The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-11-04
CENSUS SHOWS FEW LIBER-
IANS CHRISTIANS.
IA. n. I'd

FREE TOWN, Sierra Leone, w.
Coast Africa. Nov. 2.--Astonishing that
in the Northern Province. where there
have been several Christian agencies
operating on lines, evangelical. edu-
cational and medical, the Census has
not shown a single person as Chris
tian. 1t is known that the Sierra
Leone Church Missions operates in
the Port LolSlxoh and Falba District,
the S. p. G. at Kambia in the Great
Searches River, the English Wesleyan
at Kambia and the Tonkoh Limba
District, The American Wesleyan, II
Is reported, is doing very good work
amongst the other Limba tribes in
the Saffrokoh and Sella Districts. In
Che face OF all these, the Census re-
Northern Province among Pagan and
Mohammedan influences. This Is a
puzzle. Nor cen we accept as correct
the approximation given OF the pro-
portion of Christians, Mohammedans
and sPagans in the Central and South
ern Provinces.
ON the other hand. we feel that the
result of the work done by the re-
ligious denominations in the hinter-
land reveals rather poor and des-
ultory impression, derogatory to the
zeal and sincerity of processing Chri-
tians in the Colony. The methods
PURSUED hitherto, do not appear to
have yielded the returns which might
have been expected II Is a fact that
large sums OF money are being ex-
pended yearly by ALI the denominations
operating in the Hinterland; hut there
has not been shown result com
mensurate.
1t ought to dawn on the sense of
responsibility of the leaders, be tney
Bishops or superintendent that there
is urgent need for wholesome re-
vision OF outlook and methods. Per-
haps, one of the blights OF present
day operation is the oesire to estap-
fish in so many centres where ARR
cans from the Colony are engaged IN
trade; and, very often the aim Is gem
erallv conferred in accommodating
these to thu utter neglect Of the abor-
iginal peopl. to whom the MISSION
aries are sent. Then again, young
and inexperienced men are sent, UP
qualification as missionaries very
often, they are left to themselves 70
originate what must be difficult
trsk, and not unusually, failure mas
bee the end. The Christian Cnnrcnes
have not very often shown that sym
pa ihy for the men sent up as may pc ex-
nee ted. by making such provisions Tor
their maintenance which would remove
them from anxiety. Very often not oniy
have the men to wait indefin tely TOT
the pittance that is their fae, but
also in marv csses. they are very
badly housed that during their wholc
term OF service they are filled with
IeRitimate dissatisfaction and concern
for their health. Is It not true that
many a time such men. III provided
for, are tempted 70 embark into ques-
tionable expedients which have des-
troyed their influence among the peo-
lie with whom they labored and rem
dered all efforts aboritive. The oest
men are not sent up as Missionaries:
ana not unusually, It Is the detected
cohbler, the happ-go-iucky-tailo or
the neer-do-well trader who presents
himself, avowing n sudden call for
the work OF saving souls. Such men
have no need TO leave anything be-
mind by way Of sacrifice for they
have nothing: they seek for position
to earn bread and butter, and in the
end, prove a disgrace TO the cause
they represent is It then surprising
that the result has been so shamefuily
poor and considerate. The modern
policy Of evangelization appears
pears TO be in the direction Of the
establishment of Boarding Schools, and
Medical and Industrial Institu lions;
and If Denomination for lack Of re-
sources finds itself unable to pro-
coed on these lines, there Is no rea-
son why several Denominations may
not unite. establish and run them
under cooperation scheme as Is
done az Fourah Bay College. The
signs of the times call for steady
united pull; nothing but an earnest