The Indianapolis journal., 1894-02-12
IT HAS A DARK SIDE
DR.. Johnston, the African Tray
eler, Talks About Missions.
Where They Have Been a Failure-Rev.
DR.. COultas Considers the Serv-
ices of Lincoln.

The announcement that DR.. James John
ston, Of Jamaica, who has just returned
from a trip through Africa, was to speak
last night at the Second Presbyterian
Church. was sufficient to bring out an audi
ence that filled every seat in the church,
and chairs and benches were brought in to
accommodate the great number. DIR. John
ston visited this city about three years ago,
when about TO undertake his missionary
work. and made many friends. Mr.. Mil
burn, in his introduction of DR.. Johnston,
said that he considered him the greatest
personal missionary on earth. DR.. john
ston presents a strong physique and
pleasing manner. His utterance is vigorous
and abounds in practical good sense. DR..
Johnston, accompanied by three men from
Jamaica, went to Africa. Owing to the
war clouds over the country he thought
1T best to bring the men back to their
country and wait for peace, when they
Will again make the trip and endeavor to
establish mission fields.
In beginning his talk DR.. Johnston said
that he was not going to preach a SER
mon. but that he felt he owed a duty to
the church and congregation for the sym
pathy and fellowship given when he was
here before. DIR. Johnston in his trip
across Africa, visited many mission sta
tons In the Zambesi valley he saw a
missionary who had had no word from any
one for two years He had been in that
country for thirty years, and even after
that time he could not feel that he had
made really one convert.
DIR. Johnston would say to any one who
asked him his advice about going to the
foreign mission field. Don't go, if you
can possibly get out of it," He told of
the privations OF the missionaries and how
some of them died. even before they
reached their destination, on account of the
climate and change in food. Said he:
1t IS very beautiful to read Of 500
converts in Africa or TO see a picture of
a dying kaftir or Zulu surrounded by mis-
a desire TO be missionary 1t is a dream.
Remember what savage in Africa is. The
sfaavages savage have a worship OF their own, and
sutton for yours, for they do not know
10 gather money for foreign missions, and
when the church missionary came along
an the money was gone. He told Of
missionary who went to Africa and gath
cred a company about him. The mission
ary talked to the savageS and prayed with
tnem, ana they came every day and lis
OF the NTH day they did not leave and
ne finally had to tell them to go, when
for and they SAID FOE @ ye yeed days SRf'R wcrR
Ihey mad not come TO listen to him for
hope
OF SUCCESSFUL mission work is with the chill
dren as ne had failed TO find one adult
convert in his trip. When persons go to
them TO be tried to their physical con-
dition and as To whether they can stand
HiaTaship FionaIH and Rriyati0n He found mis-
certain country. The King asked the man
IL he knew the language. No but he had
did not understand an inter-
prefer Was he Of the same
tribe tribe as the missionary, who hid been there
before? NO" he was not, so the King
would not let him go. AS an example
from the language, the speaker gave sin
gle word which means either heaven"
hell, England or sea-" and in a. hu-
n1orous vein said You cannot tell an
African if he is good he will go to England
and If he is bad he viii go TO heaven. and
make him understand you" To furnish the
missionaries with all the comforts and lux
uries would not compensate them for the
life OF living among a savage people. Many
| have gone TO Africa and wanted to be self
supporting A missionary should have no
cares and he should be well supported. In
strong words, DR.. Johnston asked the peo-
pie never to ask for cheery report from
missionary a story for a Y. Z. 5. G.
r., or something interesting for a church
paper. "for If you do" said he ''you are
tempting them to do wrong and for what
they cannot give" He has been asked
about young women going to Africa. This
| is a delicate question. L say, don't go. 1t
| IS no place for ladies in Central Africa
man is handicapped with one and the
Africans nave not DJen taught that women
| have any authority. In Africa a woman is
| slave" The ones the Doctor would send
to Africa for missionaries are the young
men from the colleges, who are willing to
devote eight or ten years to the work, who
| are willing to lay down their talents for
| their fellow-men. When, with their
strength, they have made a place
| and a home, it is we'll for them
| to bring in life partner, but not till then.
| In conclusion, he said, There is a spot, a
white line in that country, where the pow
er of God is beginning TO show itself The
| mission work must combine common sense
| with the power of Jesus Christ. The mis-
| sion must be run as you would run bank,
| a grocery or any other business, with sense,
| practice and determination"
| The secular part of the African trip will
| be given i'm a lecture at Plymouth Church,
| Tuesday evening. DR.. Johston, with his
| Scotch accent, earnest manner and inter-
/ esting subject. makes a talk from him a
| pleasure and in addition, instruction.