The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1899-02-01


Possibilities In Ancient Ophir-The
Great Sway of the Fetch Man.
Many colored people as we'll as others
are interested in the trip of Bishop
Hartzell of the Methodist Episcopal
church to Africa The bishops work
includes the missions of American Meth
odism in Africa. On his arrival in that
continent he intends to develop some
wide reaching plans which be has form.
ed and put under way since his appoint
ment to the African field in 1896. One
of his centers Of operation is Rhodesia,
in southeastern Africa, and there he has
received concessions from the British
authorities to the value Of about S40
600, with q contingent promise of as
sistance to the extent of dollar for dollar
such money as be eXPends in tie devel.
opment Of the projects looking to the
civilization and Christianization of
large territory. The substantial conees-
siong are in lands and buildings. But of
greater significance than this material
support is the sentiment favoring united
efforts OF British and Americans off
cialIy expressed on behalf of the Char
tered company operating Rhodesia.
Bishop Hartzell has great confidence
in the future of the colony which the
genius of Cecil Rhodes has developed
under the British flag, a track of coun-
try destined to be traverscd by the rail
way and telegraph lines that will at no
very distant day connect the Cape Col
ony with Cairo. He has oonsecrated
himself to African work now, he said,
and his conversation indicated that be
is heartily with those who believe that
the English and Americans together
should undertake the work that civil
llzatiOn requires to be done in this part
of Africa. He has travelled thousands of
miles there and familiarized himself
with the conditions Of the country and
people.
In talking with reporter the bishop
quoted these words from an official let
ter which he bad received from Earl
Grey, representing the British South
African company, England desires
America to unite in the establishment
OF Anglo-Saxon civilization in eastern
Africa, where for thousands of wears
there has been nothing but barbarous
heathenism. They indicated, he said,
the cordially with which he had been
received in his presentation of his plans
TO inauQurate large missionary move
ment in RhOdesia, in south central
Africa.
He has episcopal supervision of Lii
IBERIA, Angola, a Portuguese colony on
the west coast, and RhOdesia. There are
many missionaries as we'll as schools,
Sunday schools, churches and orphan
ages In these territories, but the bishop
is giving large attention to plans for
this new and great movement in Rho
desia. There civilization is plotting out
the Wilderness as rapidly as was the
case IN the great west of this country a
few years ago. The same splendid push
and energy characterize the advance
there as here in the United States. Men
OF the same class are carrying on the
work there. He spoke of banuueting in
one place farther north than the region
under consideration Is months after the
English had fought for their lives there
against the barbarians. His plans in
clude great missionary centers at Old
and New Umtali, from 225 to $50 miles
INLAND from Beira, on the coast. The
bishop travelled on horseback a good
part of that distance before the railroad
was completed. New Umtali is destined
to Be an English town of large impor-
lance The white population has grown
IN two years to more than /, 900. There
are many buildings, and he has seen
there in one store 5000, 900 worth of
merchandise, all of which was carried
there on the heads of natives, from 20
TO 5O miles, as the railroad was ap-
preaching Old and New Umtali are
located in a healthful and beautiful
region Oh mountainous plateau 4, 600
feet above the sea. The government has
granted him a concession of land worth
at least SO, 000 in New Umtai where
Will be developed at once an institution
OF learning and church enterprises
among the Europeans. The government
favors religious education, but stipu-
iates that in institutions receiving gov
ernmental aid sectarian instruction
shall not be given
New Umtali will be the railroad
center for $50 miles of road from the
coast to Salisbury, half of which is al
ready built, Bishop Hartzell said,
and will be connected with Tete on
che Aambeai, 200 miles north, by tele-
graph and railway. 1t will be one of
me important towns in that part of AT