The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-09-30
G. o. p. Promises Much.
Ry Chas. w. Ablngton.

By Chas. W. Abingdon.
1t is but the part of even-handed
justice at this particular point in
our study of European colonization
in Africa before entering the south
and eastern parts of the continent, to
examine in a cursory way what these
nations have attempted in the matter
of carrying the torch of Christian
civilization to those neglected parts
of the earth which have by their ag-
erosion become their charge. Since
ours is the task of searching for
truth-the unvarnished truth-we well
come the out-cropping of the better
side of these nations conduct in their
occupation of our father land. 1t is
pleasant to record that the soul of the
African was not altogether forgotten
many high-minded men and women.
representing the best blood of these
nations. have freely given their
lives on the altar for African re-
demption and are still doing so. One
of the most conseerated young men
II has been my pleasure to meet was
a passenger on the Abinsi and the
Olympic on my return voyage from
Africa He was from the state OF
Ohio and was about q years Of age,
he had been in Africa three or four
years-his work was so far back in
the jungles that he had not seen the
face of a white man for two years,
until the inspector of M ssions reach
a vacation. He said that he was very
happy in his work and did not care
to leave his charge 1t is supposed
before the arrival of this young man
these natives had never seen the face
of white man, but he had
not only won their confidence. but
their heart. ] mention this case as
an example of thousands equally as
attractive-there were many others
on this same voyage who were re-
N... Nw~ra Err 81 10
from five TO ten years among the
natives. most of whom were from
England and Frances.
This galaxy of noble sacrificing
souls presents = different spirit from
the hordes of slave traders, profession
al eXploiters, not only of the natural
resources Of the country, but the chas-
ty of the defenseless women as we'll
the brutal land lords, and the pre-
tended missionary In Sleeps clothing
with whom most of our time has
been occupied. IL is truly an oasis
in the desert. The army of Christian
soldiers DISPATCHED by these nations
have for the most part been men and
women high minded, acting in the
main from noble impulse influenced
by purely unselfish motives bent on
lifting the aye long neglected African
from the callous state in which they
found him into a new self conscious
ness which is revolutionizing those
people in heal hen darkness. Just in
this connection is should be stated
that II the English did outstrip all
her neighbors in the degrading slave
trade-it has done more for the en-
lightenment of the native tribes than
any of it's contemporaries We noted
that the Portuguese were first on the
content for exploitation, they were
likewise first among the nations to
send missionaries to the Dark Con-
tinent. Their work was started by
Portuguese priest and Jesuit fathers
who made up a part of nearly all of
the early expeditions who made it a
rule to proclaim the gospel and set
up the cross wherever they landed.
It appears that the Congoland was
first to be reached by these influences
as early as 1871, but the mission laps
ed later into heather state. 1t is con-
tended by a writer that ANY race of
purely Negro blood accepts and loses
Christianity with great facility"
have stated before that the African