The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-03-18
Henry II. STANLEY and Religion.
REV. WIN. ALLEN.

REV. WIN. ALLEN.
In the Christian Advocate of No
vember Goth, on page 8, there is q brief
statement Of Mr.. Stanley's religious
faith, con fession of his belief "in the
Supreme God and that divine man
called his Son." That is good, and
very good for it gives encouragement
when we find the learned and great
and the illustrious ones on whom all
eyes are now turning are on the side of
truth, and have settled convictions
concerning religion.
But there is something Of more
worth than mere assent to the truth,
or q simple statement OF ones belief.
A confession unsupported by action is
an empty thing, does not lead out and
is without achievement. 1t Is better
to look for religious manners. In
these there is something more real.
They tell of no empty casket. They
speak the truth with sacrifice.
There is enough written by Mr..
Stanley himself for us to FROM an opin-
ion, if not to draw conclusions of his
faith from his religious manners.
1.-THE Darkest Africa" Is no longer q
sealed experience, but is both written
and published, and we have both re-
ceived and read our copies and we
firmly believe that If ever men were
tested on this earth as to the realities
of their natures and instincts, Mr..
Stanley and brave companions hold q
first place under such trial. 1t did
seem that his march down the Congo
in 1867 showed him the Darkest
Africa" and doubtless he thought 80
at the time. But it was reserved for
him in the Emiu Pasha Relief Expe-
dition to meet with darkness that
could be felt it was the darkness that
came over the stoutest heart OF the age
still battling, struggling and contend
ing when disappointment, disease and
death in the camp, extreme hunger
and powerful native enemies had cut
away from him all hope.
Mr.. Stanley gives some evidence
that up to the time he started on the
relief of Emin he was not religious.
In, correspondence with Robert Ar
thington he publishes certain state
ments in which Mr.. Arlington ex-
horts him to become religious, claim
| ing that delay was "more dangerous
than delay for Emin."
There were difficulties in the way of
Stanley's becoming religious more
than ordinarily embarrass men. He
was of q rowing nature and full OF am
bition and his rather quick, irritable
nature became in O degree subdued
and calm through the variety OF men
he commanded and the hardships and
sufferings which he and they endured
together. His travels and experiences
in Africa had tendency to make him
considerate, reflective and morally
brave more than to make of him an
in ncorrigible tough.
In 1871 Mr.. Stanley was in close as
sociation with DR.. Livingstone for
four months. He found the doctor at
Ujiji. Together they surveyed North
ern Tanganyika, and just before they
separated they travelled together forty
one DAYS by land. AS they were the
only two white men in all that part Of
Africa they certainly understood each
other we'll and impressed on each 9TH
err his character. So far as history re-
peats the story it was an association al
together lovely; far different from
that between Stanley and Emin.
There is little doubt that Living
stone had great moral influence over
Stanley. Headley, the historian,
SAYS THAT one man fixed his desti-
nv for this world, and who knows but
for the eternal ages"
Mr.. Stanley makes this record OF
that association my eyes grow dim
at the remembrance of that parting.
For four months and four days l lived
with him in the same house or in the
same boat or in the same tent and I
never found q fault in him. sn a
man of a quick temper and often,
dare saw, without sufficient cause have
broken ties of friendship, but with
Livingstone I never had cause of re-
sentiment, but each days life with him
added to my admiration of him."
But whatever may have been Mr..
Stanley's religious manners he evil
IDENTIFY became deeply. profoundly re-
ligious in the expedition to relieve
Emin, the Governor of Equatoria. In
this it is seen how difficult it is to
break the moral necks of some men.
In the common walk and converse of
life there is often mention Of good re-
suits on the moral nature of men
through distress, affliction and hearty
trial. The Bible is full of moral re-
form wrought on high chiefs as we'll
as on the masses of the people through
the distress that came OF war, famine
and pestilence. 1t took q voice in Il
light above the brilliancy of the sun
at MONDAY to convince Paul. Bona
parte never became morally sensible
until he was forced to the seclusion of
st. Helena; and it seemed to require
the march of Stanley up the Ituri riv-
er with its unsurpassed disappoint-
ments, sufIefings and dangers to work
that moral reform in him that made
him a Christian in practical demon
stration. He there found the end OF
all human strength. Within almost
impenetrable forests, destitute, hum
gry, with only 173 men and about one
/ third of these sick, four of his men
having just retreated before one of the
enemy, he had no hope of evading a
battle the next day with Mozamboni,