Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-22
THE CONGO FREE STATE
Missionary Talks to Women about
a PARKWAY Land.
CUSTOMS OF the People Of Western
Africa Described by Mrs. Elisa.
beth a. Hall in Two Addresses
with Banquet Between.


women's missionary meeting Tuesday
afternoon and adjournment had to be
taken to the church, which was comfort
ably filled.
The address Of tho afternoon was by
Mrs. Elizabeth Garland Hall. who has
spent eighteen years as a missionary in
Africa and who Is now in the United
states on leave of absence 1t was one
or the most interesting addresses pertain
ing to missionary work heard in Burling-
ton in some time. China and india seem
near at hand when one is listening to the
details Of the difficulties experienced In
reaching the heart of darkest Africa. Mrs.
Hall has spent much time in the Congo
region, away in the interior, and she gave
her hearers vivid description Of the
condition Of the women and children of
the country.
Mrs. Hall asked her listeners to travel
with her in the minds eye from the land
Of America to the Congo valley. She told
of the details necessary in the way of
laying in n stock Of provisions before
leaving Liverpool and then carried her
hearers onward through the various sta
ges Of the journey until they were ready
to travel the long caravan route into the
very heart OF the Congo district. Her des.
cription Of this journey was particularly
interesting, but not more so than the
speakers description of the little mission
AIRY station that was established thous ands
of miles from home among the people
to whom II is proposed to carry the gos-
pei Of Christ.
One feature Of Mrs. Halls address that
impressed the hearers was her description
of the method she employed in spread
ing the knowledge Of civilized ways. She
said that whenever a stop was made on
the long journey she would prepare q
table for meals as nearly as possible AZ
is done In this country and the meal
would be eaten and the dishes washed
Just as is the custom in this country. In
this way the natives are given new Gimp
ses OF white mems ways. The natives, said
Mrs. Hall, are watching the missionaries
keenly and these things are not lost up
on them.
Speaking Of preparing meals. Mrs. Hall
said that In the Congo district the men
are always served first and the women
take what is left. The dishes served to the
men comprise plenty OF cayenne pepper
and bits Of monkey flesh. or a choice NOR
sci of boa constructor Is sometimes great
~ relished. The natives. said the speak
err. thought 1t great amusement to see
any one wash dishes and could not under.
stand why this is necessary. Tho GUS
tom OF the country, she said. IL to lick
the cooking utensils clean with the
tongue and leave them until again re-
quired.
Mrs Hall described the customs Of the
natives and their queer ideas Of decorat.
ing their bodies with bright coiors and
rings Of iron and brass Perhaps the
most interesting feature Of her story Yves
Mrs. Halls account Of the conversion
Of witch DOCTOR" who had withstood
for many months the efforts Of the mis-.
sionary to instruct her in the story of
the Bible
Mrs. Hall Is a rapid and foroeful
speaker and her story was full OF dra-
matte details which she related with toll.
meeting many OF the ladies were given
hour being held.
DINNER AT HOTEL VERMONT.
At six o'clock a dinner was served q,
the Hotel Vermont for tho ladies, to
the number of 216 who occupied one.
half of the large dininA room. Tho meal
was served in 30 minutes Tho regular
tables were replaced by narrower ones
so that the seating capacity Of the room
was increased, and in addition to the
dinner party. 7b guests Of the house were
also served at the Same time.
ANOTHER ADDRESS BY MRS. HALL
The First Church was we'll filled fos
the meeting in the evening at which
Mrs. Elizabeth Garland Hall was agaiY
the speaker. She told In an unusually
interesting way OF her many years o.
service In the Congo region. dwelling
for the most part upon the character
of the natives, their customs, and theil
response to Christian civilization ana
belief.
Mrs. c. V. Grismer was In charge o.
the meeting. Following the anthem By
the church choir. Harry Corey. organis
of the College Street Church. and Ray
mond Grismer. Volinist. playing the &C
compartment, Mrs l. c. Smart read
passage OF Scripture Mrs. w. j. Var
Patten offered prayer. and Mrs. j. Wal
lace Pitts closed the musical program
with a beautiful rendering OF the voca
solo Come Unto Me-" Mrs. Grisme
then introduced Mrs. Hall. whose sub
Iect was 1.-The Congo Free State, Pas
and Present"
The natives of that region. said Mrs
Hall, believe In Great Spirit. who. the!
are convinced, made black people. but no
white people, So they regard eau
casian as a black person who has die
and been re-incarnated as a sort o
ghost.
Batendadika, said the speaker. was
little native boy who had been rescued b.
herself and her husband from the dealt
appointed for him by the medicine maj
of his village, as the fancied cause of tn
death of a sick woman devoured by al
alligator after she had been thrown Int
the river from an overturned canoe.
Following the impulse that she wa
needed In the village. she hurried Their
with Mr. Hall and finally succeeded II
finding the hoy Just as he was dying fror
ooison administered by the witch doctor
Applying first aid to the Injured metnods
the boys life was saved, and later ne DE
came an enthusiastic convert to TN
"Jesus road" as the natives term tn
Christian life.
Later he was seized with the rata
sleeping sickness, and as he lay gym
in the hut where he had been quar-
anttned. at her suggestion he testihe
TO those outside with the result tina
many natives received baptism.
Still more effective as an Nlustra
ton of the missionary success she ha'