The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-16
Christianity IN AFRICA
Rev. Kenin Sergund Talks of Re-
ligion in the Soudan.
THE STORY or HIS LIFE.
A Prominent Missionary From the Dark
Continent With an Interesting
NJ History-An Instructive and
Profitable Lecture.

Rev. sKenin Sergund, a missionary
from Africa, addressed large congre-
cation at the Scandinavian church yes
terday on the condition Of the Chris
tan church and the many dangers it
mustfaee in the Soudan. In the course
OF his remarks Rev. Mr.. sergund related
to the audience the story of his life
The reverend gentleman was born of
Coptic parentage. go years ago at An
tioch, Syria. According to an estab-
lished custom with the Christians in
Syria, by which one son in the family.
even before his birth. is dedicated to
the Lord. as was Samuel, the prophet
of old. the Rev. Mr.. Sergund's parents
destined him for the ministry After
thorough preparation atsthe college and
the theological seminary, he was Or
dained a minister of the gospel at the
age of %. Ever since his ordination,
81 years ago, he has been laboring in
his present charge. When he took
charge of his congregation it numbered
ID communicate members which num-
Der has since increased to 700. His Sun
day school has is male and 10 lady
teachers and is attended by 500 schol-
ars, 300 boys and 200 girls. These schol-
ais slC Oil lit liOOT, IOT chairs ana
benches are unknown Il to the natives.
The clothes worn by the children are
of the most economical kind, the boys
merely girding their loins with a. tex
ture of rice straw, while the girls wear
one piece of the same fabric reaching
from the shoulder to the hips and an
other reaching from the waist almost to
the knees. In order to keep those parts
of their bodies which are exposed to
the SUN from being bHstered the boys
apply cocoanut oil to them.s Sandals
of camefs hide take the place of shoes.
Children love, honor and obey their pa
rents and are loyal to their Savior pre-
ferring death at the hands of their per-
secutors, the Mohammedans, to re-
nouncing their Redeemer.
Rev. Mr.. Sergund related a number of
instances where men, women and chill
dren willingly suffered execution for
their Christian faith. None, he said,
had thus far renowned his faith In
Christ Jesus. Among the converts to
Christianity are a number of Moham-
niedans and Edens. as also some for
mer devil and fire worshipers. Under
penalty of decapitation no one is per-
mitted to preach to Mohammedans or to
convert one of them to Christianity
The fanatic Mohammedans have dealt
most cruelty with the Christians of that
far-off country, Staying thousands OF
them. In consequence of this butch i
,ery,r Rev. Mr.. Sergund has 500 orphans
to care for The cost of feeding one
orphan is so cents per month The
principal articles of food are rice and
corn, the latter being cut when still
green from the stalks and eaten, after
having been sprinkled with salt water
Potatoes and other of our staple arti-
cles are unknown. nor will the Mo-
hammedans permit them to be intro
duced. since the Koran does not men
ton the potato. Wheat is not grown,
and hence bread is neither made or
eaten. OF cocoanuts, grapes, dates,
manages etc, there is an abundance.
The heat is so intense that an egg
placedgin the sand is totally dried up
within ~ few minutes. Most of the
" erik is. therefore. done during the
night For 10 months in the year the
ans, it was stated, neither drink nor
gamble. for either offense is punishable
by DEATH The testimony of two eye
witnesses is sufficient to convict man.
In the course of his remarks Rev. Mr.
Sergund said that Africa was a very
rich country. Astounding in gold, silver
and diamond mines. Johannesburg,
Cape Town and Natal are wealthy
places and laborer there is paid $40 a
day. In the Soudan a man is paid 10
cents and a woman cents day for
tabor. The rich mines there are not |
worked because this is forbidden by the |
Mohammedans under penalty of death.
In closing his remarks, Rev. Mr.. Ser
gund said:
q II hope we will get American people, |
American government and American |
laws in Africa, as this would open these |
rich mines Then darkness would cease |
and light would come and instead of |
pennies the men and women would re
ceive dollars
At the close of the lecture collection
was taken up for the benefit of the |
orphans under the reverend gentle
mans care. Rev. Mr.. Sergund speaks
number of languages, those he named |
being Latin, Hebrew Greek, Syro-
Chaldean, Coptic. Arabic Persian,
Turkish. Monaghan, Hindu, French and |
English