The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-12-15
GOSPEL VICTORIES IN UGANDA
An An Interesting and Impressive Let
 ter From Henry M. Stanley.

(From the Illustrated Christian World,)
 This last week has been prolific of good news from the center of Africa, namely Uganda. I have received a let ter from chief who, when I first wis tied that country, was a smooth-faced page. He is now a Mkungu, or noble of the first rank a deacon in the church and staunch believer in the stimulating effect of the presence of white men among his people; and he writes as naive and fresh and kindly to me as he used to speak when a tiny page of Mtesas.
 I do not think Americans are fully aware of the marvellous change that has come over Uganda. Many time have I been laughed at in the neWspa- pers for my fervid faith in the people of that land. At first they welcomed the good tidings that Mtesa was en- treating the white people to send him missionaries, and applauded the warmth with which the Church Mis- sionary society responded to the invita- tion; but after while, as the first mis- sionaries sent their doleful impressions home. the zeal for making converts in Uganda cooled down and people here frequently insisted that it would be better to let the Waganda severely alone.
 The society, however, persisted, though with slight hopes of success; for Mtesa had sensibly deteriorated as he grew older. and when he died his successor, the present king, being mere youth and flushed with vanity and dust, emulated Nero. He ordered the murder of devoted bishop, hunted the missionaries out of his kingdom, and clubbed, tortured and burnt the young disciples of Mackay, until it seemed as if there could be no future for Uganda but quick relapse into heathenism. Had the society yielded to the almost universal desire that the missionaries should give up the effort, Uganda would by this time have been one of the darkest regions in Africa. Faith and perseverance, however, have made it one of the brightest, thereby more than fulfilling my most sanguine hopes.
 Many good men, clerical and lay, have contributed to this; Mackay, Ashe, Walker, Sir William MacKinnon, Captain Lueard, Colonel Colville, Bish- op Tucker, and last, but not least, Mir. Ernest Tucker, the present administra- tor Each has done his part by con- scientious performance of the work to which he was appointed just as though each knew the whole depended on his particular effort The consequence is | that Uganda is a wonderful example of | the ease and certainty with which a powerful pagan state can be made | Christian when a band of good and competent men unite together for such 1 a work.
 | There are now two hundred churches in the state and the number of profess
 ing Christians is close on fifty thou- sand. The islands of Lake Victoria have not been forgotten, for each has l it's church, with it's deacons and elders who are encouraged in their duties of propagandism by visiting missionaries, Reading and writing have become com mon requirements, and the letter now before me from the Waganda chief would indicate the writer as sufficient ly advanced to become an excellent clerk.
 | The Gospels are sold by thousands each year; the offertories testify that the religion planted among the Wagan- da is something more than lip service.
 Besides these indications of a rapid advance, the people are turning to with 8 will to produce food. They are spreading out to make provision for their families. leaving the court which they used to haunt for the sage of the excitement and display, as though they
 instinctively knew tn'at the day will soon come when there will be abun-
 dance of buyers for every sort of pro- | duct The government steamer, con- veyed at an immense cost from the sea to the lake, has just been launched, and the mission vessel is not far from com
 pletion. The railway is also advancing steadily into the interior, and is already stimulating the Waganda to make greater exertions to make their country
 worthy of receiving it.
 The Rev. Mir Roscoe, who only the 1 other day returned to England after an
 absence of twelve years, describes the progress as being phenomenal At Zanzibar he met half a dozen British
 officers preparing for the march to Uganda to strengthen the force already
 there. A party of two hundred British Indians had also started for Lake Vic
 toria, and their intention is to build permanent houses and to develop trade. l Mr. Berkely, besides establishing na-
 tive police, has also organized local l postal service between the government
 office and the various mission stations
 scattered throughout the country. | The Waganda have also established
 "Kampala L.ukiko" or Parliament House in which the king, with the ] British resident seated alongside, meet 5 the nobles every Monday to discuss
 state affairs The building will seat
 two thousand people. Minutes are
 taken of the proceedings in English Arabic and Kiganda. The king contiu-
 ues to receive instruction three times a
 week, and can now read and write fair l ly well. His moral character has con
 siderahly altered, which is mainly due
 to a more temperate regime which he follows.