Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-02-09

with one exception the sessions Of
the various ministerial unions yestet-
dry possessed simply adenominational
Interest. Tho Baptist conference had
under consideration means 10 promote
revival interest. The Methodist
preachers discussed the work OF u
social union. The Presbyterian Min.
istcrial Union listened to an able adj
dress ON prayer meeting plans. At the
meeting Of the Congregational Club In
the afternoon Captain e. T.. Horc, the
African explorer aud missionary, gave
aud instructive outline Of his labOr- In
the dark continent.
"lu Darkest England" lac said,
'there Il M much " not more moral
darkness thnn In so.cnlled darkest
Africa. That part OF Africa, the In.
terror, usually conceived To he the
lowest In worthy elements, IA to my
mind the most advanced. There II
there less savagcry, idolntry aud I'm.
morality aud more Christian enter.
prlses. The book In Darkest Africa
needs much criticism. Its statements
require me 10 defend the natives,
whose friend | am, Ia place In proper
light many OF the Orientals In Africa
and also the noble men gnd women Of
Christian missions, scientists and po-
litical agents.
"Christian missionaries have pene.
trnted to Central Africa. I was resi-.
dent there for eleven years, and dur.
Ing part Of that time my wife and
child were with me. The difficulties
Of African missionary work are not
the dangers Of the violence OF natives,
but those Of language and climate.
California presented 10 the early mis-.
sionnrles greater obstacles than does
Africa today. My field has been on
one OF the great lakes Of Central Africa.
The Africans there represented ten
distinct tribes, each with a peculiar
dialect often unknown 10 the Others.
We have established posts, have u
steamer which affords rapid communi-
cation In the 1000 miles Of territory In.
cluded In our work, and arc striving To
extend the bond Of sympathy among
the natives by the use Of common
language.
"rhesc natives have strong spirit
ual instinct, but no formal religion.
Their beliefs are In no way fundamen-
tally opposed 10 Christianity. As we
leave the coast line toward tho interior
the evidences OF cannihallsnA fctichlsm,
the slave trade and immortality gradu.
ally disappear. In my field ON the lake
most OF the natives were engaged In
agricultural and occasionally In pas-
toral pursuits. Polygamy il generally
practiced, and we can as yet make no
attempt to stop II. II Is n necessity
in the existing system OF society,
where there Ia no other than the poly.
gamous relation for women. You
ask man, what IL your occu.
pation?' You ask woman, Whose
wife or daughter ARE your She
must be one or the other. Domes.
tic slavery Is firmly fixed instltu.
ton. The slaves are known as members
OF the household and may DO bought
and sold as other goods. Our first step
In Its destruction must he In the aboll.
ton Of the slave trade, In which
natives are engaged as well as others,
but which Is virtually a different ins,i-
tuition. II Il n crime which must
cease; slavery II an element OF society
which 10 oppose would destroy u.s."
The gentlemnn's remarks covered a
Wide range OF investigation. He re-
ferrcd TO the Importance OF American
cloth In African commerce, and de-
tailed the causes OF English pre.emi-
hence In the good will OF the natives,
lie outlined the habits Of life and In.
situations among the Africans. lie
gave "reminiscences OF Emin Pasha,
He was asked many questions regard
ing his labors, and at the close OF his
address was voted unanimously the
thanks Of the club.-Sua francisco
lIronfol,