The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-12-19
2 CHRISTMAS DAYS
island Of Madagascar the Only
Country Thus Favored.
Queen Ranavalona II on Ascending
Throne Became First Christian
Ruler and Adopted "6lory to
God In Highest" Motto.

| world Wnefe CnflStllluS lS celcDIulcu
twice each year and that Is the Island
Of Madagascar, off the eastern coast
of the southern end Of Africa, and
which dominates that part Of the In
dian ocean.
Marco Polo, the great traveller, first
made this island known to medieval
Europe In 1908. 1t was nearly two
hundred years later when Portu-
guese traveller obtained the first ali-
thentlc information about the island,
In 1897. From that time on there were
attempts by the Portuguese, French and
English to settle the island, and they
met with defeat at the hands of the
wild and savage Hoyas who controlled
the island, and many died from Mnla'
easy fever In the lowlands of the coast.
On Christmas eve In 1872 all the
Frenchmen ut Fort Dauphin were murt
dered by the natives. In 1910 Hova
chief, Radama |, young man, allowed
the Christian missionaries to teach
their Bible doctrines In the island, and
by 1920 Protestant Christianity was
effectively introduced among the
HOyas.
First Christian Ruler.
RadamS died In 1898, and one of his
wives became Queen Ranayalona l.
She was bitter against the Christians
and prosecuted them In many cruel
ways, and she had her warriors from
the interior mountains Of the island
massacre the native Christians, who
would not renounce the Christian God
and 80 back to the worship of idols.
The cruel queen relgned until her
death in 1S6l-a wicked record Of 33
years. Then her son, Radama III, be-
came king, and although he was
great drunkard and led wild life
himself lac allowed the Christian mis-
sionariys to come into the island again.
lie was assasslnated In the palace In
1863, and his widow, Rasoherina, was
proclaimed queen. Upon her death In
1868, niece of RanavalOna | ascended
the throne as Ranavalona II. When a
girl, her gentle charities and sympa-
thles with the Christians during their
prosecutions had won respect and love,
and when she became queen 1t was un-
derstOod that Madagascar had the first
really Christian ruler on its throne.
Between 1890 and 1885 the entire Bi-
BILE had been printed in the Malagasy
language, also an Engllsh-Mnlagnsy
dictionary. So, on the day of her c0ro-
nation the idol which had been pr0mi-
nent on similar occasions was banished
by RanavalOna III, and copy of the
Malagasy Bible placed near the throne
while on the canopy above, In golden
letters. were the words: "Glory to God
ia the Highest, Peace on Earth, Good
VIII tn Men" With one hand on the
Bible, the queen addressed the people,
expressing the hope that they would
ndOpt the Christian faith but added:
In this matter YOU shall not be COM
PEELED"
Ordered Idols Destroyed.
She ordered her own household idols
and the chief national idol to he burn
ed and gradually her example was fol-
lowed by the general destruction of
household idols among the Hovas, She
married the prime minister the fol-
lowing year and made public profes-
sion of her faith, and from that time
on the Christian religion has been
growing fast in the island.
The words over the canopy at her
coronation the queen knew to be spok-
on by the angels in the sky when the
shepherds heard the noise of wings
Mt the time the Christ was born in
Bethlehem. Christmas is celebrated
all over the island now. But the HOvas
have different way of computing time
and by their system Christmas falls
some time in November, and they cele-
brate II then. The Christian date of
December % is also celebrated by the
natives along with the missionaries.
But II is not n Christmas of snow
and Sleighbclls. II is n tropical country
and Christmas day Is under torrid
sun, hut the sky is brilliant and the
magnificent Towering trees of many
vivid cOlors are filled with many pc
culiar birds of brilliant plumage, while
the ground beneath is bespangled with
wild blossoms of varied hues.
-&~fA