Birmingham age-herald., 1894-10-28
Discoverer of a Race Who Perhaps
 Civilized Egypt.
BEHOLD A MAN OF ETHIOPIA 1!
A Product of TuskalooSa Be- comes One of the Most Emil
 nent Men in the South.

 the Southern Presbyterian church just now
 is Rev. W. H. Sheppard, a young colored
 man and the most distinguished graduate of the Institute for the Training of Colored
 Ministers at Tuskaloosa, Ala. Mir. Shep- pard's title to distinction is beyond dis 1 pute. At 30 years of age he is the only American negro who has ever been made fellow of the Royal Geographical society. Hardly past the first milestone of man. hood, Mr. Sheppard's life already reads like fairy tale, and while it's facts ara well l authenticated 1 almost fear lack of cre- dence in: narrahng the life story of this wonderful negro. Less than score of years ago poor little yellow boy in the streets of Waynesboro, Va. he is today one of the most eminent men in the south crowned with
 the honors of the Royal Geographical so- ciety, and thrilling vast audiences in Chi cago and Louisville and other cities of the west and south with phenomenal elo- quence beyond the power of description. During his visit this year to TuskRloosa
 and his alma mater, the institute, had the pleasure of oonversing with Mir. Sheppard and learned how he came to win his title of F. R. G. S.
 w. H. Sheppard, the son of colored bar Der, was born at Waynesboro, Va., March
 8, 1863. Ills exceptional intellect becoming
 evident in childhood, he was sent to the
 noted Hampton Normal school. When he had mpleted the course of study of Hamp- ton, during which he had resolved to enter the ministry and become missionary to the Congo State, he was sent by .'white friends'' to the Institute for the Training of Colored Ministers at Tuskaloosa, Ala. Here he spent four years in arduous study, winning golden opinions from his teachers 10th by his intellectual brilliancy and his
 mission work among the old and decrepit colored poor.
 Early in 1890 the Southern Presbyterian church, resolving to send two missionaries to the Congo Free State, chose for that dis tant mission, with president wisdom, one young man of the white and one of the black race as co.laborers among the un- known tribes on the great river recently opened to the world. These two young
 men, Rev. g.. N. Lapsiey, son of Judge
 Sheppard, son of the colored barber, ani. mated with zeal seldom seen since the days of the apostles, set sail from New York to the Congo Free State via London
 snd Antwsrp Lapssy bearing letters s from from Leopold of Belgium. It was to the Belgian territory on the Congo that the young min- isters were bound. Landing at Banana at the mouth of the river they went up the Congo past Matadi and Stanley Pool, and arriving at the mouth of the .Kasai, g branch of the Congo, they travelled up that stream till they reached Luebo, place not on tue map, 800 miles from the sea. At Lu6DO they 1OunQ6u a uuSSlOQ ana built a church. which has now an attend ance of 800 natives of the Baketti tribe who are being educated to understand the Christian religion.
 From time to time came to the Luebo mission in caravans a people far superior in
 all regards to the Baketti. They were tall and well made, with straight noses and light brown skins. They so surpassed the
 Baketti in stature that Lapsley named them giants. They were traders, bringing ivory op d otb inl Ia inn, tn oaIl ot Luebo. They brought slaves, but were not themselves slave hunters.
 Lapsley proposed to Sheppard an expedi- tion into Bakuba Land, the home of these MT. Engivin, a Belgian official, that such an expedition was impossible. Lukenga, king of Bakuba, ruled over seven tribes, and would pefmit no stranger to enter his death, any subject to act as guide to any, | one bold enough to intrude. For nine years | the Belgian government had endeavored in vain to gain entrance. Fair words and 1 gifts were only met by repulse. The | Societe Beige ceased their efforts in dispair. King Lukenga's heart proved impervious l to the most glittering of beads and shining l of brass trinkets.
 Lapsley's efforts were equally unsuccess- l ful, but, not discouraged, he told Sheppard | to study the Bakuba tongue by entertaining | the traders, while he himself repaired to | the mouth of the Congo to confer with the l Belgian governor and obtain means for another attempt. So Sheppard sought suc- l ing Lapsley's absence. But alasl Shep- | pard never saw him again. After favor able interview with the governor, on his return Lapsley was attacked by pernic1ous l malarial fever and died at Matadi on the
 Congo. Thus passed in the glory of his l youth the devoted young missionary s. N. l Lapsley, leaving on earth Q fra grant mem- | ory and sublime example. ..Only the actions of the just
 Smell sw eet and blossom in the dust.'' Stunned for time by the death of his co. laborer whom he dearly loved Sheppard rallied his energies to carry out Lapsley's | plan for converting the Bakuba. He re- l garded 1t as sacred trust. With marvel- | ous tact and an Irresistible determination, l accompanied by nine faithful Baketti, he | entered the land of the Bakuba, and slowly made his way from village to village till he reached the capital of Lukenga. The Ba-
 Sheppard's knowledge of their language with the fact of his being foreigner. The l wise men were consulted and they declared that Sheppard was Rope Makabe, long deceased ancestor of the king, come to life
 again. Thus by happy chance the life of the yo oung missionary was saved and his faithful followers permitted to retain their heads. The king showered his favors on him, and bestowed upon him nine acres of land near the royal palace on which to earnest assertions to the contrary, Lukenga persisted in believing him to be his long dead ancestor, Rope Makabe. He gave the missionary permission to teach the Bakuba the Christian faith, and after exacting \promise to return granted him a leave of
 absence for twelve moons.
 In the summersof 1893, three years after
 is depsrture from America for the Congo
 rec State, Mir. Sheppard was recalled to
 ge au account of his mission and it's won-
 fful success.