The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-11-05
ADDRESS BY RBY. DIR. STRONG
EDITORIAL SECRETARY OF THE
AMERICAN BOARD,

wOman's Board OF Missions Last
EvsnIng-First Public Statement OF
Ihe Work Done by Boards Depuia-
tIon tn Southern and Eastern Africa.
Rev. E. E. Strong, D. D., Boston, edi-
tOriaI secretary of the American board,
made the first public statement last
night before the convention of the Wo-
mans Board of Missions of the
work attempted and accomplished by
the recent deputation of the board of
missions in southern and eastern Afri-
ca of which he was a member. The
deputation returned last week. Secre-
tary strong said in substance:
You have asked me to speak concern
ing what the deputation saw in Africa.
If I were to attempt to cover this sub
jeet you would be obliged to ask the
railroad authorities to extend the time
assigned for the expiration of your
tickets homeward, for days even would
not suffice to report the scenes which
we have been permitted to witness
during the past seven months. But do
not fear that I shall make the attempt
to speak of all we saw, or even Of more
than a very small portion. I cannot
help saying in the outset how deeply I
deplore the fact that the wise and bril-
liant lady who accompanied us, the wife
of Rev. DIR. Sydney Strong, was not
spared to report in her own bright way
to the women of this country what she
saw and what she could so we'll de-
scribe, and let me here express a very
strong conviction, based on our recent
experiences, that any deputation sent
to visit our missions should be accom-
panies by some lady, not merely to rep
resent the Woman's boards. but to bring
to the homes of the missionaries cheer
which they much need, andSaiso to the
native Christians, both men and wo-
men, the inspiration of their presence
and loving counsels. The value of the
deputation to Africa was greatly en-
HANGED by the presence and counsels of
Mrs. Sydney Strong, who seemed spe-
cially fitted for such task, which was
indeed no task to her, since she entered
upon it with Astounding enthusiasm and
with greatest courage. must pay this
tribute to her worth and services and
express my deepest sorrow over her
sudden and somewhat mysterious death.
We are glad to say there is little or no
evidence that her death was due to any
exposures or fatigues caused by our
journey in Africa. Had she lived to re-
turn to her home am sure that her
voice would have been heard in most
effective and loving advocacy of the
mission work which she saw with
much delight.
Yop will expect me, I suppose, to
speak specially of woman's work in our
African missions, and there is much to
speak of in this line. First of all,
want to assure you that we are work.
ing in Natal and East Africa for race
that is well worthy of all our efforts.
1t was my lot to see something of the
Kaffirs and Fingoes in Cape Colony and
of the Basutos from Basutoland, of the
Shangans of the east coast, and 1t was
very clear that the Zulus were the supe-
rior race. They are well developed
and, they are quick witted
and alert. They have great powers Of
they are sometimes called
lazy, and probably they are. / confess
I was greatly astonished when three
young men came to me after service
at which I had preached. desiring to
make some confessions to me and that
would offer prayer with them. One of
the first points named in the confession
Of one of them was that he was lazy.
He did not look so, but l. suspect this
Iaziness with which they are often
charged grows out of their spirit of in
dependence and their unwillingness to
attempt anything which is not exactly
to their own minds. They certainly will |
bear burdens and undertake tasks that |
seem quite extraordinary, although they |
are fixed in what seems to be racial |
he year around; they make much of |
vacations, but in this line do not |
know that they are more determined |
han are the citizens OF New York or |
New Haven. I think it must be said of |
he Zulus in comparison with other |
leathen nations their treatment of wo-
men is not cruel. They do not torture !
heir women. The horrors that attend |
among the Hindus are not |
witnessed in Natal. They do not stran- |
RE the wives on the death Of their hus-
Nands. Nevertheless, the condition of /
woman where the gospel has not |
ouched the hearts of the people is de-
,lorable. They are wholly uneducated; /
hey are the servants of the men, /
hough so far as we observed they were
lot harshly treated. But that they are
exposed to neglect when they are past
heir prime was evidenced by ques- \
ion put to one of our number as to l.
What we did in America with old wo-
nen. Their daughters are sold as wives |.
it may be to old men and go to make /
- their harem, each wife having a hut
" herself and ordinarily caring for a
eld, the produce of which she must Sc
ure for her husbands benefit. But an |,
English law has of late been passed
which relieves this condition somewhat
that no woman shall be compelled to
harry without her own consent. But {
rho can tell what pressure may be Il
rought to bear upon some daughters to +
lduce them to consent to a union which. '
! loathsome to them? I myself wit
essed at one place vigorous plea Il
rom an old induna, with the heather I
cad ring, made to our missionaries at Ii
Tount Silinda to send home his daugh- tc
er, who was In the school at that sta t
on, because he had sold her for mar I
age to some one she knew not. His f