The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-21
MISSION WORK In AFRICA
WHAT BISHOP J. c. HARTZELL HAS
DONE AMONG THE BLACKS.
His Achievements in MashOnaland
and Liberia-R efurn of the Bishop
TO Raise Money.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, Aug. 90. {. HartzeH'
bishop of Africa" for the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, bronzed by exposure to the
tropical sun and eager to see his native
land again. reached New York to-day on
the steamship Oceanic, after an absence
of two years, during which time he has
Travelled thousands Of miles and endured
many hardshps in the discharge or ms
episcopal duties. He has returned TO assist
in reawakening enthusiasm in foreign mis-
sions and to raise money for his Industrial,
educational and evangelistic undertakings
in Africa. While in this country his per-
manent headquarters will be at $50 Fifth
avenue.
Bishop Hartzells diocese includes all OF
the Republic of Liberia and extensive re-
gions on the east and west coasts south
of the equator. Since his election as the
successor of Bishop William Taylor in
1896 he has labored indefatigably in or
ganizing the workers and in enlistihs the
support of Europeans and government Off
Gals residing in his territory. One of his
first and most noteworthy achievements
was to secure a donation from the British
South Africa Company in which Cecil
Rhodes was interested of 1900 acres OF
land and ten buildings al Old Umtali in
Mashonaland, which cost the company $780,
900. Two fine rivers run through the
vast estate. The houses are of brick
with corrugated iron roofs and verandas.
1t is said TO be the largest single GIT
ever made to a church in foreign mission
field. Old Umtali will be made central
station where natives will be instructed
and prepared to go out and become leaders
and teachers in the interior. A series or
| industrial shops have been established,
orphans home started and hospital
! opened Natives have been supplied with
! farming implements, donated by American
manufacturers. A native school is taught
and regular religious work carried on.
Special attention is being given to stock
! raising and agricultural developments I'M
| der the instruction of missionaries.
Recently the development of the school
at Umtal, short distance from Old
| Umtali, made a new building necessary.
| The bishop bought a good property, well
| located, for 1880. The government gave
| 5000 of the amount and loaned the balance
| at a low rate of interest. 1t also gives
| dollar for dollar on the support of three
! teachers and the equipping OF the school,
| In Hambane, for centuries the headquar-
| tiers for slavery, there is a prosperous mis-
| sion station. A printing outfit is operated
and literature published in Christian and
| native dialects. In this station native
| teacher with his wife, on a salary of few
| dollars month, will establish himself in
a town and with the assistance of the ma
tives build house out of native materials
which will serve as parsonage, church and
|
has gained several hundred converts who
can read the New Testament in their own
tongue.
The strongest station is in Liberia where
| there are $4,000 AmericO-Liberians, a few
| civilized natives, surrounded by heathens
| Here the educational, industrial and reli-
| giOus work is well established and is steadi-
| ly growing. Several printing outfits are kept
| going and the publications issued are OF
| great help to the missionaries.
! The bishop is giving considerable atten-
| ton to the MADEIRA islands, on the north
| west coast, where he has made his episco-
! pal residence. The inhabitants are Portu-
| guese white people, with a colony of per
| haps a hundred Europeans, mostly English
engaged in trade. The city of Funchal, the
| capital. contains $4,000 inhabitants, and the
| islands 10000. Missions have been estab-
lshed in the city and in the interior.
A feature of Bishop Hartzell's work
which is becoming the policy of mission
airy superintendent wherever possible, is
the development of self-support. Very little
CT the money given in America for Africa
is donated outright. 1t is used to supple
ment the contributions of the natives witt
! the expectation that in time they Will be-
come entirely self-supporting.