Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-20
MISSION SECRETARY To
TOUR AFRICA
Reverend Thomas S. Donohugh. AS
sociate Secretary for Africa of
Methodist Foreign Mission
Board, Sails For West
Coast.

The Reverend Thomas S. Donohugh
Associate Secretary for Africa and
Southern India for the Board of For
eign Missions OF the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, $50 Fifth Avenue, New
York City sailed aboard the Berengar-
In en- route to Africa for an extended
tour of that continent. Mr.. Donohugh
will inspect ut length the various mis-
sion stations. large and small. estab'
lished by his Board and denomination
in Africa and make a comprehensive
study of the particular needs Of each
locality. His especial interest is in the
progress being achieved toward the de
velopment of an indigenous churcn
among the people Of Africa. with
constituency thoroughly Christian
with leaders and pastors OF their own
race and color, supporting and admin
istering their own church in afhllation
with the parent church in this country
as a part of a federation of Methodism
INDIAN LEADERS FOR
INDIAN CHURCH
This tendency is now being studied
in all fields in which the Board o.
Foreign Missions of the Methodist
Episcopal church is operating. 1t Is re
garded as a natural outgrowth or
world war and the accepted ideal OF
self-determination. According to Bfsn
CD F. b. Fisher, resident bishop OF Cal
cutta. India recently in this country
the machinery of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church is so constructed tnat'
without any vioIent Ycadjustmenc, IL
may be expanded into q federation or
self-supporting, self-administering
Methodists Churches around the world
in a kind of Christian League of Ma
lions. Bishop Fisher. who is the young
est bishop of his denomination and
recognized as one of it's most eloquent
orators and far-sighted statesmen, was
instrumental in the adjustment OF
Methodism in India to meet the grow.
ing spirit of independence and nation
nlism which has evolved there in the
past three years. He was quick to note
upon his return to India In 1870 as
newly elected bishop, the restlessness
among Indian leaders of the Church
there due to their desire for greater
responsibility and self-expression.
METHoDIsTs GIVE INDIAN
LEADERS CHANCE
Through him a man Of full Indian
blood,a consecrated Christian and the
son of high-caste Brahman, was
made President of Lucknow Christian
College; another was put at the heaa
of Collins Institute. Calcutta, others
were made District superintendent
and all possible leadership given into
their hands. White missionaries from
this country are still retained on the
faculty of Lucknow Christian College
and many more are doing local mis-
sionary work under Indian district
superintendents According to Bishop
Fisher. this adjustment to new condt-
tons and new progress there has
evoked widespread approval among
the Indian people and even the Brit.
ish Government itself. Bishop Fisher
is a friend of Tagore. Gandhi and
many other independence agitators,
and has been entertained by the Vice
roy, Lord Reading at Simla, the sum
mer capital. He was recently elected
Fellow of the Royal Geographical
Society, London because of an expedi-
tion of exploration made by him In
Thibet from which he brought bach
much valuable scientific data. He tells
also of the tribute from Lord Reaching
to Methodist missionaries In INDIA
a.ho are credited with founding the lii
eral system of education now being
evolved in India.
BUILDING AFRICAN CHURCH
FOE AFRICANS
In Africa the missionary work OF
the Methodist Episcopal Church has
been pursued along much the same
lines, according to officials of the
Board. Although India and China are
the most populous mission fields AMI
have received the largest outl v be-
cause of the transition stages through
which botn peoples are still working.
the development of Africa as an i'm
portant and growing opportunity for
spreading Christianity has been en-
phasiZed.
For the past two decades and more
our mission work in Africa has been
going through the slow, early stages
of developing the fundamentals Of civ
ilization in isolated parts of the great
bush country" said Mr.. Donohugh BE-
fore sailing. "Our veterans there can
remember when to see a black man
wearing a single garment other than
the native loin cloth in their local..
ties was unusual, whereas, today In
many places, scattered throughout the
continent, there are whole Christian
villages, with all the essentials of civil
lization. We have had to educate ma
tive preachers and teachers, establish
schools, primary and secondary with
many types OF vocational training 70
enable Christian folks to earn a decent
livelihood. 1t is the ultimate purpose
of this Board to establish an extensive
Training School and Industrial farm
for instruction Of Christian youth In
Africa at every mission station now
in existence. However, this is a matter
OF time and tremendous expense un-