board have been not only self
sustaining for years, but have been con-
tributing to the funds of the Paren; So
ciety. This is true of the churches estab-
lished in the Sandwich Islands, and it is
also already true of number of the
churches organized, within a few years, in
Japanl Indeed, it has long been the
policy OF the Board to make all its mis-
sionary churches seltsustaining at the
earliest possible moment. And indeed,
we may say the same thing of the Presby-
terians, Baptists, Lutherans, and other
leading denominations. 1t is the true
idea. The heather convert must first ex-
perience the blessedness of receiving and
then the still greater bliss OF giving!