The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-03

! anu WitH OHly5 the COnSOlatlOn or HIS work for the Master before him. Some time after the death of MT. Lapsley the negro missionary said the natives who had been converted spoke of the expedition which Mir. Lapsley had proposed into the country of Lukepga and an expedition was or ganiz"d. He narrated the adventures experienced on the trip, saying that 1t was necessary for guide to cover great distance and returning pilot the party when this method would be repeated. Chiefs of each village reached endeavored to turn the party back, urging upon them that their course meant certain death. Nearing the kingdom of Lukenga, Shepard said, an armed force from the king reached the village and told the chief that as he and his wife had en- tertained foreigners they must be put to death. Shepard told the messenger that the chief had tried to turn them away.
 Why, you speak our language" said the armed messenger. Shepard replied that he did and that he bore only mes- sages of peace for the king.
 The messenger reported to King Lu-
 kenga that the stranger was his dead son and although Shepard said he tried
 to convince the king that he was mis-
 
 his scn whose spirit had returned to earth. He was welcomed by the king at his palace surrounded by 1,500 of his people.
 This incident, Shepard said. came near causing him serious trouble sev- eral years afterward. Lukenga died and was succeeded by a second Lu- kenga. It was a custom with this tribe that when the crown passed all sons of the dead king should be put to death. In accordance with this custom the second Lukenga sent for Shepard. His friends urged him not to go say ing that 1t meant certain death for him. Ho laid 1t before the Lord. he said. and was persuaded that it was his duty to go and see the king.
 Shepard said he went to see the king who received him alone. He was told to sit down and the king quietly but firmly explained to him that 1t being a custom of the country and as the crown had passed, he must die. and that he would be put to death with poisoned arrows.
 The negro missionary sa!h he prayed fervently to God and sat there for some time and talked with the savage king. Finally Lukenga called ser want, had a great lear brought to him into which he pu. a potion and direct ed that 1t be thrown into the river say ing, That which was in my heart against you has been passed away
 T thanked him heartily said Shep- ard jocosely, "and he asked me what I was going to do. I told him that 1t was a custom with my people to pray under such circumstances. and then knelt and prayed with him.
 Shepard said he spent some time with this king and he displayed kings sceptre which he said had been given to him by Lukenga tc be used in protecting himself against warlike peo- pie in establishing missions through- out his Kingdom. The missionary also displayed a great knife which had been given to him by the king. lt was of extraordinary workmanship and Shepard said he had been offered fancy price for It by a Belgian officer who desired to present 1t to King Leo pold. :,
 T told him." said Shepard that 1t belonged to the church; that the church had done more Tor those peopie than King Leopold
 with unusual descriptive force. Shepard narrated his adventures in the country of a cannibal tribe where he had been sent with a party Of mls- sionaries They were met by the savages with guns. when the ms sionaries folded their arms and crleo don't shoot" the chief came out ana taking them by the hands, told them to live They then visited the Village where they saw the frames of over 300 humans who had been slaughtered and their flesh eaten by the the savages. They saw human flesh boiling in pots and a number of women who were held to be slaughtered. The missionaries later succeeded in rescuing these wo- men.
 He drew forcible and striking con trast between those earlier days Tn Central Africa and the present time when Christianity Is daily gaining ground. over 5000 natives are seek ing the Master and fifty native evan qeiists are helping with the work of organizing and maintaining Sunday schools. Bible study, Christian En- deavor work and other work of the church.
 Summing up, Shepard said these were some of the things that he, as an agent , of the church, had to report to the ] Presbyterians of Alabama. The white people, he declared were doing grand work for the people of Africa and the speaker was fired with enthusiasm as he called the names of Southern men of distinction who had given of their means and of their labor for the cause he represented.
 You have given us your sons and your daughters for Africa" he said his voice rising with emotion and we say God bless you and those poor natives echo God Bless you"
 At the conclusion of the lecture collection was taken for foreign mis- sions and the great congregation was dismissed with benediction by DrAn- derson.
 SbaDord IvilI po from, MontQomery to Mobile where he will speak in the Jackson Street Presbyterian Church. How Wood Is Seasoned.