The times., 1899-10-23
A MISSIONARY ADDRESS.
Rev. George Coll Tells of the wOr
in AfricH

Rev. George Coll Tells of the work
in Africa.
Rev. George Coll. a returned South Afri-
can missionary, preached in St Paul S
Lutheran Church yesterday morning Mr.
Coll announced his subject to be Africa"
and his theme was an earnest plea for a
better missionary service in the Dark Con-
tinent.
Africa" the missionary said, sis a
country that at present holds quite prom
inent place among nations, and all eyes are
now upon it." Mr.. Coll said that a prom
inent writer recently declared that the
Beers have been barring the way to pro-
gress in civilizing influences in the Trans
yaal, but that it was not his purpose to dis
cuss this question, or to uphold either the
! Beers or the English However, he could
not help wondering why so much wealth
should be expended, so many lives lost,
and so much property destroyed by ma
tions to accomplish an end believed TO be
right, and that Christians do but little
more than fold their hands and pray for
the principles they hold to be right.
Mr.. Coll declared that there never was
in the history of missions such a need for
money and business ability to assist the
work, as there is today, and he urged
upon all the necessity of aiding the work
as much as possible. He said that today
England is pouring thousands of troops
into South Africa, and America is sending
her soldiers to the Philippines, Ito give the
inhabitants there the great benefits of a
government by the people, for the people,
and of the people, Congress" he said, is
providing funds almost lavishIy for this
object, because America believes she is
| doing right" On the other hand, Chris
tians stand idly by and see the reports Of
missionary boards laid aside without an
effort to sustain them. He believed the
Church should exert itself as much as ma
tions when its principles are the issue.
Referring to the many difficulties mis-
sionaries have TO overcome in South At
rica, Mr.. Coll said that about 100000
gallons OF intoxicating liquor is sold there
annually. The missionaries average about
one to each 10000 gallons. He referred
to the struggle Of the missionary as an
unequal one, for it was made against great
odds. Mr.. Coll earnestly impressed upon
the congregation the need for more mis-
sioEaries and a more active campaign for
civilization and Christianity To illustrate
the danger the missionary faces and the
obstacles he meets with, Mr.. Coll related
some of the peculiarities of the bush coun-
try natives, and told how intruders lost
their lives when captured
The moral laws in this country, he de-
clared, were very low. Polygamy prevails
in the most common manner. When a man
dies, his estate goes to his brothers OF
other male heirs. The most valuable of his
chattels are the women. Ii a man wants
a wife he can buy her for from s. 10 $40 Of
our money, or he can work out that sum
for her parents. He must always help care
for the wife's parents when they need aid
The man." said Mr.. Coll, works abOuL
two months in the year, and the women
labor all the time" They practically do ali
the harvesting, provide the clothing, and
supply the food. The funerals of the ma
tive bushmen." Mr. Coll declared, were
orgies. This was particularly true when a
man of note or emineuce died. After the
demise of such a native his body is washed,
rolled up in cloth, and half buried the
head and body being left above ground.
Then, at night, an orgy takes places, which
includes the firing of guns, drinking all the
rum that can be obtained, and engaging III
lascivious dancing. These orgies sometimes
last for several weeks if the dead native
had been very prominent"
Mr. Coll said that the Christian church
should send out colonies of missionaries at
time, instead of one or two, and ne
pTophesied that, when this is done, the
slow progress of missionary work will be
changed TO a rapid, victorious, and glorious
war for civilization and Christianity
Whatever the expense TO be incurred III
civiliZing the heather in South Africa, it
must be met he said.