The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-28


hitherto had little knowledge Of the
larger implications of the pioneering
work Of the gospel.
Whatever the cross has done any
where else in the world. II can also
graphic picture of one Of ,he in
cidents in mission work In Africa -
given by DR.. F. B. Bridgman. 4 ms
sionary of the American boarc' VIM
had gone to a village OF narVe .i.n
ers. where converts had been conduct-
ing q remarkable religious work. "i.i'-
out the help of a white man.
Nothing would do but must VISIT
this group OF our membership. %
meeting was appoint1eda II, IN ' back from
work. had walked only hair sns
three miles when fierce thunoeE
storm burst upon us. Finding sneIte.
in a shanty the next hoar-. paSss~
watching the terrific hgntnlng ,tch
ing thru mud and water it was plfcn
dark on reaching the appointed place.
one of the crude shelters where tne
men are housed. 1t was almost as
black inside as out. G-aduaify py eno
flicker of just one tallow dip mao
out that the hut was about hiteSn
feet in diameter. Every inch OF tnS
earth floor was packed with the 81
lent expectant congregation NUMBER
ing about sixty, all young men, except
ing several girls from nearby kraal-
soap-box on stills. The storm came
! back and proceeding with the service
| 1 stood in a mud-puddle while from
above the drops came so fast tnat I
was reminded of a shower batn.
have conducted Communion unoer
varied conditions but never in circum-
stances quite like these. dinner
pail served as baptismal font; for the
bread we used an enamel wash basin.
| There was no way but to make prep.
arations right before the audience. and
they were intensely interested. as.
sure you. Not a move in cutting the
bread, or in uncorking the grape juice
| escaped those kcen eyes. Six young
men were baptized. But while the
thunder crashed without, within this
hut there was q sense of the presence
of Him who breathed peace upon the
disciples. How rough and weird were
the surroundings. how crude the APP
pointments. what a contrast to. the
harmony of architecture and worship
in your cathedral churches. yet We
could say-"God is in this place Z.
this is the gate of heaven"
Africa is not country but con-
tinent. The eyes Of all the world are
nations are concerned in its future to
allow its removal from the forefront
of interest. tk
Il Educational work Is especially nee
kessary in Africa because there Is no
education, properly speaking. in the
native civilization. Education in At
RIGA ID purely Christian exotic,
whether it be mental or technical.
There are now as many Christians
in the missions of Africa as there
were In the whole world at the end
OF the first century.
The most frequent contact be-
. tween black men and white Is thru
ID the government. CD the colonist.
CD the missionary. The latter rela-
ton is as important as any that exists
and as a rule, he represents the best,
most unprejudiced friend of the ma
tive.
Schools and chapels dot the coun-
try, and the Christian teacher has re-
placed the witch doctor, and, as mag
istrates testify, marriage Is vastly on
the increase where there was no. SEM
: blance of the tie-these are fruits OF
/ Christian missions. Africa's Living
stones and Gordons and Clarksons,
) her humane governors and hundreds
| OF missionaries who have spent their
t lives In the service of Africa and have
, made their last bed in her soil, each
in his measure has caused the dark
| ness to disappear. t,
, What a people believes with respect
. to religion is of far more Importance
than what it buys and sells.