The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-12

KEW. JAMES HUGHES,
guest of his only brother John r:
Hughes, of South Rebecca avenue, and
is accompanied on his visit here by his
wife and child
The absence from his church is an
enforced one due to the instructions
of the family physician. Rev. Mr..
Hughes had already buried three chill
dren and had he not came away his
wife and two other children, who were
failing, would have succumbed They
paid a short visit to friends in Eng
land, and then came to America for the
first time to visit Mr.. Hughes broth
er, whom he has not seen for over
thirty-three years. Since coming they
have all improved in health rapidly,
and are charmed with this country and
our city.
With the object of procuring some
facts first hard from one who had been
so long lit touch with South African
life, and especially at the time when
the now famous Jameson RAID oc-
CURED, Tribune reporter called upon
Rev. Mr. Hughes and procured the
following interesting story:
MR.. HUGHES STORY.
Rev. James Hughes, a minister of
the Baptist denomination, is a native
of Wales having been born in Blaena-
Won. He entered the ministry when a
young man, received his first. call be-
fore his graduation from Pontypool
Theological college. The call came
from Lancashire, England, and imme-
diately upon his graduation, he entered
upon the charge, remaining there near
ly twenty years.
While yet in charge at Lancashire
call came from Port Elizabeth, South
Africa for Baptist minister. Upon ap-
pllcatlon Rev. Mr.. Hughes was strong
ly recommended to accept the invita-
tion by the president of the Baptist
union of England and Ireland. He
went, and after three years of sue
cessful work at Port Elizabeth was sent
by request of the leading men of the
Baptist denomination of Cape Colony
10 Kimberly the natural center of the
diamond fields in point of population.
The object was to establish a Bap-
tist church in this place and so sue
cessful was the effort that in three
years and half, a spacious structure
was opened for the worship of God.
The cost exceeded SIG, 200 and the build
ing had a seating capacity of nearly
one thousand The debt has been fully
cleared, with the exception of a. few
debentiture bonds, held by church
| members.
WHAT ARE PROMINENT.
The white population is composed of
a great many diverse nationalities but
the Welsh speaking part is very large.
Nhn NoSA
| there do very we'll and many attain
prominence, as for instance, the mayor
of East London is a Welshman. The
mayor of Port Elizabeth, Kimberly
and Cape Town are all born "Cymros. +"
The manager and assistant mana
| ger of the government railways which
cover quite territory, are both Welsh
men and the chief manager of the
! Beers Diamond mining company. the
| largest in South Africa, Is a Welsh
man, but of American birth. The gem
tleman, Gardner f. Williams, is in
| deed a thorough American for all Kim
| berly knows when a national Ameri-
| can holiday occurs by seeing the stars
| and stripes floating from Mr.. Will
| liams' residence. He is the lineal de-
| scendant of Robert Williams, only
brother of Roger Williams, of Rhode
| Island fame.
Mr.. G. f. Williams comes by his
ability naturally through a long line
| OF capable ancestry and today is recog-
nlzed as one of the most competent
| managers in the diamond industry.
| What is your opinion of Cecil
Rhodes?' was asked by the reporter.
In response, Rev. Mr.. Hughes said:
My opinion is that the consensus of
opinion among the impartial thinking
public, is that Mr.. Rhodes is one of the
most capable men we have ever had
in South Africa, and is one of the best
! qualified men to develop the resources
of that country. We all condemn
Jameson's raid, and consider that Mr..
! Rhodes in that case, committed a huge
blunder for which the whole colony
is sorry. Yet, while we admit that it
was a great wrong, 1t was not wrong
upprovoked.
OPINION OF RHODES.
'As these questions are under the
consideration of a parliamentary in
quiry in Great Britain, / think it in
considerate to say more In relation to
this matter. AS every man ought to
have his due, however, allow me to
say that Mr.. Rhodes is the most lib
eral man south of the Tambesi in South
Africa He was the hardest working
public man in the country. He is the
strongest imperialist and is endowed
with larger capabilities than nearly
any other man in Cape Colony"
Il suppose, then, you are acquainted
with Dom Paul, or know something of
his personal characteristics" was a
query of the reporter
"Oh, yes" said Mr. Williams, my
personal conviction is that President
Paul Kruger, of the Transvaal Re-
public, Is a man endowed with very
large natural capabilities, and II edu-