The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-23
CHRISTIAN EuOElvoR


Prayer Msssine Tspis Fer ~ Week
0e0inniN1 Sept. ~ 1o1t
Topic--A missionary journey around ~
worid.-Ix- Missions IN A1rtcA-Acts viii.
NO. Edited by Rev. Sherman H DoyiA
q. d.
Africa IL the largest and tie mose
needy mission neid In the worlA It
- indeed Darkest Africa" In tie
more civilized parts the populataoa y
predominantly Mohamnsdan, and de
opportunity and necessity for missioo-
airy work exist. but 4 u especially
among the various native tribes that
there IL the greatest need. In Aff3ca
we dnd the lowest scale OF humanity.
represented in such tribes a. ~ Hot
tentots, bushmen and py90tsA Ut
among them and the other nativo
tribes. such AZ the Zulus, the KAf1rs
and the negroes No and Also IL 10W.
est moral and religious a0oas and
forms Of life
The entire coptinent - thsrsfoee n
need Of the gospel. and when W con
slider the greatness ct IT. ara ard he
immensity Of its populatiOn ~ can
readily understand the vastnsss Of The
problem before the Christian church
in spreading the gospel among an a.
people
Where Aries sunny fountains
Roll down their golden sanl.
and the necessity of ones doine q
that he can do II this great tesk =
ever to b accomplished.
Here also n nowhere eloe wo 60
the need Of humble reliance upon H..
power and spirit Of GOD n III mis-
sionary work. When Ne think of A.
rica-dark. degraded. downtroddsn-
we can but cry. "who Il sufnc1ant foe
these thinssr' And our only comfort
Hes In the thought that with God al
things are possible"
The picture Of Africa's needs - CO.
tainly a dark one. Tho natives ars
indolent. slavery still exists In degrad-
ing forms: intemperancs abounds. and
Il Ii sad commentary upon Christian
government that missionaries and rum
are carried to Africa on the Sane ves-
sells; polygamy. with its kindred VICE..
which. alas. arc too often encouraged
BY white men. II debaslnx manhood
and womanhood ana destroying mar
riase and family life. When We add -
these gross innmoralities the low tntei-
iigence Of the natives and the in1af1oe
character Of their religious bolie61, the
outlook certainly seems dark and N.
promising. Yet. on the other hand.
there are some encouraging fsature1-
The natives generally are receptive DO
sug a<.ea SVSas>
pitAble 20 strangers, 0ocile ana obs
dent and usually exceedingly kind IN
Some places each missionary % o..
rival Ii addressed with the titIe of
sfather'' and mother" and the tiee
between them become strong and ofte0
tender. So that Il In not imposslhle 1or
the enlighteniug and bene0cenf influ-
ences Of Christianity to reach the baser
elements OF African nature through
the more ennobiins ones and 70 over.
come them.
The continent OF Africa has felt The
touch Of Christianity throughout the
Christian centuries. Christ found In
Egypt a refuge and homo from the
hatred Of Herod Simon Of Cyre0e -
sisted Christ In bearing His croAs mp
the hill Of Calvary. An o6acee Of
Candace, queen Of Ethiopia. Wa one
Of the earliest converts 70 Christianity.
Missionaries early carried IL cross to
the home OF the pharaohs, and IN the
centuries Immediately following Chris
tianity took deep root In northern At
RIGA. and many Of the early Christian
sects still exist.
But 1t was reserved for more recent
centuries to carry the truth 10 The ~
tive tribes Of the east and ooush ~
the heart Of Africa. AOAatf and Liv.
ingst0ne ana others Led the way tat
has been gladly followed The cf0wnr
ing achievement WAS reached ooly .
few years ago In the sstAblishmsnt Of
successful missions In th4 0udan. The
measure Of previous success aoa1nst
seemingly overwhelming odds was.
rants our belief In great ttAAes fos IL
days to come. and that II = the purpose
Of God to hear the call Of dAfkast AZ
rica and to deliver ''ths land from -
ror's chain"