Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-08-03
NEGRO PROVES
TO BE FAIL URE
AS MISSIONARY
White Propagandist Back on
FuIIough, Says Natives
f{e6enf. t1Mn~1ace.

That the negro missionary from
America to Africa is failure is the
opinion of the Rev. G. p. Hedges, mis-
sionary to Bolenge, Africa, supported
by the First Christian Church, Of
Mexico, Mo-, says an exchange. Hedges
is -home on a years furlough after
three years work in the Congo re-
gion. He declares the negro who has
been reared and educated Ii America
does not have the prestige with the
native African that the white mission
ary has.
Without the protectorate OF a bene-
VIOLENT white government our work in
the wilds of Africa would be impos-
sible," he said. "The native does not
look upon the American negro mis-
sionary as his superior in knowledge,
and the negro missionary is loath to
look upon the native as his brother.
Where the missionary has no infiu-
ehce, his work counts for nothing.
In 1903 a colony of free negroes
from America was established in Ii
IBERIA. Even now, after a lapse Of
more than eentury,a dialect of brok-
en- English is spoken by some of the
people of Liberia, but had it not been
for the missionaries and the protec-
tion of white governments the colony
would have, been lost entirely.
THE natives did not take to their
black brothers from across the seas,
and the newcomers were afraid of
their jungle kin. The American neg
roes went into the forests, and instead
of progressing, went backward. In
Liberia, however, among the negroes
who had been colonized from Ameri-
ca, the work of the negro missionary
j was partially successful.
within 100 years our people in the
Congo. the Bankundos, will be furth-
er advanced than the mass of the
American negroes. Our people are
on a higher plane mentally than were
the ancestors of large majority of
the negroes in this country. who prin-
cipally were from the Guinea coast.
''The negroes captured and brought
here in an early day were from Guinea
principally for the reason that they
were more easily obtained. 1t was on
the Guinea coast the SLAYER flourished
in his illfamed traffic. 1t is true that
in many instances slaves who were
sold in the coast had been captured
father in the interior, but the African
forests in those days were not favor
ed by the slave hunters. The Bank
undos live a thousand miles from the
mouth of the Congo.
II believe, in time, under the refin-
ing influence of governments of bene-
VIOLENT intentions. such as the United
States and Great Britain, the Bank
undos will be- able to establish self
government in a modified form. This,
however, must be under the protector
ate of white government,
"The worst evil we nave to combat
in the Congo is voodooism. suppose
it is general in the African wilds. 1t is
the first thing We campaign against.
Our superior knowledge of medicines
and the treatment of diseases aid
greatly in stamping out this fendish
practice.
'Voodooism is prevalent. right here
in America and the rites and ceremon-
les are very similar to those practiced
in the African jungle. American VOC
dooism is but relic of jungle days.
1t originated in Africa and was
brought here by the slaves in an early
daN from their native land p