The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-21
MURDER OF BISHOP HARRINGTON.
A King Renounces Mohammedanisn. Protest.
antism and Catholicism.

LONDON, March 2O--Oficial kilograms from
Zanzibar confirm the recent report of the put.
ting to death of Bishop Harrington by the King
of Uganda. Much has been written respecting
Bishop Harrington since the report of his ar
rest and threatened execution, but no official
confirmation of the reports of his death was re-
ceived until the publication of the above mem
toned dispatches.
Bishop Harrington was consecrated mission
airy bishop in 1884, and shortly afterwards left
England for the scene of his labors in behalf Of
the Christian faith. In June, 1886, Bishop Han
nington left Mombasa in order to find. If possi-
BILE, new road to the Victoria, which would OBJ
viate the long detour by Unyanyembe, and. on
JAN l, 1886, news WAS received at Zanzibar that
ne had been seized, by order of the King within
two days march of Uganda and, later on res
ports were received that the King had given
secret orders to have the Bishop executed. These
announcements caused painful excitement In
England generally. and particularly in Brighton.
where the Bishop was we'll known. Through
the medium of the church missionary society'a
agents, his wife, who had not previously heard
from him for some months, learned that the
Bishop was in danger, owing to the jealousy OF
the King of Uganda; in fact, the Bishop, whilG
attempting to effect his journey by the new
route. was informed that the King had
despatched hostile party to stop his erogress,
thus forcing him to retrace his steps and COM
tiuue his journey by the old route. But latef
advices showed that the Bishop was captured by
the ruler of Uganda, King M'wanga, the son Of
M'tesa. the sovereign who was Stanley's friend,
and under whose patronage the Uyanza mission
was formed. The people of that section and
their kings had been familiar with missionaries
and white men for two generations Therefore,
1t was hoped that the Bishops life would ba
spared.
King Mwanga's father, M'tesa, the former
ruler of Uganda, was subjected to an amount OF
theological pressure which would have been utit
mately useful had it been consistent, continuous
and always in the same direction. When white
men first penetrated to Uganda they found the
King full believer in the native faith. Accord
ing to this doctrine, which with various modif.
cations prevails throughout Africa, there is
supreme deity answering roughly to the Zeus of
the Greeks, who intrusts to 'lubari, or inferiof
gods certain departments. There are spirits of
War of Thunder, and so on; and these minot
deities are to be propitiated by rites some Of
them savage. cruel and disgusting Such was
the theology of King M'tesa when Spoke found
him in 1861 Some Arab traders subsequently
visited him and persuaded him to become Ma
hometan. This was distinct step upward.
Mr. Stanley effected further conversion, and
taught him the doctrines of Christianity. Tho
Arabs, however opposed this new change, and
the King further perplexed when body Of
Roman Catholic missionaries arrived on the
scene, and, it is claimed. pointed out that the
Christianity taught by Mr.. Stanley was not the
genuine article. This is said to have thorough.
ly upset the unfortunate monarch's mind, and
he publicly abjured Mahometanism Protestant
ism and Roman Catholicism, and returned to hia
local deities. On this the Roman Catholic mis4
sionaries retired, but the Professionals held on,
and in 1882 Bishop Harrington was sent out to
reinforce them It was doubtless owing to this
perplexing state of affairs that the Bishop los.
his life.