Evening star., 1909-06-13
LECTURES GAVE 0FFENSE
Drs. Morrison and Shappard Told
of Grave Atrocities.
NOW CHARGED WITH ISLANDER
Southern Presbyterian Church Asks
United States to Interfere-Nar-
ratives That Made Trouble.

Of the American missionaries, the Kew
DR.. William Morrison, white, and the
Rev. DR.. William Shappard, colored, on
trial In the criminal suit brought by one
Of the Kongo concession companies In the
Kasai region for "calumnious denuncia-
tion." special prayers were offered by the
Presbyterian churches In Virginia this
week The two men are accused or SLAM
dering officials Of the Belgian govern
ment. Three years ago, while the mis-
sionaries were on q lecture tour, DIR. Nor
rison. who comes from Lexington. Va.
was the particular offender. He told Of
tortures to which, he claims. the natives
of the Kongo were subjected by the off,
cials Of King Leopold, and exhibited pho
tographs Of manned men, women and
children.
time some of the frightful atrocities under
the reign of King Leopold. Over 4O.OOOooO
subjects in the Congo Free State are said
to have suffered in order that the tribute
Of rubber might be enacted
Missionary Accused Leopold.
According to the acts Of Berlin in 1855
and Brussels In 1889. England. France.
Germany and Portugal agreed that King
Leopold-not as q Belgian. but as a phi
lanthropic outsider-was to be sovereign
Of the country. The missionary made the
assertion that the monarch was using his
noring absolutely the provisions that
there must be freedom of trade; that
slavery must be abolished. and that the
natives must have protection.
DR.. Morrison said that instead of these
things being as they should, and the mis-
81 n without
hindrance among the natives, which was
also one Of the stipulated requirements of
King Leopold, the natives were in terror
of the Kappa Aaps, the Bengalas and the
Batalelas.
The Bengalas and Batalelas according
to DR.. Morrison. were native troops and
cannibals, officered by Belgian soldiers.
They were originally taken as slaves but,
being removed 1000 miles or more from
the land of their own people, were en-
poyed as slave raiders.
DR.. Morrison told of an encampment or
1900 of these cannibals within three
days march Of where the missionaries
were stationed. which encampment the
natives were invited to visit. Upon
reaching the encampment they were shot
down without mercy, and their bodies
eaten.
DIR. Morrison, who visited the encamp
ment in person. says he counted eighty
one human hands drying over a fire. IL
is presumed that the bodies had been
consumed. Other bodies were lying out
side the stockade, and many slaves had
been taken.
The perpetrators. according to DR. Nor
rison, escaped with the lightest punish
ment.
DIR. Shappard Corroborative.
DIR. Shappard was more conservative
in his statements. He nevertheless fol-
lowed the lead of DR.. Morrison In laying
bare the alleged atrocities committed by
government officials and officials of the
companies upon the ignorant
natives.
DR.. Shappard lectured upon one oc-
casion in the ballroom at the Warm
Springs. 1t was not until he had con-
cluded, however, that he was made aware
of the fact that Baron Moncheur. the
Belgian minister, was among his audi
ence.
Baron Moncheur was SO impressed with
the evident sincerity of the negro mis-
that he asked for an introduc-
ton after tile lecture. They had an un-
official conference, which lasted several
hours. After returning to Washington
the minister sent presents to the mis-
Sionary as an evidence of friendship.
DR.. Shappard, like DR.. Morrison. is
native of Virginia, having been born in
the vicinity of Waynesboro. He received
his education at Tuskegee. Ala.
Fifteen years or more ago ne was sent
with DIR. Lapsley of Alabama into the
foreign field. these being the first two
to be sent out by the for
eign missionary board of the Southern
Presbyterian Church. They journeyed
inland thousand miles, travelling all the
way on foot. and, although knowing
nothing of the people or their language.
made many converts by means of object
lessons.
DR.. Lapsey died three months after
his arrival in the Kongo. During the
three years following DR.. Shappard con-
tinued the work alone.
On the way home for his first visit
Dr. Shappard had the distinction Of be-
ing dined at Windsor Castle by the late
Queen Victoria Of England. by whom he
was made member of the Royal Geo
Graphical Society.
He married Lucy Ganst Of Alabama,
who is now with him. They have two
children, who are in the care Of DIR.
sister. Eva J. Anderson. at
Staunton, Va.
Government Asked to Intervene.
A great deal of interest is felt in the
fate of these missionaries throughout thu