The Springfield herald., 1909-12-17
PRESIDENT TAFT
TELLS OF AFRICA
METHODIST CHURCH REJoIcEs
OVER LARGE FUND FOR AZ
RIcAN MISSION WORK.
AT DIAMOND JUBILEE
THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND
DOLLARS RAISED TO UPLIFT
DARK CONTINENT.

New York.-With smiling refer
ence to the attack of the Methodist
church In Africa" President Taft ad-
dressed an immense gathering at Car
negie hall Monday night at the Afri-
can diamond jubilee of the Methodist
Episcopal church, called to celebrate
the completion OF a campaign started
last January, whereby $32O.167 has
been raised to further mission work in
Africa.
OF this sum $72.493 has been re-
ceived in cash, and the remainder has
ben subscribed payable in Install
ments due at various times up to five
years.
The Rev. ]. c. Hartzell, bishop of
Africa, through whose efforts the
money was raised. was the only other
speaker of the evening. He followed
Taft.
The President said in part:
81 have heard men say that they
would not contribute to foreign mis-
sions; that we had wicked people
enough at home. and we might just
well leave the foreign natives and saw
ages to pursue their own happy lives
in the forest and look after our own
who need a great deal of ministration.
| have come to regard that as mar
row-minded, as man who does not
like music, who does not understand
the things that God has provided for
the elevation of the human race.
1.-THE missionaries In China the mis-
sionaries in Africa, are the forerun-
ners of our civilization, and without
them we should have no hope of con-
quering the love and admiration and
the respect of millions of people that
we hope to bring under the influences
Of Christian civilization.
1.-THE men whom wish to commend
are those who. in the face of all the
obstacles that certainly tend to dis
courage the bravest. enter the dark
continent OF Africa in an attempt to
win those fields to Christianity.
THE United States has not any ter
ritory or interest there. We did make
an experiment, or encourage an expe-
riment some years ago in Liberia, and
we do have the interest that we ought
to have in trying to preserve the in
tegrity of that little negro republic;
but you know, and the nations of the
world know, that we are not in Africa
to spread our territory"
Bishop HartZell said:
This Africa diamond jubilee had
for its purpose the raising OF at least
100000 over and above the regular
missionary appropriations. for the pur-
pose of Strengthening our centers in
that continent and making it possible
to answer at least some of the calls
for advances. And now tonight we
have come within eighteen days OF the
end of that celebration. will not go
into detail, but we have here $780,
1877"
Bishop Hartzell had indicated how
Africa could accommodate our own
$4,000, 900 of people. China's 100000
900, midas 35O.000.000. and still have
room for all the peoples of Europe
without crowding.
81 raise the question:" he continued:
What will be the religion Of that
continent?"
Nov there are three religious
forces in Africa. First. barbaric heath
ensm; second, the Christian church.
/ am almost ashamed to state publicly
how weak the Christian church Is in
Africa. 1 do not suppose there are
more than 100000 Christians in AT
RIGA. Third. there is Modammedan-
ism, with its 6O,OO0,0O0. The real
question is whether Africa shall be
Mohammedan or Christian"