Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-04-20
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the week
Beginning April "a.

<NRh'
Topic-what Christ can do for dark
est Africa-"-Isa. xiv, Ills.
The problem before Christian mis-
sions In Africa is tremendously great
enc. This can be fully realized by a
glance at some Of the characteristics
Of the dark continent
/. The size of the continent makes its
evangelization a great problem. "Af.
RIGA is ninety times the size of Great
Britain. over fifty times that of France
or Germany, over five and half times
that of the United States, excluding
Alaska, and over three times as large
as all Europe" In these facts we find
one proof of the great problem before
us.
2. The greatness of the population
adds to the difficulties. According to
the most recent estimates the total
population of Africa is over 100000,
600. When we remember the time and
labor required to Christianize the
smaller and less populated countries
of the earth we have some faint idea
of the seriousness of the task when
from 150oo0.000 to 2o0.00o,000 of peo-
pie are involved.
3. The character of the people, the
moral, social and political conditions
In darkest Africa" form the most
difficult feature of the problem of
Africa's salvation. Extent of territory
and size of population are after ali
small factors if the people and condi-
tons are favorable But alas, in
Africa, as nowhere else. are they most
pnfayorable. Six different races are
distinguishes ble-the negro, Fulah, Ban
tn, Hottentot, Semitic and Hamite,
the last two occupying the whole OF
northern Africa. Outside Of Chris
tianity, Mohammedanism and heath
enism prevail. Slavery and polygamy
abound among the native tribes. The
moral sense of the people is of the
very lowest order. The continent has
been partitioned among the European
nations-England. France, Germany,
Portugal. Italy and Spain. Nor has
this political supremacy been alto
gether for good. While it opens the
doors of the country to the mission
aries and affords them absolute pro-
lection, yet the introduction of rum
and firearms has been the cause of in
calculable harm. The Christian people
ef the world should demand that their
governments protect those over whom
they rule from danger and harm and
cease placing within their reach that
which causes their greatest destruc
ton. The moral sense of nation that
can send missionary and barrel of
rum on the same vessel to people
like those of Africa needs to be toned
should demand that commercialism
should not stand in the way of the
moral and spiritual, physical and men
tai elevation Of any people the world
over. This done. and the cause of
missions everywhere would receive
such an impetus as 1t has scarcely
ever received.
The picture of Africa is truly dark
ane. Can Christ do anything for the
dark continent? Most assuredly He
gan. He is the Light of the World and
came to dispel its darkness. What He
has done is proof of what He can do.
Civilizations in the main as low as
those of Africa have been uplifted by
the gospel of Christ. Heathenism
never prevailed under fouler condi-
tons than it did in the Roman empire
In the early Christian centuries, yet
Christ conquered 1t. The native races
at Europe, though stronger physically
and mentally than the native Africans,
were yet savage and heather, in some
cases offering human sacrifices to their
gods But the world knows what
Christ did for these races. The middle
ages Were conspicuous for their moral
and spiritual darkness, yet Christ
raised them to a most glorious light
And Africa itself has felt the touch of
lts Divine Master and has responded to
4 Over fifty missionary societies are
at work on the dark continent, and in
time, under the blessing of God, the
gospel win reach every nation and
tribe, and bring them out of the dark
ness of sin and superstition into the
glorious light of the Christ, the Light
of the World.
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps. il, 1-12; lxxii, S-15; lisa. xxxv, IL;
HI, ITO; Matt Y, 14-16: xviii, 10,
20; Acts i, Ill; viii, 26-40; Rom. X,
IA 10; Rev. xxi. II.