Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-05-03
DEAD YET SPBAKGTA.
LETTER FROM BISHOP ENGLR
WRITTEN WEEKS AGO.
Interesting Review Of the Brsthrsn''
Work by Ono Who Has Now Pass
cd Away.

Feb. %. On April 8 the writer, Bis
hop Jesse Engle, passed away:
MAToPpA MISSION, Bulawayo, South
Africa, Feb. 4.-Through the kind
ness of home friend we have been
favored with Your weekly paper
which is among the friendly visitors
Of our mission and brings to us some
Of the pleasant memories Of home.
oft was impressed to recognize
the same by missive from my pen
but hitherto have failed for various
reasons, but seeing in our last paper
a special reference made to the Dick
inson county missionaries in South
Africa | was again reminded OF former
impressions.
The substance Of your brief note
was as follows: inasmuch as the
postmaster received orders not to is.
sue postotlice orders for South Africa,
sit will make the Dickinson county
missionaries hustle for awhile" In
way of introduction | wish to say had
the Lord not been our "hustler" our
efforts on this line would have been
vain and we would have Jared as
many Of our missionary brethren and
sisters in South Africa who were
driven, scattered and arrested and
taken from their posts, some left
almost destitute Of means, who had
to accept the charities of their CO.
workers who Jared better than they.
As an observer Of passing events
YOU have no doubt chronicled in your
mind the occasion Of Oct. 10, 1897, at
Rock Island depot, Abilene, Kansas,
when a few sixty-year-old pilgrims
left for South Africa to labor as mis-
sionaries among the heather. Much
to the chagrin Of the minds who DO
not believe in foreign missionary
work, more especially people having
passed what is usually understood to
be the prime Of life, and that some,
even Of our farewell spectators, did
not look for us in the bottom OF the
mighty deep or were scrambling in
the sands Of Africa to find our remains
long before this, can scarcely be
doubted. But the Lord has been our
"bustler" and in a most marvellous
way lead and cared for us.
$50 It matters not what all the skeptics say,
We landed safe in Africs Table Bay"
1t was indeed marvellous how kind
friends were in prayerful waiting for
us when we arrived at Cape Town,
even though utter strangers to u.s.
By their kindly advice we were direct
ed to Hon. Cecil Rhodes In whose
company short time was spent
which resulted in our receiving let
ter Of introduction to the high COM
missioner of Matabeleland with the
suggestion to concede to us 300 NOR
gans of land $1,000 acres) on which to
establish our humble missionary ef-
forts. The same resulted in the char
tered company locating us in these
Matoppa mountains, the very name
which re-echoed horror into the ears
and minds Of the people Of Bulawayo'
large, apparently American city for
these African plains. The mission
station being about thirty miles from
the above place, in due time arrange
ments we're necessary for our trans
portation, the same which was defn'
itely given in the Evangelical Visitor
published in Abilene.
The 9TH Of July, 1898, found us
halting and dlsmounted to take our
first breakfast on our donated conces-
sion, we'll and happy after our slow
donkey travel since the 4th OF the
above month. The Chief lnduna with
group Of his subjects was on the
ground almost simultaneously. On
bis Sala Kahle farewelD he addressed
his people saying, Whatever these
people tell you to do do it, for they
are not as other white people, they
have come to do you good" Very
encouraging indeed for the new COM
ers. By 2 o'clock p m. we had Sc
lected our location and before the
evening shades had for the first time
drawn its curtain over us in these
hills. which are a wonder in nature
we had pitched our tent under the
large bread fruit tree, where we tool
,u,,ot rest after our tOilsOme iOur